Outboard not starting.

[munster1967]

Hi folks.
2 HP 2 stroke Suzuki started today ran for 15 seconds then wouldn't start again. Was running perfectly before this. ??

 

[johnalison]

NB I am not an engineer, but when my 2.2 Suzuki did the same thing it was cured by using fresh instead of old petrol. I have no doubt there are at least forty other possible reasons.

 

[Aja]

Hi folks.
2 HP 2 stroke Suzuki started today ran for 15 seconds then wouldn't start again. Was running perfectly before this. ??

Persevere with new petrol - highest octane you can reasonably get.

I wouldn't give up my 2hp Suzuki for anything. Always, but always starts first pull.

Edit : don't over do the 2T - 50:1 is plenty. 100:1 is better.

 

[wonkywinch]

Had plenty of two stroke garden tools. They were a bu$$er with old (ethanol %) petrol that gummed up the small carbs. In the end I used very expensive premixed fuel (Motomix) but I guess this wouldn't be economical for an outboard as it's £5 a litre.

Is non ethanol petrol available anywhere these days?

 

[DownWest]

We can get 5% ethanol lead free at the local Carrefour, so not too bad.. Really don't want the 10%;

 

[munster1967]

Had plenty of two stroke garden tools. They were a bu$$er with old (ethanol %) petrol that gummed up the small carbs. In the end I used very expensive premixed fuel (Motomix) but I guess this wouldn't be economical for an outboard as it's £5 a litre.

Is non ethanol petrol available anywhere these days?

Very expensive fuel.

 

[stu9000]

It's always the carbs. Easy to remove on this outboard. I leave disassembled in white spirit overnight. Fresh plug and fuel and she is a reliable ol girl.

 

[dunedin]

Very expensive fuel.

But a 2hp only sips tiny amounts of fuel, so running on E5 petrol rather than E10 probably only adds a quid or so per annum - and saves a lot of carb cleaning

 

[munster1967]

It's always the carbs. Easy to remove on this outboard. I leave disassembled in white spirit overnight. Fresh plug and fuel and she is a reliable ol girl.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[B27]

New petrol
Clean carb
New spark plug.

There are plenty of other things that can go wrong, too much oil building up in the crankcase, choke not coming off, electronic ignition, kill switch....

Very often a motor which 'just won't start' will respond to angry bloke pulling the string harder at full throttle....

 

[Mark-1]

Fresh Fuel, new spark plug. Bet it starts.

If it still doesn't run, check for spark and if there's spark clean the carb.

Whatever this is it will be trivial.

 

[Sandy]

When was it last used?

 

[munster1967]

Fresh Fuel, new spark plug. Bet it starts.

If it still doesn't run, check for spark and if there's spark clean the carb.

Whatever this is it will be trivial.

Thank you for your reply. I'll try this.

 

[munster1967]

When was it last used?

4-5 weeks ago.

 

[munster1967]

But a 2hp only sips tiny amounts of fuel, so running on E5 petrol rather than E10 probably only adds a quid or so per annum - and saves a lot of carb cleaning

So is this premium at the petrol pumps. ??

 

[Minerva]

Fresh Fuel, new spark plug. Bet it starts.

If it still doesn't run, check for spark and if there's spark clean the carb.

Whatever this is it will be trivial.

I'd do this and clean the carb at the same time.

You can buy carb cleaning tool from amazon - looks like a multitool with various sized wire pipe cleaners /. wires. Costs a quid or so and makes the carb cleaning process trivial. Worthy of a place in your onboard toolbox.

 

[dunedin]

So is this premium at the petrol pumps. ??

Name depends on the brand, but basically yes - a slightly more expensive petrol. The petrol station nearest Largs marina for example has a pump labelled E5. Not all places sell it so I search out at start of season.
If your fuel tank hasn’t been drained in the 3 years, nor the carb cleaned (a 10 min job) this is likely the reason, as above.

 

[srm]

Very often a motor which 'just won't start' will respond to angry bloke pulling the string harder at full throttle....

Quietly rowing ashore in Rhum anchorage passed boat with two angry blokes in dinghy. Had a pleasant walk ashore. Rowing back to the boat a couple of hours later passed same two now very angry blokes still pulling a bit of string. The amount of energy being expended would have easily taken them ashore and back four or five times if they had a decent pair of oars.

 

[Aja]

So is this premium at the petrol pumps. ??

Yes.

 

[Sandro]

@ srm
This reminds me of the advise in the Seagull Owner Manual of 60 years ago: "If it does not start at the second or third pull there must be a reason; do search for this. Keeping on pulling the starter only worsens things".