Mechanical genius

[jhr]

I'm not a great expert on how engines work - I've never made a secret of it - but I managed to hit a new nadir today.

The plan was to go down to the boat tonight, stay overnight and go out tomorrow to have a look at the Powerboat racing at Cowes. So, we go down this afternoon, inflate the dinghy, put the outboard on the back, fill up the tank, load up and off we go.... except the outboard doesn't. It won't start, whatever I do, and we're reduced to paddling back to the pontoon. The mooring is a fair pull up-wind and tide and there's no way I can row there and back a couple of times to get gear, SWMBO and kids on board the boat.

So, with much swearing and cursing, we put everything back in the car and come home (only 25 miles, luckily) and I get the outboard out of the car to see if there's anything I can do, with my limited mechanical knowledge. The spark plug looks OK, but I give it a clean for good measure, the fuel cock is open as is the air vent on the top of the tank. No good. Just as I am about to give up, it occurs to me that I mixed up a new batch of 2-stroke mixture this morning. I empty the contents of the outboard tank back into the jerry can and swill everything around vigorously, then re-fill the o/b. It starts first pull and runs happily in the water butt for five minutes..

So - presumably - the 2 stroke oil hadn't mixed properly with the petrol when I originally filled it up.

B*ll*cks........................ /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[opalcutter]

Dont worry about it. My mate took me out earlier this year in his new boat. After about 15 minutes messing about off the harbour the engine died and wouldnt restart. To cut a long story short we were towed in by the Harbour master and we took said boat home. I took the engine apart and cleaned everything still no joy. I then jokingly said if only it were something simple like not opening the fuel tank air valve. This was met with utter silence and an extremely red face. Oh yes and a very easily started engine. So you see you are not the only one!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[duncanmack]

Not a poke at you. James, but did you put the oil in the can before filling it? Or afterwards?

Before - mixes well itself. Afterwards - shaking large can and liable to hurt yourself.
Been there - done that.

BTW I have a petrol station and I see this on a daily basis.
The favourite on old(er) 2 stroke m/bikes was to forget to put petrol tap off, add oil then petrol. No go.
Carb full of 2 stroke oil.

My old man has a Seagull (15/1) Johnson (25/1) and a Yamaha (50/1). Does he mark the respective extra fuel cans?
Does he remember which can is which?
Nope.
and I aint psychic.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Kawasaki]

Nope, that wouldn,t stop it firing. (jubious mix I mean)
However,"I cleaned the sparkplug for good measure"
That could be relevant. (more later)
Swilling out the tank and shaking it all about.
Thats good cos you may have had a bit of water / crap/foreign body in the tank/ fuel filter/ float bowl.
Normally though if you,d have crud in the float bowl to get shut you,d have had to have drained it.
You,ve had muck in somewhere or you,ve flooded it for some reason.
If you had too much oil in the mix it would still start,maybe smoke like The Graffspey (or whatever that krawt pocket battleship was called) and eventually stop after "oiling up"
To little lube, would run like a motorcrosser for a while and then seize!
So an innacurate mix aint the prob.
Whence finally getting it to" ring der ding ding "in the tub did She tickover ok?
Have you been back again for a second Test Tub?
Not trying to teach Granny and all that stuff,but if you maybe forgot to open the tank vent didn,t stick the choke on forgot to turn the fuel on initially, any of those automatic procedures and started "Pulling for England" The plug will oil up or the float bowl will flood. That kind of thing and they don,t want to play.

Said this before on here ---If a little outboard don,t go after 3 pulls summats up.
Stop think and double check every element is right --You know-- Fuel ,vent ,choke etc. BUT DON,T KEEP PULLING. cos it makes matters worse and that,s not what your right arms for!!!
Go back to Tub and make sure it phuts by three! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BrendanS]

Look on the postive side,

I can take the inside of a computer apart, but don't want to see the inside of anything that involves grease or oil...or anything involving tools kits if it comes down that level

You've done more boating in one weekend than I have done in months (actually not true, had a great bit of boating the other weekend, but not on mine)

You'll know better next time, and others will learn the same lesson via your input

 

[Kawasaki]

Yep Duncs right to, you lob the 2 stroke oil in first with the fuel tap open carb full of oil. But if you had done that it would still be their probably.
Like I said if crud/ oil/ water etc had got in the carb unless you drained it,still be there methinks.
Used to have a Filling Station in the 60,s Dunc 2 stroke "shot,s" one and sixpence a go! "5 gallons and a squirt of Redex please" "That,l be One pound two shillings and sixpence please--Check your oil Sir" "Get lost I can get oil tuppence cheaper down the road one and thruppence a pint? you must be joking"

Nothing changes really does it!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[duncanmack]

2T oil - 85p a shot!!

 

[Kawasaki]

That,s one shilling and sixpence= about err ---Sweat F.A in todays Coin.
FA ? Going to watch Match of The Day now, Spurs 0 Everton 2 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Back in a bit!

 

[jhr]

Thanks, Richard; I'm going to have another go in the waterbutt tomorrow, to see what happens. It ticked over OK yesterday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Will report back.

The oil was in the jerry can, but I poured in the petrol from another can, and I just don't think there was enough agitation to mix it up. I think I was effectively trying to get the outboard to run on neat petrol, when it's happier with 50/1 (old Mariner).

We never did get out to see the powerboats; sat in the sun (and cloud) on Southbourne beach all day, instead, and got a pink nose /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

 

[Kawasaki]

Don,t agitate your pink nose too much .
You don,t want a poorly snifter+ a snotty outboard! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif