Re: Engine stalls after choke opens
On boat today, found a log of the guy who sold me the boat. Dated early May ( I bought it last week of june)it logged several tow's in a day, and outlined the suddenly stalling not being able to restart.
He assurred wife & I when I bought it she was capable making it to sacto from san rafael. That everything worked other than no reverse(outboard kicks up in reverse) all else was in good mechanical condition.
He started it up, ran it for a minute or two revved it a couple times it sounded great we bought the boat knowing we'd have to get her pulled soon and the rear locking mechanism repaired.
As we left that day the seller said he'd put a new fuel filter in for us since there seemed to be a shudder @ 8 knots and pilot it back to sacto (as I am a virgin on the water) As I insisted that I go along when it happenned ,to learn, he kinda paled but I didn't register that till he started dodging the calls.
Because it was a auxillary coast guard volunteer youth scout boat, I had to get it registered and new cf numbers before I could take it out, no problem, done the next day.
3 days later he returns calls, filter not done yet. Before I can get a certified mechanic on the scene he pulls the carburator, tells me he's getting a rebuilt one on his dime.
After one excuse or another and 3+ wks a friend and I went to inspect the boat two days ago.
Today, we had her purring for over an hour we decided between the small tightening the carburator to torque specs and the quick restarts (2) after hour plus running we were good. We also inserted a fuse and switch inline to a jimmy rigged electronic fuel pump.
We were told day before had plenty of gas, the fuel gauge had been removed before I bought it. However later before when she stalled my car mechanic friend touched the electronic fuel pump said it was getting hot and probably because of no fuel. We added the fuel and she again ran long enough with rests after choke fully openned to determine the open choke problem.
We put in 9 gallons yesterday and ran it a total maybe 1.5 hour. Today after letting her run for an hour+, needing to ensure there was gas, the gas dock only 100 yards away, we go to get gas thinking if no issues we go on further turning the corner we got 25 yards or so when the famous stall occurred.
We tied to a slip accross the way from the original slip ,waited to get towed by the harbor police. Before calling them we got 5 gallons of gas,tried a dozen or more time to start to no avail,even when choke completely closed)
As they pulled us out of the slip an officer noticed quite a bit of gas flowing around the boat on the water. As I voiced a concern of what could have occurred he said may have come out of the exhaust due to flooding (okay , maybe I was a tad energetic).
Seems like a lot of gas and coming out the exhaust? She never started again. Always sounded like she wasnt getting any gas so I start thinking gas tank leak, maybe vapor lock due to leak, from what I've read it might explain the stalling as well. Turning over almost catching sounded fuel starved. No heavy smell of gas in the boat no obvious leaks inside compartment and weak squirts in the carburator.
Small puddle under engine passed a smell, test no gas there.
checked access in center ship dry there no smell of gas.
Could a leak in the tank cause anything like this and or how could it leak out unseen? Did notice bubling sound port side of bow while waiting tow.
Any insights be greatly appreciated.
