Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

[aellingsen]

Good day to all, <br /><br />I am hoping someone can help as I am in desperate need. Problem started 1 mile off Catalina Island. I was going smooth the whole way out then the boat died. Had someone on the Island look at it and he said it was the air box. Got the boat into a service shop back home. They rebuilt the lower unit for $2100.00 and got the boat back in the water this past Saturday. Boat was running good for the first 20 minutes and then it died (same as in Catalina). If I could get the motor started it would die as soon as I gave it gas. A short term fix was to remove the air box, let it sit for awhile. put it back on and it would start up and run fine for about 10 minutes and then die again. Only when I give the boat gas does it die. Ultimatly the engine won't even turn over and resulting in a tow from vessle assist. I use 87 gas only and think that it could be a fuel fiter problem. When it was in the shop I had them look at the carbuator and they ran a full diagnostic and said everything was perfect. Can anyone point me in a good direction before I give my boat up for another 3 weeks and spend another $2000.00?<br />Thanks

 

[Brew2]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

I'm sure others more experienced than I will be along shortly to offer their $0.02, however, while we wait.....<br /><br />It sure sounds like you are either losing spark to some/all cylinders or your carbs are all of a sudden not providing fuel.<br /><br />As a start, try this to isolate the problem. With the motor running at idle, pull one of the plug wires off (use well insulated pliers to avoid the unpleasent jolt!). You should hear the rpms of the motor drop instantly. Replace the wire and the rpms should pick up again. Do this with each cylinder. If when you pull a wire you get no change in the rpms, then that cylinder isn't making any power.<br /><br />If you isolate the cylinder you can start checking for other things. For starters, you can check the spark. You can build your own spark checker (do a search on "spark checker") but you can buy one from any auto parts place for about $5. Spark should jump a 7/16 inch gap and be bright blue, not yellow. If you aren't getting a good spark, chances are the coil for that cylinder needs replacing.<br /><br />Might also want to have a look at the plugs....is one or more particularly wet looking?<br /><br />I had a similar problem once and it turned out to be a very small piece of plastic in my carb. Depending on how it was positioned, it would either block the high speed jet and cause the engine to stall or would allow gas to flow and everything would be fine. Gave me fits for a while till I discovered it.<br /><br />Don't really follow the lower unit repair issue. Not sure what that would have to due with having the engine run right. Do you have any details about what they did?<br /><br />Well, that should give you a start....like I said, others with more experience should be along shortly. Post as many details as you can about what you find out and about the previous repairs.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[aellingsen]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

Thanks! Everyones input is equally benificial to me. We have checked all the plugs as you have mentioned. They all check out fine. The mastertechs that just worked on the engine ran the full diagnostic and said the engine was in tip top shape this includes the carborator. He thinks at this time it might be the fuel container. Maybe smashed?<br /><br />The lower unit was sealed, clutch dog replaced, some bearing replaced...

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

Lets start with the basics. Which 200 Johnson do you have? The model number will tell.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

Don't ya just love these repair guys who find all this other stuff wrong with your engine and charge you good money for unnecessary repairs, give you back your pride and joy, tell you its perfect, only to find out your short 2 'large' and the engine is no better....... phew! Gotta hate that! I'm with the admiral, give us some model details re your engine and the advice will come think and fast, hold tight.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

I still can't understand why the lower unit would have anything to do with the issue you're describing - did they tell you why they rebuilt it? I understand what they did, but my question is - when you brought it in, why did they think that rebuilding the lower unit would solve your problem. And when it didn't, what was their line?<br /><br />Second - I'm also not understanding what the fuel container issue is - what sort of fuel tanks do you use? What sort of filters do you have, e.g. in-line water separating filter, regular little fuel filter? <br /><br />It's pretty easy to trace that sort (fuel supply) sort of problem: replace all filters and then run the boat on a known-good fuel tank with known-good hoses. If it works fine, you've reduced your issue to two causes - the tank itself (probably the pick up) or the hoses. It's easy to change hoses, and pretty easy to pull the pickup and examine and/or clean it.<br /><br />Let us know what happens.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

I still can't understand why the lower unit would have anything to do with the issue you're describing - did they tell you why they rebuilt it? I understand what they did, but my question is - when you brought it in, why did they think that rebuilding the lower unit would solve your problem. And when it didn't, what was their line?<br /><br />Second - I'm also not understanding what the fuel container issue is - what sort of fuel tanks do you use? What sort of filters do you have, e.g. in-line water separating filter, regular little fuel filter? <br /><br />It's pretty easy to trace that sort (fuel supply) sort of problem: replace all filters and then run the boat on a known-good fuel tank with known-good hoses. If it works fine, you've reduced your issue to two causes - the tank itself (probably the pick up) or the hoses. It's easy to change hoses, and pretty easy to pull the pickup and examine and/or clean it.<br /><br />Let us know what happens.

 

[aellingsen]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

How about this a potential problem. <br /><br />Fuel lines were clean, no water in the fuel filter. Filter was clean, so I went ahead and checked the fuel tank itself and it is crushed. Could this be preventing proper suction from the fuel lines and not flooding the motor but not supplying enough fuel to it?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

If the tank is crushed, I'd look at the vent system. Ever suck hard on a plastic soda bottle and see what happens to it? If no air can get in the tank can be partially or totally collapsed. Yes - that would starve the engine for fuel. You never did tell us why the shop told you the lower needed to be rebuilt and how that would magically make the engine run again.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

Originally posted by PHISH:<br /> How about this a potential problem. <br /><br />Fuel lines were clean, no water in the fuel filter. Filter was clean, so I went ahead and checked the fuel tank itself and it is crushed. Could this be preventing proper suction from the fuel lines and not flooding the motor but not supplying enough fuel to it?

Frankly, I'm surprised your mechanic didn't trouble shoot the fuel and ignition system - the lower unit rebuild just doesn't make any sense to me, unless I'm missing something.<br /><br />RE: the fuel tank - just replace it with a borrowed or new fuel tank. (small ones are very cheap) and see if that helps. You can guess all day, but that's an easy, quick and definitive way to find out.

 

[aellingsen]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

Motor Serial Number G03805815<br />Model Number E200TXEOC<br /><br />When we originally went in with this problem the shop couldn't proceed because the seal on the lower unit was broken... so according to them they needed to re seal the lower unit and then move forward from there. I don't know the first thing about boat motors but from what had taken place so far I told them to put the motor back together so I could go elsewhere. I called the guy and his operation everything you can imagine. So from there I took it to someone else. I explained the original problem of the motor cutting out and what this other operation scamed me for and the agreed that I did the right thing by getting my boat out of their care. So this new guy went ahead, re sealed the lower unit, clutch do, the hole thing, ran the diagnostic, and checked the carborator and said the engine was in top shape. Took the boat out last Saturday and wouldn't you know... same darn thing. Bottom line I think everywhere I go I'm being taken for a ride but I'm more than likley so paranoid now I don't know who to trust? Very frusrating.<br /><br />B = Bend<br />O = Over<br />A = And<br />T = Take it

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Flooding Problem 2 Stroke 200hp Johnson

Ok, now I get it! Too bad - but hopefully the lower unit work was really needed and not wasted money. Anyway, it's easy enough to rig up a good clean fuel tank and hose, and would be a cheap fix if that turned out to be the problem. Good luck!