Help! My outboard won't start and I'm stranded.

[Golden Time]

I fitted a new fuel tank, line, primer bulb and filter to my outboard this morning. Struggled to get the filter primed at first, but eventually succeeded and got the motor started.

I set off and the motor didn't seem that responsive at first and I thought it was the choke being out. Pushed the choke in and the motor gave a burst of "normal" energy for a few seconds and then went back to not running right.

I made it to the visitor moorings just outside the marina and the motor died. I've tried restarting it but it won't.

I've put the old tank and line back on and tried again but still nothing.

The motor "cranks" when you pull the pull start and also when trying to electric start.

I thought I had maybe flooded the engine in my attempts to prime the filter so I took the lines off and pull started the motor and it turned over for about 3 seconds and died again. Thinking this had maybe cleared the flooding I reconnected everything and tried starting but there's nothing. It "cranks" but doesn't start.

When it turns over its just the sounds of the motor turning. There isn't the normal "pop" sound that you'd expect with the motor trying to start. Does this mean I need to take the plugs out?

Any help would be greatly appreciated in my hour of need.

Btw, it's a Honda 9.9hp outboard.

 

[Philiz]

Have you checked the obvious? Kill cord, petrol level, fuel vent? If so whip the plugs out, give 'em a clean and check for a spark.

 

[sailorman]

I fitted a new fuel tank, line, primer bulb and filter to my outboard this morning. Struggled to get the filter primed at first, but eventually succeeded and got the motor started.

I set off and the motor didn't seem that responsive at first and I thought it was the choke being out. Pushed the choke in and the motor gave a burst of "normal" energy for a few seconds and then went back to not running right.

I made it to the visitor moorings just outside the marina and the motor died. I've tried restarting it but it won't.

I've put the old tank and line back on and tried again but still nothing.

The motor "cranks" when you pull the pull start and also when trying to electric start.

I thought I had maybe flooded the engine in my attempts to prime the filter so I took the lines off and pull started the motor and it turned over for about 3 seconds and died again. Thinking this had maybe cleared the flooding I reconnected everything and tried starting but there's nothing. It "cranks" but doesn't start.

When it turns over its just the sounds of the motor turning. There isn't the normal "pop" sound that you'd expect with the motor trying to start. Does this mean I need to take the plugs out?

Any help would be greatly appreciated in my hour of need.

Btw, it's a Honda 9.9hp outboard.

when pushing the primer pump into the hose have you inadvertently restricted the flow with debris

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

A different engine but a similar problem.....

We done a similar service to our old Suzi DT55 a few years back. Changed a connector, cleaned and re-fitted the on engine filter at the little diagphram pump and changed the in line filter.
The damn thing was an absolute mule to start after!
To get it going we had to take the fuel connection off and while holding the ball bearing seal on the end of the fuel line pushed in, we had to squirt fuel directly into two of the three carbs, connect the fuel line up then start her...first turn every time!
We think we dislodged a load of **** from somewhere that clogged or part blocked one or two of the needle jets in the carbs, causing not enough fuel to enter the carbs to start her, but once the engine was revving, the draw from the carbs was enough to drag the fuel through as normal.
A quick blast around at WOT for an hour sorted the problem and it never happened again!

 

[Spi D]

Have you checked the second obvious? Primer bulb fitted to pumpt in wrong direction?

 

[Golden Time]

Have you checked the obvious? Kill cord, petrol level, fuel vent? If so whip the plugs out, give 'em a clean and check for a spark.

Doesn't have a kill cord so that's ok. Defo got petrol in both tanks. Vent defo open on new one. Just been and bought a plug spanner. What's easiest way to check for a spark?

Have you checked the second obvious? Primer bulb fitted to pumpt in wrong direction?

Fitted it with fuel flowing in direction of arrows? That's right isn't it? LoL.

 

[fireball]

What's easiest way to check for a spark?

Remove the plug.
Hold it with a big pair of insulated pliers (or similar)
plug the HT lead back into the end
hold it against a metal part on the outboard - this will act as the ground -
turn the engine over and watch for the blue sparks ...

I'd turn the fuel off whilst doing this ...

 

[Lakesailor]

It may be electrical, but why would the problem arise after changing tanks?
Is it actually the correct fuel connector on the new hose? Is it a genuine Honda one? Some of the cheap copies roll the "O" ring up and either cut off the fuel or allow air to be drawn in rather than fuel.
Pull the fuel pipe off the float chamber and pump the bulb. If fuel spurts out of the pipe turn your attention to the carb.

 

[Golden Time]

It may be electrical, but why would the problem arise after changing tanks?
Is it actually the correct fuel connector on the new hose? Is it a genuine Honda one? Some of the cheap copies roll the "O" ring up and either cut off the fuel or allow air to be drawn in rather than fuel.
Pull the fuel pipe off the float chamber and pump the bulb. If fuel spurts out of the pipe turn your attention to the carb.

The engine doesn't have a connector, it has a nipple that you push the hose onto. I've pushed it on and tightened up a jubilee clip to make sure it's air tight. That's the set up that the previous tank had and it was fine so I'm thinking its not a problem with the fuel tank and line.

I've checked the primer bulb and it is pumping in the right direction.

I took the plugs out and they were dry, but black as anything. I didn't/can't test them though until I have someone else here to press the starter whilst I hold the spark plug against the motor. Should they be black? It didn't wipe off when I tried. I pulled the starter a few times when they were out to try to get rid of any fuel flood but it didn't make any difference to trying to start the motor.

 

[PaulGooch]

I fitted a new fuel tank, line, primer bulb and filter to my outboard this morning. Struggled to get the filter primed at first, but eventually succeeded and got the motor started.

That looks like a massive clue to me.

Lakesailer's suggestion would be my first job "Pull the fuel pipe off the float chamber and pump the bulb. If fuel spurts out of the pipe turn your attention to the carb. "

Pump some into a can with the primer bulb, try putting your finger over the end to make sure it pumps though with a bit of a restriction. Make sure it's all fuel, no air.

The black on the plugs isn't the problem.

 

[Golden Time]

That looks like a massive clue to me.

Lakesailer's suggestion would be my first job "Pull the fuel pipe off the float chamber and pump the bulb. If fuel spurts out of the pipe turn your attention to the carb. "

Pump some into a can with the primer bulb, try putting your finger over the end to make sure it pumps though with a bit of a restriction. Make sure it's all fuel, no air.

The black on the plugs isn't the problem.

I've put the old tank, line and primer bulb back on the motor and its still not working. I've took the new set up out of the equation. To isolate the problem.

I now defo know that it's something to do with the actual motor rather than the new fuel assembly.

I have no idea what to turn my attention to in the carb because I know absolutely nothing about carbs.

Given that I can't hear the "pop' when it turns over I'm suspicious that the plugs might not e working. But that's only because in my head I assume the "pop" is the spark igniting the first bits of fuel that aren't enough to sustain the engine.

 

[fireball]

I've put the old tank, line and primer bulb back on the motor and its still not working. I've took the new set up out of the equation. To isolate the problem.

I now defo know that it's something to do with the actual motor rather than the new fuel assembly.

I have no idea what to turn my attention to in the carb because I know absolutely nothing about carbs.

Given that I can't hear the "pop' when it turns over I'm suspicious that the plugs might not e working. But that's only because in my head I assume the "pop" is the spark igniting the first bits of fuel that aren't enough to sustain the engine.

It's simple enough checks - as it was working before ...

1) Check fuel supply - you've done that - although you've reported an initial problem ...
2) Check spark
3) Check Carb

if 2 and 3 are clear then change the fuel ...

We had a non-running outboard this year - after stripping the carb a few times, checking fuel lines etc etc, changed the sparkplug and fuel and it ran fine ...
I suspect the sparkplug was fine (it did spark) but the fuel was off ...

It sounds like you need to do section 3 - check and clean the carb ...

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes how old is the fuel? Does it smell like petrol normally smells? If not then change it and try some fresh fuel, that may solve your issue. Try the easy solutions first and work your way through to the more complex issues. Normally it will be one of the easiest solutions.

 

[Golden Time]

The fuel in the old tank is only a couple of weeks old at most. The new tank has new fuel from today.

My father in law is on his way to have a look at it now he's just got back from Manchester. Hopefully with his mechanic know how he will be able to sort it. He knows his way around cars and bikes so knows more than me at least.

I'm annoyed I even changed the fuel tank now, all in the name of safety though. LoL.

 

[Deefor]

Stuck carb float?

 

[l'escargot]

Why did you change the fuel line, was there a problem before that you were trying to solve?

 

[Golden Time]

Why did you change the fuel line, was there a problem before that you were trying to solve?

The old fuel line was rubber that felt perished and worn and it attached to a quick connector (on the tank side) that I havent seen anywhere else. The fuel filter was plastic and had gone completely opaque. The fuel tank had a deffective fuel gauge and was old, heavy and had been bashed about a bit and only held 10L(ish).

After a hairy situation when we ran out of fuel in the middle of the river because we had forgot to top up the tank I decided that I should invest in a bigger easier tank.

So I bought a 22L plastic portable tank (with a reserve section), male and female quick connectors for the tank side, 2m of fuel line, fuel filter and primer bulb. Then replecated the setup before filling up and setting off for my 500m journey.

So in reality, perhaps I tried to fix what wasnt broken... and now I'm paying for it. The motor ran fine, albeit didnt like idling - but that seems to be a trait of the Honda 9.9

 

[longjohnsilver]

Did you have a fuel filter before today? That seems unusual for that size of engine. Maybe try taking it off or bypassing it.
When you took the plugs out did they smell of petrol? If they didn't then it seems fuel is not getting to the engine.

 

[Golden Time]

An update...

My father in law and his mate have looked the motor over and we've gone through the checks suggested.

Checked fuel tank pumps fuel through the primer to the filter - CHECK!
Confirmed the fuel pump pumps fuel through to the carb - CHECK!
Bled the Carb to check it has fuel in - CHECK!

Removed spark plugs and confirmed they sparked - CHECK!

Plugs were dry at first, but after turning the engine over several times they were wet.

On a couple of occasions the motor seemed like with just a little more oomph it would have turned over.

They have decided that its defo not an electrical problem because all of the electric components have been verified as working.

Its not a fuel delivery to the carb problem because we have verified that fuel is getting that far.

So now they have gone home and will be back in the morning with some carb cleaner and EZ start because they have narrowed it down that it needs something to make it turn over and once it turns over and starts once, all will be fine. (thats Bikers for you).

I have my fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, keep them coming if anyone can think of anything in case this EZ start wish and a prayer doesnt work. lol.

 

[misterg]

Did you flush the new fuel line, primer, etc. out before connecting it to the engine? If not, you may have pushed all manner of rubbish, spiders and snot that was lurking inside these parts into the carb.

Suggest cleaning the carb.

0.02p

Andy