so many issues....

overflowin

Cadet
Joined
Jun 3, 2010
Messages
7
ok, so i got this boat for a steal, `79 starcraft fishmaster with an `86 evinrude 70hp motor... perfect boat for what i do, which is fish lakes around indiana... i've had this sucker out a couple times now, after i replaced the lower unit, which was a known issue when the boat came to me. motor has always been a little hard to start, but once running it would keep on keepin' on while being fed water from the muffs. now i have had it out on the water twice, and i've had some issues... hoping you generous folks could help me out. this is my first boat with an outboard, so honestly, i know only slightly more than jack schmidt.

issue 1... hard starting... sometimes. i don't know if this is a fuel delivery problem, or an ignition problem. sometimes i have to crank the daylights out of it till it sputters then hit the high idle lever to get her going, other times i just bump the key and she's going.

issue 2... motor dies coming down from WOT. i can rev her up on the muffs and have no issues, but once on the water, i have found that i have to reduce the throttle very slowly or she will die, and usually at this point, well, see issue 1.

issue 3... shakes like crazy... she kinda knocks around in a borderline violent fashion... i wouldn't expect this thing to be as smooth and quiet as a lexus, but its pretty intense. i checked the bushings where the mid section mounts to the power trim/tilt and they are in tact, but look a little old and slightly cracked...

issue 3... yesterday on the water we lost all electric... now i am a Journeyman Electrician, and spent 11 years before that working on automotive electrical systems, so i was able to get her going... nothing worked until i removed what it thought was an old voltage gauge from the dash. once i did that and dropped 12v on the wire that feeds the remote control she started cranking again, but now the trim and tilt are working intermittently. it would save me a great deal of time and metering if someone can identify the brown/tan wire, and the white/tan wire that were hooked to this gauge. they aren't hooked up at the moment, and they are probably the reason my motor won't tilt unless i jump the relay contacts.

any help on this is appreciated. i apologize for the novel, but i really want this thing running reliably and safely before i take my kids fishing, and they really wanna go fishing.

thanks!
 

mark1961

Ensign
Joined
Apr 30, 2007
Messages
940
Re: so many issues....

You state that this is your "first boat with an outboard" so regarding issue 1.....describe your cold starting procedure.....

Quite possible most of your issues are carb related.....how long has it been since theyve been gone through?
 

the machinist

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 7, 2002
Messages
711
Re: so many issues....

Those motors will need to be choked for a cold start. Push the ignityion key in to activate the elecrtric choke.

With loss o fpower & shaking, it sounds like you have one cylinder not firing. This could be numerous reasons.

As for trim problems, I am now working on that for my grandson's 1980 70hp

Good luck
 

overflowin

Cadet
Joined
Jun 3, 2010
Messages
7
Re: so many issues....

I've been starting it cold by first priming the fuel till the filter cup is full to the line, turning the switch on the choke solenoid, then turning the key and moving the. Fast idle lever up when she sounds like she's starting to fire. If this process isn't correct, let me know... my old boat was an I/o and started like a car...

as for the carbs, i have no idea when they were last inspected and cleaned, but i'm heading outside to do that when i finish this post... i've thought about ordering rebuild kits for them, at $19 a piece it seems like a good investment...
 
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