Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

[Shanes88Force]

Hey everyone, so I've got a '97 90hp Evinrude that came with the Mako that I bought. So far I've replaced the starter, waterpump, lower unit seals, sparkplugs, thermostats and fuel hose/primer bulb. I am running the motor on a portable 6gal tank.

Now the motor will start and run in neutral from 1500-3000rpm, and will push the boat at 10mph before it bogs down and dies. It will not idle nicely. So I decided to start troubleshooting:

Compression: All 4 cylinders have between 105-112psi compression, so they checkout good and within 10%

Spark: All 4 spark plug wires put out a nice thick blue spark with a nice loud "snap" when put close to the block when cranking the motor over.

Fuel: Fuel can be seen in all 4 carb openings when I pump the primer, I pulled the carbs off and cleaned them (found a stuck float needle valve) - looks like they were recently rebuilt as the gaskets looked like new. Nothing else was clogged and all looked good.

Now, when I run the motor, I can pull the plug wires off of the two left side cylinders, and the bottom right side and it will run exactly the same. Thats right the motor will run with just the top right side plug wire attached! - It's only running on one cylinder then! Attaching the other plug wires makes no difference. Pulling out the plugs I can see that they are wet/blackish.

Is this some sort of drastic timing issue where the plugs are firing at really the wrong times? I know there firing, and I know theres fuel. I'm really not sure what to do next?? Maybe do all the tests again and see if I missed something...

Thanks for looking guys,
Shane

 

[ezeke]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

Pulling plugs on a running CD ignition can damage the powerpack.

You will need to obtain a timing light and some device to help mark your flywheel to establish whether or not your spark is at the correct time. An inductive timing light is best.

When you examined your float needles did you make sure that the clips between the float arms and the needles were in place?

 

[Shanes88Force]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

Thanks ezeke, Yes, I did make sure the clips were in place.

I will have to not just pull the plugs off in the future while its running then...

I do have an inductive timing light and a manual and was about to check the timing next. I did play with the timing linkage when it was running, but I'm under the assumption that the linkage just retards/advances the timing- as I would push it towards the rear of the engine it would try to stop running, and towards the front it would run better (however I think still on just the 1cyl). I know the manual has some procedures for exactly how to do this and what to set it to, but is that pretty much it, just getting that linkage adjusted right as per factory specs?

Just doing that doesn't look like it will fix my problem, but at least it will let me know if its sparking at the correct time I guess. I'll get the light out and try it.

 

[Shanes88Force]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

Alright, All fixed! The tell tale sign I believe was when I pumped the primer bulb, I'd get fuel spitting into all 4 carb openings. (= Bad needle valve/valve seat). I bought 2 carb rebuild kits and adjusted the timing in the water and the motor runs great. Idles nice, and pushes the boat great.

Now for another problem, the boat is extremely hard to steer. With the motor off/out of the water the wheel is easy to turn. But when underway, I have to put tons of force into the wheel to get it to turn, especially left turns.
I think I know exactly what the problem is, but maybe I can get some reassurance/other possible causes:
I just replaced the steering cable and rotary steering box, however the one I used was a few feet too big (got it for next to nothing, so I figured I'd try it- it was brand new), so under the console I have one large loop to take up the slack. I'm guessing this is a no-no and is causing my problem; I'll have to get ahold of the right size cable then??? Anything else that could cause this?

Thanks,
Shane

 

[Boblester40]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

Allthough the loop may increase the resitance i doubt it would make it that bad, as you say it is fine out of the water ,

Q. where the steering tube connects to the motor are there 3 different holes to connect to ? if so is it connected to the one furthist away from the motor to give the best leverage i had this problem on my 1996 V4 , also you need to adjust the trim tab to counteract the propeller by turning the tab towards the direction the boat is pulling so if it is pulling to the right turn the tab to the right untill it stops pulling.

rgds
bob

 

[Shanes88Force]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

Hey Bob,
Yes, it was originally on the one that would provide the least leverage (closest to power head), and I moved it to the farthest one while out on the water yesterday (thinking that would fix it), however it didn't make much of a difference.

The trim tab (which I removed when I changed the seals in the lower unit) is back on perfectly straight. Now do you think just an adjustment on this either way would fix my problem? The wheel doesn't actually pull (as in- I don't need to keep both hands on it to keep it straight)- but it is extremely hard to turn while under power, and when moving along fast almost impossible to steer out of a turn without slowing down.

-Shane

 

[Boblester40]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

not sure, it would make a differance if it was heavier in one direction than the other but you seem to be heavy all the time was the steering heavy before you changed it ?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

That's the way a boat performs that is plowing. A properly trimmed boat riding on plane should be fairly easy to steer unless the boat is hooked.

 

[Shanes88Force]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

I bought the boat as a project, so I'm not sure how it was before I changed it. (The old cable was frozen). The boat seems to be balanced, and the motor is mounted center. I am able to get the boat on a nice plane (trim/tilt works nicely), and it seems to move along at 40mph+. However when going fast it will turn, but if its anything more than a slight turn, its very hard/ if not impossible to turn the wheel to recover from it. Going slower, the same problem exists; it just seems to change with speed. The problem seems to be the same in both directions. I will have to take it out again this weekend to experiment some more with it.

I have noticed when the back of the motor is turned all the way right (as to steer right) and the cable end is exposed as far out of the steering tube as it can go, theres a good amount of play up/down in the protruding portion, is this normal? Thinking maybe, being that this play is apparent this is binding as it may be slightly off center when the torque of the motor is pushing on it and I'm trying to move it (steer)?

Ezeke; what exactly do you mean by "hooked"?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

disconnect cable at motor see if either are binding.

 

[Shanes88Force]

Re: Help - 97 Evinrude 90HP Running on 1cyl

Disconnected cable; motor spins nice and smooth/easily and so does the cable. I've lubed everything up as well as all the grease zerks. I can turn the wheel with minimal effort with one hand with everything hooked out of the water.

As I mentioned before there is a bit of play left/right & up/down in the end of the cable that protrudes through the tilt tube, especially when the motor is turned all the way to the right and it is mostly exposed. (The play at the end of the cable is about 1/4 in all directions) It seems almost as if the tilt tube could be slightly smaller in diameter to remedy the situation. I know theres a nut holding the cable to the motor on the incoming side of the tilt tube, but should there be one and/or some kind of bushing on the other side; there are threads for it....??