Outboard keeps dying on me

[the gecko]

It’s a Johnson 35hp. the 3 cyl model, built 95, fitted to my 4.1 Allycraft.

The motor just stops suddenly for no apparent reason. Its like Ive hit a sandbank or something, but Im in 10ft of water.

It seems to run fine when I go out fishing, I do a 20-30 min run at 12-20 kts in the river, no probs. If I anchor up for a few hours, and come home, it goes OK for 5-10 mins, then it just dies. So I restart it, and it starts first time, and off I go a few hundred metres, and cough, and she stops again. It still restarts fine, but the stop go process happens 5 or 6 times on the way back home. If I drive at 6kts or less, she goes good, but once on the plane, she can die without warning.

My mechanic cant find the problem cos he cant recreate it in the workshop. He ran it for 20 mins and said no worries mate. Next trip, she dies again. Second time he looks at it, the mechanic says ‘it could be the power pack, maybe your not getting enough spark’. So he loans me a second hand power pack part on the motor (doesn’t want to spend $500 if its not the issue), but she died again!

Hes checked the fuel lines and carby. Now Im really at a loss as to what to do next. Hes gonna look at it again on Tues, and maybe take it for a run. However it runs fine from the ramp, and unless you’ve got time to sit for a few hours before you come back, it wont necessarily do it again.

Any ideas guys?

cheers
Andrew

[Spaniard_King]

have you tried pumping the fuel bowl to keep it runing or do you need to pump up the fuel bowl to restart??


Does it die or cut out??

[Angla]

Is there a breathing hole on the fuel tank as it sounds like the fuel tank is starving it because of a vacuum created from the usage of fuel from the tank. BrisRyan has just picked up a small tinny and the previous owner said it will drive you crazy if you do not open the breather vent on the tank. It would do as you have described.

Cheers
Chris

[Roughasguts]

If it's as you describe and it coughs then dies it's fuel related.

First up drain your fuel tank and carby fuel bulbs it may have water sitting in it or water getting in to it as you sit and fish. Are you splashing water over your fuel tank breather as you fish cast retreive.

Clean your filters and suction test your fuel lines for leaks, then drain the fuel bulbs in your carbies and then prime more fuel in to flush them out.

Mind you johno's are good for dud coil packs.

But I think she's sucking water from your fuel tank. If it ever does it again in the future Try turning the tank around to alter the petrol pick up poin., If you turn the fuel tank 180 degrees then the water will be at the lowest end and the pick up in clear fuel.

[the gecko]

When the problem first started a month or 2 ago, I used to pump the fuel bulb, and noticed that there was no pressure in the bulb. It also felt like it there was not enough air getting back into the tank, and it was sucking like a vacuum if i opened the tank screw cap slightly.

So I thought the same issues as you guys, it must be fuel starved, but Hervey Bay Marine is a Johnson dealer, and he said he checked these things and it was not the cause. I even wanted to replace the whole fuel line and bulb, but he didnt think it was needed. he might have another look at fuel supply now tho.

Its just one of those red 22lt fuel tanks you see in BCF.

yes it cuts out very suddenly. The whole boat lurches forward when it happens. However its getting worse. On monday night, it died and wouldnt restart at all. I nearly flattened the battery. (Mighta flooded the carb?) Luckily I was near the ramp, and got back with the minn kota.

this morning it died 4 times in a row, but restarted each time.

[the gecko]

If it's as you describe and it coughs then dies it's fuel related.

First up drain your fuel tank and carby fuel bulbs it may have water sitting in it or water getting in to it as you sit and fish. Are you splashing water over your fuel tank breather as you fish cast retreive.

Clean your filters and suction test your fuel lines for leaks, then drain the fuel bulbs in your carbies and then prime more fuel in to flush them out.

Mind you johno's are good for dud coil packs.

But I think she's sucking water from your fuel tank. If it ever does it again in the future Try turning the tank around to alter the petrol pick up poin., If you turn the fuel tank 180 degrees then the water will be at the lowest end and the pick up in clear fuel.

the tank is below deck in the centre of the boat. Its a custom built storage under a large seat. Its dry there, I even keep spare clothes in there.

The tank is 80-90% full all the time, so theres no pickup issues, but i agree, I feel its fuel related.

[Roughasguts]

Oh thats easy then!

Well I could be wrong I fixed a fuel problem the other day on a blokes new boat in a caravan park we were staying at. He had the same fuel bulb feel to it anyway I tracked it down to a intermited kink in his fuel hose. It was his landing net behind the fuel tank crimping the fuel line.

Mind you now his hose has a weak spot in it and more likely to kink in that spot again.

[Angla]

A cheap way to test the fuel line is to just replace it and the bulb. How much is a new one? Then you would have a spare fuel line if it proves to not fix the problem and maybe you could use another tank and fuel line to check and see if it is tank related. That would give you a spare fuel set for when you want to go that long trip.

I think that I have read before that if the bulb does not get hard then it is the problem.

Could it be related to the 10% ethanol blend fuels?

Cheers
Chris

[rando]

Does it only die when your are near full throttle.
If so I have had the same.

Try this. Disconnect the fuel pick-up fitting from the tank and check if there is a split on the pick-up pipe inside, at the top near where it attaches to the fuel line fitting.

The fuel sloshing back and forth can weaken the pick-up hose at this point. It is more noticeable with a partially fully tank as the split is then above the fuel level.

The lower fuel load moves the pick-up hose , which opens the split in your pick-up & sucks air,,, motor stops. At rest and or lower throttle settings the small split does not suck as the pick up pressure is lower and/or the fuel is not sloshing around as much.
Pain in the ^?$#. On my old tank the fuel pick-up had been welded in . had to buy a new tank,,,, bugger.

Might save you a few bucks if it turns out to be the problem.
good luck & let us know when you have the problem beaten

rando

[Roughasguts]

Does it only die when your are near full throttle.
If so I have had the same.

Try this. Disconnect the fuel pick-up fitting from the tank and check if there is a split on the pick-up pipe inside, at the top near where it attaches to the fuel line fitting.

The fuel sloshing back and forth can weaken the pick-up hose at this point. It is more noticeable with a partially fully tank as the split is then above the fuel level.

The lower fuel load moves the pick-up hose , which opens the split in your pick-up & sucks air,,, motor stops. At rest and or lower throttle settings the small split does not suck as the pick up pressure is lower and/or the fuel is not sloshing around as much.
Pain in the ^?$#. On my old tank the fuel pick-up had been welded in . had to buy a new tank,,,, bugger.

Might save you a few bucks if it turns out to be the problem.
good luck & let us know when you have the problem beaten

rando

Thats likely! I had one of those pump up pressure tanks that split the pick up hose did the same thing spluttered air! instead of weed spray when half full.

[dreemon]

I think RAG's is onto it about the coil on its way out, or possibly stator?

[the gecko]

Oh thats easy then!

Well I could be wrong I fixed a fuel problem the other day on a blokes new boat in a caravan park we were staying at. He had the same fuel bulb feel to it anyway I tracked it down to a intermited kink in his fuel hose. It was his landing net behind the fuel tank crimping the fuel line.

Mind you now his hose has a weak spot in it and more likely to kink in that spot again.

I think your onto it. there was a kink in the fuel hose when it started, cos I kept too much junk in the storage area, like spotlights and tackle boxes. I thought cos I straightened out the hose that everything was OK. Im gonna replace the hose and I'll report back.

cheers
Andrew

[Izzey!]

had a simmilar problem on the old 60 evenrude, turned out to be crap in the tank,so when the revs got up the pickup sucked it on to the pickups strainer blocking the fuel.when the motor stoped floted off the strainer and the motor would start without any troubble,till the next time the strainer blocked.

[SCOTTYGC]

i had a simlar prob with the yammy
turned out to to be the hose fitting on to the tank

replaced it and never had the problem agian

[finga]

I had the very same problem with my first boat.
Motor would go for awhile and stop. Go stop, go stop.
Fixed it easy. New motor. Job's done.
But it was dodgy and I knew it to start with.
Your's is a different kettle of fish Andrew.
I'd try with a spare tank and spare fuel line to start with and go from there.