Broke down again!!

[Frank's first boat]

First let me say thanks for any help. I will try to keep this short. 1997 Evinrude 90hp dies after being on a plane for about 5 Miles. I have only had the boat for a few weeks. Went on 4 trips with it and 3X now I have got pulled back in by another boat and its starting to get to me. Every time its the same problem and I am not sure what to do next. First time I thought it was a bad battery because after it died it wouldn't hardly turn over. Got it home and changed the battery and tied again.

Second trip it did the same thing so I changed the battery back out to the old one now fully charged and it still acted as if the battery was dead. Lifted the motor up out of the water and it would turn over with no problem. Got it home hooked it up to the hose and it started easy. Thinking it might be an overheating issue I changed the thermostats and the impeller. Started looking around and found that the buzzer is unhooked and constantly alarms even when I know its not hot. (Used a temp gun)..

Ok so I took it out again today and it did the same thing.. Died after being at almost WOT for about 5 miles and acted as if the battery was dead. This time I noticed that the pumper ball on the gas line was sucked flat. After getting towed back to the dock I lifted the motor out of the water and noticed the ball wasn't flat anymore so I gave it a quick crank and it burped a huge cloud of smoke and started up. Put the motor back into the water and it idled as if nothing had ever happened. I have a book but it isn't giving me any good troubleshooting ideas so anything yall can do would be great.. I am wanting to take the kids out and catch some of those huge Santee catfish but cant trust the boat yet..

 

[mamm7215]

Re: Broke down again!!

Sounds like your fuel tank isn't vented properly. The ball shouldn't suck flat. Makes sense you'd go for a while before starving out. The motor may then vapor lock and appear like a dead battery until the pressure equalizes in the crankcase, being easy to turn over again...

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Broke down again!!

Bulb sucking flat. Are you using an internal tank in the boat ??? if so you need to check the venting of the tank and a possible restriction in the line from the tank to the motor. Try it on a known good vented portable tank and see if there is a difference.
You need to check the motor temperatures when running with a thermal gun if possible. Could well be overheating and seizing when hot then contracting as it cools and freeing up again. Just because the impeller and stats are changed does not mean it will not overheat but it is a good start to change them out. You may have a restriction in the cooling circulation somewhere.
Is or was this a salt water use motor ???
Welcome to iboats

 

[jonesg]

Re: Broke down again!!

This is damaging the engine every time it starves out, don't force the issue on your own hoping it will go away, theres plenty of help here.
Get the alarm system fixed along with the fuel feed problem, its your lifeline to protect the engine.