Evinrude Lightwin 3HP motor has been sitting for awhile and won't start. Help!!!

[parkenstein2000]

Hey everybody.

I bought an old Lightwin that I am sure has been sitting for awhile. I cleaned out the gas tank and got a new carb kit and installed it. It seems like the carb bowl is not filling up with fuel. I can take the little screw out from underneath the bowl and nothing comes out. I can get the motor to turn over for a few seconds with carb cleaner, but that is it. I am stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I want to restore this old beauty!

 

[lindy46]

Is the vent on the gas cap open? Try removing the gas line from the carb, open the petcock and see if gas comes out. Also, there is a filter above the petcock which may be clogged. They are soldered on, so if it's clogged, it would have to be replaced (expensive). What year is the motor?

 

[parkenstein2000]

Thanks. It is a 1954 I think. Model 3104. Air vent is open. I didn't know there was a petcock on the carb. I will check. I can blow from the end of the gas line that enters the tank and the place where it enters the bowl is clear.

 

[HighTrim]

The filter is clogged in the tank. Unscrew the petcock from the bottom of the tank, and pull it out.

 

[parkenstein2000]

The is a valve switch coming out of the tank that can be opened or closed. When open, fuel comes out just fine.

 

[HighTrim]

Well that's strange then. Obviously time to re open the carb. Float not floating, or catching on something? Or upside down? Debris stuck in the seat?

 

[HighTrim]

Take off the carb. When held upright, you should NOT be able to blow into the fuel inlet. However, if you flip it upside down, you should now be able to blow into the fuel inlet.

 

[boobie]

High Trim, isn't your last statement just backwards ??

 

[HighTrim]

High Trim, isn't your last statement just backwards ??

oops, good catch sorry. Long day at work thanks. Ill edit it!

EDIT: Wont let me edit it? Strange. Anyways, obviously switch that, right side up you should be able to blow into up, upside down you should not (needle seated)

 

[lindy46]

Float valve probably stuck shut, not allowing the bowl to fill.

 

[Crosbyman]

all you kneed to know...

​http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repai...%20Tune-UP.htm


go to boatinfo.com.... the red johnson manual covers all these oldies incl ignition and all good book to access free

http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#

 

[parkenstein2000]

Float valve probably stuck shut, not allowing the bowl to fill.

So when you say the float valve is stuck, do you mean that the float needle is not moving up and down? I am still confused as how the bowl fills up with fuel. If the fuel line coming into the carb is not clogged, what is keeping the fuel from getting sucked into the bowl? Thanks!!!!!

 

[parkenstein2000]

all you kneed to know...

​http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repai...%20Tune-UP.htm


go to boatinfo.com.... the red johnson manual covers all these oldies incl ignition and all good book to access free

http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#

Thanks, i found this site a few days ago and went step by step through it. Very helpful, but still not running. BTW, i checked the spark plug and they are firing, so I might just tear the carb completely down let it soak and try again. My arm is getting tired from pulling this sucker.

 

[parkenstein2000]

oops, good catch sorry. Long day at work thanks. Ill edit it!

EDIT: Wont let me edit it? Strange. Anyways, obviously switch that, right side up you should be able to blow into up, upside down you should not (needle seated)

Here is where my stupidity enters the picture. The needle movement is controlled by the float moving up and down. As the bowl fills with fuel, it raises the float to parallel and pushed the needle up into the carb, stopping the flow of fuel. As fuel is burned, the float moves downward, pulling the needle with it which allows fuel to get back into the bowl. This makes no sense to me. If the needle is pushed upward, wouldn't that stop the flow of fuel?

 

[Crosbyman]

have you checked compression

have you checked to feel if the pistons are sucking air inwards on the carb face if you place your hand's flat side in front of the carb openning (remove the silencer if the model has one )

air silencer taken apart and debugged

don't use carb cleaner to much to start the motor ... it also washed the oil coating on the innards


fat gasket installed on the carb bottom under the high speed post ??

btw you may need to clean out the low speed chamber under the dime size plug on top of the carb... but try skirting gas first



you may need to reseal the float with airplane dope or crazy glue (2 coats)

 

[racerone]

The needle is moved up and down by the float to control the amount of fuel in the carburetor.---As the motor removes fuel from the bowl the needle opens to allow gravity to keep fuel at a controlled level----------Do this simple testing as well.----You may be seeing spark on the plugs when held against the block.--------That is not a good test at all.--Force the ignition system to jump a gap of 1/4" or more.---If it can not do that the magneto needs attention !

 

[parkenstein2000]

Thanks for all the help. I got it to run. I found out that I put the float back on upside down. Once I turned it around, the bowl filled up and got it started! Thanks again!

 

[Crosbyman]

don't forget the impeller !

 

[jbcurt00]

It is a 1954 I think. Model 3104. Air vent is open.

Does it still have the old 2line fuel hose? If so, it needs a pressure tank, and the tank vent should be closed.

 

[lindy46]

Glad you got her running!