Outboard Motor and Generator Troubleshooting | Squat the Planet

Outboard Motor and Generator Troubleshooting

Seeds21

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Heres a few tips from Captain Shawn on how to get that frusterating POS running again.

First of all a motor needs 3 things to run AIR, FUEL, SPARK

Lets start with spark. Pull the plug is it oily corroded oxidized? 2 strokes get very oily and wont start try this trick got a propane stove great cook the business end of the spark plug burns off all the oil. Let it cool then sand all the crap off the electrode. Now put the plug back on the wire hold it to some metal pull the recoil if you get shocked or you see the spark jump you have fixed the problem. If not its ethier the points, wire, or ignition coil ussualy.

Air

Take the plug out put your them over the hole pull the recoil due you have good air coming out then you got compression. Short of that get a compression gauge do a proper test. Common no compression is often worn out pistion rings.

Fuel

Start simple drain out all the fuel put in new fuel try to start it. Often watery fuel from condensation is the problem. That doesnt work try this. Pull of the fuel line to the carb is fuel running out? Then your not plugged up there. Next spot the carb take it off the motor remove all plastic pieces carefully save all parts the bottom of a pop bottle cut around works great for that. Get a pot or old soup can make sure its clean boil the carb for 15 min gets all the rust and white crap out. Gas over long periods of time left sitting turns to solvent which wont burn in your motor. Reassemble the carb put it on the motor fire that puppy up. That should get you going again 75% of the time. If all this fails get to the public library find the repair manual for your motor.

Remember sometimes outboards feel like some crappy technology left here by an alien race just for there amusement to watch us struggle with them and laugh but when they run the pleasure had more then makes up for it.

Cheers captain shawn
 

Tude

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hehe - very cool there are some people here who are interested in getting a boat out there. thanks for the input :)
 

travelingjoe

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Gotta add... If no spark with new plug. Get to magneto. Use fine grit sandpaper if it's rusty. And sand. Just shiny it up. on outside of magneto is conductor with 2 bolts normally not more than that... Sand that... EVENLY.. Just make shiny. Then put a paper business card in between the 2. As you replace it. Not your driverslicence. Its a hair 2 thick.. But that will send spark back to the plug. The paper business card should pull out frombetween magneto and what I call the conductor. (half moon shaped magnet) but the business card shouldn't slide back in easily. Hope this will help too. Didn't see actual question. Hope I'm not intruding. Peace

400-600 grit sandpaper. Is fine grit...
 

kecleon

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This applies to motorcycles and older cars too.

Like you im always thinkin fuel air spark and just work my way back in order of easiest to access.

Also if something wont start ands been sittin a long time and whoever put it away didn't turn off the fuel there's usually a drain screw on the carb at the bottom you turn off fuel undo the screw let the shitty fuel drain out then do it back up. Turn on fuel wait a minute for carb tonfill then it should start right up all else being ok. If its got all gummed up you might have to take it off still but its worth just draining it to see since it takes a while.to remove clean and refit. If its gummed up make sure you get all the jets clean since that's what make the carb work right.

Also if you turn on the fuel an itnjust leaks out everywhere that's dirt fucking with the float, it should run like that but youll waste a load of petrol. Clean the carb and put a inline fuel filter if end up with dirt/sand/rust in your tank much.

Working on engines best thing is always keep positive, methodical and dont ever force anyrhing or be too heavy handed with parts, be careful.with everything especially smaller engines, remember that thing wants to run all engines want to run just gotta give it what it needs. Mechanical shit is a lot simpler than people think.
 
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