I have a 1988 Sea Sprite 17' with 1988 Force 125 HP. The boat has run good the last few years, but this year when we took it out it started, but when you hit the throttle it revs up for about 20-30 seconds and then dies. Then it is hard to start. Once started it will rev up again and then sort of bucks, sputters, and then dies. When it sputters you can roll back the throttle and it will stay running only briefly. I can putters around for about 3-5 minutes at low throttle and rpms, but it eventually dies. Tried hooking up the tube just to give the 3 year old a ride at 5mph and it dies when the rope became taught, so it dies under any load.
Ran her in the driveway with the muffs, same problem.
Ok now what I have done to solve the problem.
Years of snowmobiling told me that it was starving for fuel. Not really worried about fuel starvation damaging the engine...it sputters and dies too fast.
Spark and Compression are great.
changed fuel filter
changed fuel lines and bulb from the transom to the engine
rebuilt fuel pump
Also noticed the idle speed screw was missing, no wonder it hasn't idled well. That was an easy fix.
Ran her in the driveway with the muffs, revved up, idled great. Ready to hit the water and get the idle dialed in.
Also it is a clear filter and didn't see any air in there until I shut it off, then after a few minutes the fuel settles and I see a little air in the filter, priming takes care of that.
Took her to Bangs Lake, Wauconda, IL (they charge $20 to launch what a rip off). Started great idled great, putted out past the no wake great. Gave her some throttle took off like it should and just as she was planing out, 20-30 seconds, she sputtered and hesitated. Didn't die, but slowed to about 5 mph, rolled back the throttle and she putted around for a few seconds and died. Started right back up. Same deal revved up started to plane and then sputtered, hesitated and died. Same deal half dozen more times. Still starving for fuel. Started her up this time when she started to die I pumped the bulb, kept her going for about another 1-2 minutes, then the bulb went flat and she died. Still starving for fuel.
Got out the spare 2 gallon tank took the fuel line off of the transom shoved it into the 2 gallon tank, squeezed the bulb and started her up. She ran great, idled great, planed out, we had a great time for the last 30 minutes we were out there.
Asked the guy at the marina what he thought. He said check your fuel line from the tank to the transom and your anti-siphon valve. He also said maybe your pick-up is plugged or your screen at the end of the pick-up.
Called a local Mercury dealer and he said outboards don't usually require anti-siphon valves. I said so I don't have one. He says, "your not listening,outboards don't usually require anti-siphon valves, interpret that however you want." I will never call Ken's Power N Sail in Palatine, he talks to you like you are the jerk. I called asking to buy an anti-siphon valve, all I got was attitude.
Dug in there today, man you have to practically be a contortionist to get under there, but I made it. There is an anti-siphon valve. Fuel line looked OK, replacing it anyway. Can't find the anti-siphon locally and I want to try it out again on Friday. Might buy the 3/8" pipe threaded one I found and adapt it down for the 1/4" pipe thread pick-up. Teflon?
Questions?
Any other suggestions please???????
Can I take the pick-up out. I looks like it might be soldered in there. I'm afraid to try to turn it. It's a round plug in the top of the the tank with an elbow leading to female thread, 1/4" pipe for the anti-siphon valve.
Also what is a water/gas separating filter? Do I need one? Where does it go and how does it work?
Please any help would be great?
Ran her in the driveway with the muffs, same problem.
Ok now what I have done to solve the problem.
Years of snowmobiling told me that it was starving for fuel. Not really worried about fuel starvation damaging the engine...it sputters and dies too fast.
Spark and Compression are great.
changed fuel filter
changed fuel lines and bulb from the transom to the engine
rebuilt fuel pump
Also noticed the idle speed screw was missing, no wonder it hasn't idled well. That was an easy fix.
Ran her in the driveway with the muffs, revved up, idled great. Ready to hit the water and get the idle dialed in.
Also it is a clear filter and didn't see any air in there until I shut it off, then after a few minutes the fuel settles and I see a little air in the filter, priming takes care of that.
Took her to Bangs Lake, Wauconda, IL (they charge $20 to launch what a rip off). Started great idled great, putted out past the no wake great. Gave her some throttle took off like it should and just as she was planing out, 20-30 seconds, she sputtered and hesitated. Didn't die, but slowed to about 5 mph, rolled back the throttle and she putted around for a few seconds and died. Started right back up. Same deal revved up started to plane and then sputtered, hesitated and died. Same deal half dozen more times. Still starving for fuel. Started her up this time when she started to die I pumped the bulb, kept her going for about another 1-2 minutes, then the bulb went flat and she died. Still starving for fuel.
Got out the spare 2 gallon tank took the fuel line off of the transom shoved it into the 2 gallon tank, squeezed the bulb and started her up. She ran great, idled great, planed out, we had a great time for the last 30 minutes we were out there.
Asked the guy at the marina what he thought. He said check your fuel line from the tank to the transom and your anti-siphon valve. He also said maybe your pick-up is plugged or your screen at the end of the pick-up.
Called a local Mercury dealer and he said outboards don't usually require anti-siphon valves. I said so I don't have one. He says, "your not listening,outboards don't usually require anti-siphon valves, interpret that however you want." I will never call Ken's Power N Sail in Palatine, he talks to you like you are the jerk. I called asking to buy an anti-siphon valve, all I got was attitude.
Dug in there today, man you have to practically be a contortionist to get under there, but I made it. There is an anti-siphon valve. Fuel line looked OK, replacing it anyway. Can't find the anti-siphon locally and I want to try it out again on Friday. Might buy the 3/8" pipe threaded one I found and adapt it down for the 1/4" pipe thread pick-up. Teflon?
Questions?
Any other suggestions please???????
Can I take the pick-up out. I looks like it might be soldered in there. I'm afraid to try to turn it. It's a round plug in the top of the the tank with an elbow leading to female thread, 1/4" pipe for the anti-siphon valve.
Also what is a water/gas separating filter? Do I need one? Where does it go and how does it work?
Please any help would be great?
