Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voyage.

[howard6212]

It was pumping water OK as I was checking constantly. But then the engine stopped and could not be restarted via the pull cord. It seemed ceased. This is my first boating experience, am I unlucky or what? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[richardabeattie]

Empty fuel tank?
Blocked air vent to fuel tank?
Kill cord detached?

 

[alb40]

Did you have enough oil mixed up in the fuel?

 

[howard6212]

Fuel mixed OK, It's the pull cord jam that worries me. The engine was a little hot too.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

What pull cord jam?
You didn't mention that.
Did you remember to take it out of gear before trying to restart?

 

[howard6212]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

yes out of gear. I have just tryed it now. (out of the water) and the cord will pull (probably cooled down. I am going to try to start it using the hose for water coolant. Wish me luck!!!

 

[FrankieJ]

Did you have the breather valve open on the fuel tank?

 

[howard6212]

Thanks frankieJ Funny you should say that. I did have the breather valve open. But since starting it on my drive. It runs better with the cap removed. It ticks over OK (If you can call it tick) I get a lot of excess smoke when I rev it in neutral, is this normal???? Is this bad for the engine? And was the fact that I couldn't pull the starter cord because it had overheated??? And why???

 

[Channel Ribs]

You may be unlucky with engines, but you are member 40,000 - which is pretty cool /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

BTW The engine trouble deffinatey sounds like fuel and or oil, I would not run it til you get it looked at. Where abouts are you?

 

[jeremyshaw]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

On new 2 strokes you are normally asked to use more oil during the run-in period so it will smoke a bit. Question of how much of course, but it should not be "a lot". A sudden, non-fatal, stop is usually lack of air, bad mix or fouled prop. Latter seems unlikely as you'd have noticed(?), though a rope would also make it hard to pull, if the shear pin did not go. Lack of fuel/air seems possible if it's running better with the cap off, but would not account for your being unable to turn it over. As it's new and under warranty I'd get the dealer to look at it so you don't void the warranty.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

I didn't read it as being a new motor. Just his maiden voayage.

We need much more detail.

 

[ggt9]

[ QUOTE ]
am I unlucky or what?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, outboards are like this /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'd agree with advice so far. My old 2 stroke Evinrude would often overheat after about 40 mins of running with spectacular hissing, smoke and steam. If your engine just stopped without fuss or just with a cough or two, I'd be inclined to think fouled prop (rope or underwater obstruction) or fuel (none left, dirty, wrong mix, no air vent, kinked hose, etc.) first.

Regarding not being able to pull the cord, some engines have a start-in-gear protection device that can fail or be very picky about where neutral is. I've had this on a Mariner so if it happens again, try flicking in and out of forward and reverse gear a few times and see if that doesn't release the cord. You can sometimes see what's going on with the engine cover and the one on the starter mechansim off but if it's new and playing up like this, maybe best to get the dealer to sort it...

 

[mandlmaunder]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

New 2 strokes need more oil for the first tank only, usually 2x normal mix
Check that the hand pump bulb is facing the correct direction the >arrow goes towards the engine(it does happen).Also check for water in the fuel use an inline filter with a clear bowl .
Water coming out of the water jet is no guarantee that water is flowing thru the engine heat exchange galleries.
Welcome to boating!!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[William_H]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

Hi Dorydude. The word you were looking for was "seized" where the engine can not be turned. This happens if the engine is too hot. The word "ceased" meaning stoped had a lot of people confused.
Anyway assuming it was seized as in overheaing (not just the pull cord system latched up with inter locks ie throttle open too far or not in neutral) then it is not surprising it runs ok now. Obviously for the expansion in the cylinders and piston to be so great that it seizes solid is not good for the engine and accelerates wear but in my experience it is not fatal to an engine.

They usually slow down before seizing with over heat. If there is plenty of water coming out the tell tale spout then probably the cooling system is OK. It might still be worth while checking the thermostat. This redirects water so the engine can get hot quicker then when it is hot reverts to normal flow around the cylinders. It should be under a little cover. You can check it's operation by plunging it into boiling water and observe a movement and opening of a valve seat.

Failing all that it is time to try the engine again in the water on the boat. You should monior the tell tail stream and if it gets very hot or turns to steam you have a problem. It would be worth doing a water pump overhaul in that case.
Unlike a 4 stroke (car) smoke in the exhaust does not mean a knackered engine. It perhaps should be ignored unless it is smoky in use under power.

good luck olewill

 

[simonfraser]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

Will, whilst you are at it, what is "overheaing" /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[William_H]

Re: Help! My 2 stroke Mariner 30HP outboard stopped on its maiden voya

High Simon it is a product of high speed "Hunt and Peck" typing that sees me miss leters and of poor eyesight and tiny display size of the reply when being written.
It is a bit like overhearing but then again nothing like that.
or is it a recalcitrant digit. One of 8 that give no end of troiuble. Totally unmanageable in fact. olewill