Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Had the boat out this weekend, engine behaved perfectly. THEN when I got back to my slip I.....
Cleaned up the tank. new fuel, Seafoam in the gas, new fuel lines ( automotive 3/8 inch lines), new fuel filter, new "spray less" Attwood quick release fuel connector to the tank.
Had the boat in dry dock and the local marine contractor (that I've know on the lake for many years) said, "yep... carbs clog, just a matter of time. Clean the carburetor" ( regarding the tah-hot-sue engine rebranded as an evinrude )
Also he recommended the Honda engine, and the yammi.
The dealer that sold me the engine also recommended the Zuki for its fuel injection. Sounds like even more complexity to me, and a new design... but he says they have been working well.
SO.. bringing the engine home and cleaning the carb is on the to do list for me...
Ray in Atlanta, Ga. "Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25 Standard Rig / Fin Keel
Ray, I’d advise you get the rebuild kit for the carb for a few reasons. You’ll likely tear a paper-thin gasket, spring the Jesus clip into parts unknown, drop the O ring down that little hole behind the bench and generally curse a lot. (Ask me how I know!) And for next time too....
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
I seem to have developed same issue ! First time in 12 years with my Honda - It initially starts okay but after running for awhile, it will die at anything close to a regular idle, have to run it at higher rpms to ensure it does not quit on me. If it does quit, then may not be able to get it restarted. I used Seafoam this past weekend and thought it had resolved the issue as the outboard was running okay after about 20 minutes and then held idle speed okay. But then went out on Sunday and then approaching the marina with outboard on and close to regular idle, it again stopped. After about 10 minutes or so, I was luckily able to restart it and was able to get back to my slip.
I have never had my outboard off the transom in 12 years. I managed to perform all maintenance that way - oil filter, plugs, fuel filter. Lower gear oil, I somehow managed to do that either in my slip with outboard tilted up and over the slip or when the boat was in the yard for bottom painting. Did my water impeller changeout also in this manner. So, I may just bring the outboard into the local marina that has a good engine mechanic or....perhaps will tackle taking off the carburetor and clean it myself.
I have a 2003 Honda 8 hp. Since I started using Marathon gas (no alcohol) about 7 years ago I never have idling problems. I used to with other alcohol cut gasoline, with or without stabilizers. The cost difference is pennies, and I use so little maybe 10 gals a season, it's more than worth it. Marathon's website shows their availability over most of the east.
I'll stick with my 1989 8HP Suzuki oil injected 2 cycle outboard. Sits for months at a time but always starts on the 3rd pull and will idle all day.
Only issue is reverse is pretty much non-existent so I "always approach the dock no faster than I want to hit it, because I usually do! LOL!!!
Actually I've got the process down so I slide into the slip at a snails pace, drop a stern line over the cleat and step off onto the dock. Might occasionally bump the rub rail on the dock (which is black in my marina... Really? Who was the idiot that came up with that idea?). Always leaves a nice black skid mark down the side of the boat when I do graze it.
...Might occasionally bump the rub rail on the dock (which is black in my marina... Really? Who was the idiot that came up with that idea?). Always leaves a nice black skid mark down the side of the boat when I do graze it.
The rub-rail on my boat is black, so everyone keeps clear! My dock edge guard is white, which can put a nice stripe on my dark green hull. There's no winning...
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Apparently the ultrasound is from Harbor Freight, for the carb cleaning. The guy I bought my boat from was a pilot, and he would dock like he was landing a plane... Drive in and hit the reverse thrusters.... It was so strange to me. I've always drifted in as my 2 strokes would often die when I'd hit reverse.
Ray in Atlanta, Ga. "Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25 Standard Rig / Fin Keel
...he would dock like he was landing a plane... Drive in and hit the reverse thrusters...
I do that when my motor is a fuel-injected car/truck engine and has more horses than my boat has feet (now by a factor of 8).
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
It may not be the plug. My Tohatsu 9.8 required the carb to be rebuilt after season 5 as I minimally used it. I found a new replacement cost the same and went that route. Since I run the engine dry after each use however I am at year 10 and expect that I will need to do so again. Gas with additives and minimal use can wreak havoc on the various rubber components in a carburetor.
Peter Bigelow C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick Rowayton, Ct Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
I did that last week, but pretty much unintentionally... I had the larger gas tank, 5.5 or 6 gallons that I filled up to about 4 gallons for our overnight trip. On the way out we had zero wind and motored until midday. Afterwards the wind picked up and we sailed for 3-4 hours.
We stopped into an island area to see the sights and by then the wind had built to 13 + 20kt gusts and seas had grown to 2-3 footers at 2-3 seconds with some breakers. So we decided to motor into the harbor to get some dinner and spend the night at the marina.
Next day we had winds dead on the nose for 15 miles so again we motored rather than tack forever.
On the last leg, we had a beautiful 12 kt breeze on the beam so we sailed the last four miles or so.
Just before entering the harbor I doused the sails to motor in. The engine ran for about 2 minutes, then sputtered and died. My first thought was holy crap, engine konked out! What if that had happened OUT THERE on the high seas! Then I checked the gas tank and it was light as a feather and dry as a bone! Problem solved.
Luckily I unfurled the jib and we sailed into the slip. Of course I still had my spare 2 gallon gas can at the ready, but didn’t need it.
Bruce Ross Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032 Port Captain — Milford, CT
<< Ending your outing by running the motor until it dies with the gas line disconnected is the way to go...>>
That's what Im doing now but it takes so long to run it out on this engine, I feel kinda wasteful...
<< running out of gas >>
Kinda happy to have another tank onboard ( in the engine ), and the new tank has a bump in the bottom that acts as a automatic backup of a little more fuel.
ANYHOO>>> I still gotta go get the fuel connector I had the dealer order. This weekend.
Ray in Atlanta, Ga. "Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25 Standard Rig / Fin Keel
I always use STartron or Stabil with each portable gas tank fill up. As far as running the outboard dry after each use - I usually only do that during the winter months when I do not go out as often as during the summer months. When I go out say 3 times a week, an argument can be made that it is better to keep the fuel lines filled with gas rather than subject them to potential moisture issues if ran dry. However, when the outboard is not used for awhile, then , yes, run the outboard till fuel lines dry.
But, there was a period this summer that I did not use the outboard for a few weeks and that and probably just over time, the carburetor needed a clean out.
Got a local guy to remove the carburetor and clean out the fuel lines. $150 outboard back to normal again !! (took 2 day service from requesting assist till completed)
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.