Need help starting my engine!!

[fm_hunter]

Okay, I'm a total newbie when it comes to boats. I recently bought an older used boat, with a '79 evinrude outboard. I have been trying to start it to no avail. I just cranks and cranks, but never catches, and eventually I just kill my battery. I looked in the motor, and noticed all 3 sparks were so loose I could rattle them around and take them out by hand. I took one out and looked at it, and it was pretty gunked up with oil. Is new plugs all I need, and could this have been causing my problem with the continual motor cranking, but never starting?<br />Thank you SOOOO much for anyone who can help!<br /><br />Hunter<br />fm_hunter@yahoo.com

 

[MarkC]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

You may not even need new plugs, or you may need much more. I think you should get a manual and carefully read the parts about operation and maintenance.

 

[fm_hunter]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

Thanks for replaying. Yeah, I think I am going to at least invest in the motor manual, and see where to go from there.

 

[JB]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

Howdy, Hunter. Please don't take this personally, but you have a way to go to get up to zero on that engine. Before we can really help you we need a LOT more information, and you need to be able to recognize technical terms in our questions.<br /><br />One plus: it turns over when you engage the starter. Good<br /><br />Next: I'm going to guess that your engine is a '79 70hp 3cylinder. A very good design and initially a great engine, but 22 years old, and who knows what sort of abuse/neglect she may have suffered in those 22 years? We need to know the compression. It would be best if we could get hot compression, but since she wont start (yet) we will settle for cold.<br /><br />We also need to know if there is spark at the plugs. Hold each wire about 1/2" from the block and turn it over with ignition turned on. If it arcs, good. If not, tell us.<br /><br />Take all carburetors apart and clean them. Ensure that all tiny passages (jets) are clean and clear.<br /><br />Dispose of any old fuel. Clean tank, fuel lines and fuel pump. Prepare a few gallons of fuel: 87 octane unleaded, alcohol-free gasoline, mixed at a 50:1 ratio with TC-W3 rated 2 stroke oil. Recommend Wal-Mart Super Tech or Mercury Quicksilver.<br /><br />Get a new set of spark plugs, Champion L77J4, gapped at .030 to .040.<br /><br />Let us know when you have done the above and what you have found (compression and spark).<br /><br />Standing by.<br /><br />JB

 

[fm_hunter]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

J.B.<br />Wow and thanks for all the information! I will proceed with your instructions, although it may take me a little while (got young kids running about!) I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out...<br /><br />Hunter

 

[fm_hunter]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

J.B.<br /><br />One more note, I may have misinformed you about one aspect of the motor. I have had it running, quite well in fact. About 5 weeks ago, I had it out and running, although it did take a little to get it going (about 5 minutes of cranking). I tried starting it last week, and while I did get it to catch a few times, it eventually died as I am still getting used to the motor. Then I think I flooded it, using the elctric choke too much. I thought letting it sit for a week would make it so I could start it, but I turned it over for about 10 minutes today without the slightest hint of a catch. When I went to prime the carburator with the ball thingie on the fuel hose, its still rock hard from last week...any thoughts?

 

[JB]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

GOOD!! That greatly increases the probability that we will have her purring like a kitten in no time. <br /><br />One more thing: you haven't mentioned any problem with heat, but the water pump impeller needs to be changed at least every 2 years or anytime you can't say when it was last replaced.<br /><br />Standing by for additional info.<br /><br />Red sky at night, sailor's delight!. . . .<br />JB

 

[prplhze65]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

I HOPE THAT YOU LET YOUR STARTER REST! IF YOU OVER DO IT YOUR GONNA BE ASKING THESE GUYS HOW TO CHANGE OUT A STARTER.

 

[fm_hunter]

Re: Need help starting my engine!!

thanks for all the help guys, got her started yesterday. Changed out the plugs, and opened up the fuel filter, which let out a bunch of air. I think maybe I had pumped air into the carb when I primed it with the pump, instead of fuel. After replacing the filter, I primed carb again, and the engine started right up and purred! Yeah baby!