Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

[mrbadfish]

OK heres the deal. I have a 1984 30hp Evinrude outboard, remote start, that runs fine, when it runs. I was initially having this problem; It seemed as though my primer solenoid was stuck open, as my engine would start and run on fuel already in the carbuerator, with the fuel line disconnected. As soon as I connect the fuel line, it seems to 'overfuel' or flood, and shuts down. I disconnect the fuel line, and crank it a few times to 'de-flood' it, and it fires up, once agin however, connect the fuel supply and it dies in seconds. In order to determine if the solenoid was stuck open, I disconnected one of the small fuel lines running from the solenoid to the carbuerator, and gave the primer ball a few squeezes and fuel came rushing out. So I bypassed the solenoid, (which obviously caused for a hell of a tough turnover on the initial cold start). I ended up spraying a fuel/oil mixture into the carb throat while priming the ball to speed up the cold start process, and once she is running, she runs fine, even with the fuel line connected, and will start on a dime thereafter, because it has sufficient fuel in the system. NOW........I replaced the primer solenoid (with a new/used part), and am still having the same problem. I disconnected the same small fuel line running to the carbuerator and primed the ball, and had no fuel squirting out, so the solenoid seems to be ok. However, I am still not hearing the 'click' coming from the solenoid when I choke the engine by pushing in the key. This has be boggled, and about to create a new artificial reef in the Gulf. The only thing I can think of is that on a recent trip to the mechanic, he cheaply repaired my wiring harness by cutting the wires on each side and just manually splicing the wires, essentially omitting the actual harness, (which really should be OK, everything else works fine). The thing is, I didnt have this fuel problem until I got the boat back from the wiring harness 'repair'. Could this be where my problem lies????? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

Missing out on the Tarpon,
Troy

 

[Mod2]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

Hi Troy.....with all the trouble the forums is having right now, I'm not sure wether or not some of our helpers can get on or not so I'll try and help.

First, see if you can determine if you have 12volts to the primer solenoid when the key is pushed in. If not, you can either take it back to the wrench (which I would do) or try and see if you can figure it out your self.

Are you sure the solenoid was good when you got it?

The purple with white stripe wire at the solenoid goes all the way forward to the key switch. Try and jump 12volts to the primer and see if it operates. If it don't, solenoid bad. If it does work, faulting wiring job. And don't forget to check the ground wire on the solenoid. Make sure it's connection is good.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

hi troy, i agree, sounds like you don't have power to the solenoid. coulds be many things , bad wiring, bad switch, dirty connection, bad ground. on my '71 1350 merc, i had to run a separate circuit to my dash for my choke, even after new wiring harness internal and external.

 

[mrbadfish]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

hi troy, i agree, sounds like you don't have power to the solenoid. coulds be many things , bad wiring, bad switch, dirty connection, bad ground. on my '71 1350 merc, i had to run a separate circuit to my dash for my choke, even after new wiring harness internal and external.

 

[mrbadfish]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

So I test power to the solenoid by using a voltometer and placing the negative probe on the ground and positive on the purple/white wire where it screws into the solenoid itself while the key is pushed in right? Also, the purle/white wire runs to the ignitions switch via connecting to another wire on the side of the engine right? Shouldnt be the switch because I just replaced it, (even though I didnt have to).
Thanks,
Troy

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

not totally familiar with your engine, but just thought of this. the manual "choke" button or some of the older motors had 3 positions, you pull it all the way out and it was manual choke, 1 click in and it worked with the solenoid. push all the way in, and it disabled the solenoid, so you had no choke. just a thought, if this doesn't work, just takt a jumper wire and go from the red wire on the starter and touch the post on the solenoid, the solenoid should activate. this will tell you is the solenoid is good.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

not totally familiar with your engine, but just thought of this. the manual "choke" button or some of the older motors had 3 positions, you pull it all the way out and it was manual choke, 1 click in and it worked with the solenoid. push all the way in, and it disabled the solenoid, so you had no choke. just a thought, if this doesn't work, just takt a jumper wire and go from the red wire on the starter and touch the post on the solenoid, the solenoid should activate. this will tell you is the solenoid is good.

Also be aware that the primer is only a valve,open or closed.The primer ball has to be squeezed,or the motor cranked for fuel to flow.

On another note,if you have a bad fuel pump diaphram,leaking fuel into one cylinder it will keep that cylinder from firing,due to flooding.

DHP

 

[mrbadfish]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

not totally familiar with your engine, but just thought of this. the manual "choke" button or some of the older motors had 3 positions, you pull it all the way out and it was manual choke, 1 click in and it worked with the solenoid. push all the way in, and it disabled the solenoid, so you had no choke. just a thought, if this doesn't work, just takt a jumper wire and go from the red wire on the starter and touch the post on the solenoid, the solenoid should activate. this will tell you is the solenoid is good.

Also be aware that the primer is only a valve,open or closed.The primer ball has to be squeezed,or the motor cranked for fuel to flow.

On another note,if you have a bad fuel pump diaphram,leaking fuel into one cylinder it will keep that cylinder from firing,due to flooding.

DHP

 

[mrbadfish]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

There is no kind of manual choke lever on the engine, the solenoid does the choking, when u push in the key. Also, both my mechanic and I checked out the diaphragm on the pump, no leaks found, and it runs fine when the solenoid is bypassed. I think with all of your help, I have narrowed it down to replacing the origanal faulty solenoid with yet another faulty solenoid, or a connection somewhere, preventing power from having it operate. Any othr ideas HIGHLY welcomed:'(!!!!! I will keep you all posted on where we end up.

Thanks again,
Troy

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

have you checked the big red plug for corrosion. pull it apart. thats the main wiring harness and corrosion cloud keep it from working. just a shot in the dark.

 

[mrbadfish]

Re: Ive hit a dead end.....please help me

If you read the orignal post, I mentioned that I had originally brought the engine to a mechanic because of a starting problem. He "fixed" the problem by just cutting out the red plug (wiring harness) and manually splicing the wires with connectors and electric tape. I am almost positive that this is the problem, BUT.....following advice from a previous reply, (to determine power at the solenoid) I could not get a 12 volt read when the key was pushed in, but could when the key was turned. Also I ran a jump wire from the starter to the solenoid and was still not getting any power by pushing in the key, but did when turning the key. I am 99% sure that this 'new' solenoid I put on is fine because I got it off of a friends engine that runs fine, but is sitting in his garage while he searches for a hull for it. So is it the wiring???? the only thing that keeps me from being sure of this is the fact that the power jump from the starter to the solenoid did not provide power when pushing in the key.......still stuck.

Troy