Urgent mobile outboard service required

[QuestGirl]

Does anyone know of a reliable company who can do an annual service on a large (50HP) outboard on a boat on its trailer in a field (it's a sod to get the boat & trailer out through the gates and I'll be on my own)?

We're in Maidenhead in East Berkshire - I've always used Dean Marine in the past. They are good for the servicing bit but somewhat unreliable at turning up when they say they will and are currently refusing to take any bookings despite my pleadings.

Alternatively, does anyone have any idea what I might need to do to start the engine? It has fresh fuel, fully charged functioning battery, the engine sounds like it's trying to turn over but won't catch. Is it likely to be the spark plug or is it something requiring more mechanical knowledge than I've currently got? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

I hope you have the leg in water or a hose and some muffs to supply water.
You impeller is one of the first things that will need replacing if you start it otherwise.
Even trying to spin it over can damage the tips of the impeller without water.

Do you have the boat in the field near the water you use it on, or is it just storage? If you have to take the boat to where you use it why not drop it in on an mechanic, by arrangement, a bit earlier and carry on from there when he's done.

 

[QuestGirl]

We have the ear-muffs and a hosepipe that cover the water intake so there is no problem with cooling water. We are trying to sell the boat so we're not actually going to take it anywhere or launch it, hence the need to have it serviced in situ

 

[Lakesailor]

The theory is that if you have fuel and a spark it should go.
However the larger outboards are a bit scary on the ignition side of things and seeing a spark at the plug isn't always an indication it's happening under compression. I'm making the assumption it's 2 stroke.
I'd try to start it. Take out the plugs and if they are wet (indicating you're getting fuel) put in some new plugs of exactly the correct type. If the manufacturer specifies a particular brand use that one as some of the capacitive discharge ignition systems are designed for specific plugs (Johnson particularly).

If you aren't getting fuel through it may the jets are gummed up with fuel/oil mixture if it was not run dry last time you ran it. It may be a carb strip and clean job.

But before you go to that extreme, take the air filter off and squirt some raw fuel (without 2T oil) into the carb intakes. It's a bit drastic, but often works and seems to kick everything into life. The moment's running without oil in the fuel is of no consequence, just don't make a habit of it.

If you can start it without a service I would as you are selling it. Most buyer would regard your claim to have had it serviced with suspicion. Buyers are just like that. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

These suggestions are what I would do. If it bursts into flames and burns down the nearby pub, it's not my fault. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[QuestGirl]

Hi Lakesailor

Thanks for your reply - it's actually a four stroke. I tried to get the spark plugs out (they are recessed quite deeply) and my should-fit-all-standard-sparkplugs socket won't fit in the holes so I can't check them. I'll take some careful measurements and see if I can get a sparkplug socket that will fit, though I have now got a service provisionally booked for the week after next.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
But before you go to that extreme, take the air filter off and squirt some raw fuel (without 2T oil) into the carb intakes. It's a bit drastic, but often works and seems to kick everything into life. The moment's running without oil in the fuel is of no consequence, just don't make a habit of it.


[/ QUOTE ]

Pull up a sandbag mate, I have a tale.

I used to work at a garage, to pay me through college and then into my first years at work to buy me beer as my rent was way too steep for my training wage alone. It was an old type garage, I was pouring the petrol, washing screens, checking levels as well as the odd puncture repair tyre change at weekends.

Over the weekend, we, the staff were allowed to use the bays to work on our nursed together cars. As the engineers would also be down working on foreigners it was also a great training centre for anyone who wanted to learn. My mentor was Allan, the MOT inspector and one of the best mechanics I have ever met.

This one Sunday, George then the trainee mechanic (now almost famous after he appeared on the SKY TV program 'The Villa') pulled in in his old heap of an Anglia. Between us, there were four lads in the workshop, we changed the engine for a 1.6 OHC from an old ezzy from his collection at the back.

But it would not start, oh no. So out pops John to the pump to collect a jug of petrol.

Shall I go on, ok then,

I had a customer so had to go to the pump and start filling his car, I see over in front of the bay George turning the key and obviously pumping the throttle, John is pouring neat fuel into the webber carb. Then it fired, but not in the cylinder, it blew back and coughed burning fuel all over the open bonnet. John jumped about 3 foot in the air forgetting it seems to keep hold the the 3/4 full jug of petrol. Like a cartoon the jug was in the air, then John's sleeve is on fire, I am stood in awe, even though this is slow motion I am still filling this old dear's motor until it dawned on me that things over there might have just gone out of control. Allan is throwing sand over the engine as the two rusty extinguishers did not fire. John's arm is in the puncture water tank. George's car is now starting to catch fire quite nicely.

I ran to the office to call the Fire Brigade, but was informed one of the neighbours had already called, you can hardly blame them I suppose. Six, yes six appliances turned up in nothing short of miracle time, we only had two pumps, not like these modern Texaco stations.

The first two where the local lads, some of whom we knew. The fire was put out in about a second with the big spray hose. No messing. Then the babylon turn up, motorcycles too. Then the owners. Ah, the Station occifer had sussed out exactly what had happened and managed to act all serious and only grinned a bit after the lecture!.

3 weeks we were banned from the workshops.

happy days..

The place has gone now, it is another old dears apartment development, one of the last account/full service stations on the Wirral. Now you have to pay the 'MAN' and no one to train irks like me in the skills of mechanics. If it happened today I bet I would get an ASBO.

Oh, yeah, don't pour petrol in the carbs!

I knew there was a moral to the tale /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I even have a piccy of the station, with my 9 points on me licence at 19yrs old Citroën diesel, it worked, you can't race a 1.9 diesel!

p.s. don't let even the trimmest girly sit on the plastic bonnet of a BX, it bends and cracks, but that is another story not for here /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Or the short version

Don't pour petrol into the carb!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Obviously I put a disclaimer at the end.

It's one of those "Don't Try This At Home" things.
If you don't know what you're trying to achieve.........don't do it.

Let's get ultra-technical. Put a teaspoon of fuel in the carb throat, having sealed and removed the petrol container and then put teaspoon on the ground.
Do not do this indoors, under trees or whilst smoking.

Do people need telling this?

Oh well, don't do it at all.

However, I shall continue starting my mower this way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif