Outboard won't start -

Yes, vent on fuel tank open.

It'll turn over fine until it does that 'whir' and then shakes a tad the cuts out as per the video. i'll then need to re-turn the key to get it turning again.

Next time i pop down i'll check for sparks when turning. i looked at them last time (when not turning) and they looked brand new.

Giles

I dont understand what we are seeing in the video then.

It appears to show three brief attempts to start the engine. Are you saying that you are not releasing the key between these three apparent attempts?

What "whir " am I supposed to be hearing ???????
 
With the engine in gear try jiggling the prop back and forth. Try jiggling in both forward and reverse gears and see if you can free off the motor and pull the starter cord to see if it's turning. If you're not sure whether it's simply compression then whip out the spark plugs and try jiggling and pulling the cord again. If it's free it will be easy to pull on the cord with no plugs.

Richard

DISCONNECT THE SPARK PLUG LEADS before you do this. If it started (unlikely I know, but why take the chance) the prop would take your fingers off.
 
Hi


The first and last attempt I don't stop turning the key if you listen and look close the outboard shakes slightly then it won't turn again.

The second attempt is me just stopping and then twisting again.

Hope that makes sense
 
Hi


The first and last attempt I don't stop turning the key if you listen and look close the outboard shakes slightly then it won't turn again.

The second attempt is me just stopping and then twisting again.

Hope that makes sense
So can you crank it by hand over and over again of will it crank by hand a little way then come to a dead stop?

Remove the plugs to eliminate compression as reason for it not to easily crank by hand.
 
Take the plugs out after a bit of cranking. If they're dry, then it looks like a fuel problem.
If they're wet or dirty try cleaning them with a squirt of carb cleaner.

The engine not cranking at times can be caused by low battery or a bad contact.
I've heard some of these outboards, the starter relay will drop out during cranking, so you only get a short burst of cranking or none at all.
Check the manual for kill switches, interlocks that stop it cranking in gear etc.
If you've not cleaned the carb, at least drain it into a clean container and look for dirt and water.
 
Ok guys

Thanks for your replies.

I will try all the above, checking obvious things first like spark and compression. Will video my attempt after tinkering.
Unfortunately may have to wait till the weekend till I get a chance but thanks again!

Giles
 
Ok guys, sorry for bumping an old post and the late response.

After troubleshooting It was an electrical issue with connections and a battery which needs renewing.

However I still can't seem to get the pull chord working. As mention it comes out a tad but the force required to pull it would lift the outboard out the water. When diagnosing the initial firing up problem I took the sparks out and the pull chord would pull out fine. So what could the problem be? Any ideas?
 
When diagnosing the initial firing up problem I took the sparks out and the pull chord would pull out fine. So what could the problem be? Any ideas?

..or you could be aqua-locked. Take the spark plug out again, put a cloth or something near the hole ready to catch liquid that may come through. Pull the chord until the liquid stops coming out of the spark plug hole. Put it back together and hopefully you’ll be golden. You may get black smoke for a while - this is normal.
 
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