Hi folks,
I've been a lurker on here for a while but I've reached the limit of what I can learn from the internet without asking a few questions.
Sorry its a little long winded, but a bit of background usually helps.
I'm based over in Ireland, been working as a hobbyist and around boats since I could walk... but I've been working in computers for years and felt the need to get my hands dirty and have a happier life... I got my wish
Last year I bought a ~30 year old boat and engine very cheap... I figured I could do it up to a reasonable standard while learning a new skill or two. The hull had no holes and the engine started... I quickly learned about replacing stringers, doing fiberglass work, repairing bearings and how to search the web for information on engines. I've been following this forum, watching Dangar Stu doing almost everything I needed and a ton of other people its amazing just how much relevant information there is on a 30 year old outboard on the web.
My outboard came with an additional mostly stripped powerhead which was really useful to strip down for parts. But both the powerhead and engine were very corroded with little evidence that the bolts on the lower unit or the mounting bracket had been loosened recently.
So far:-
Concerned that I had an overheat issue, I removed the thermostat covers and tested both the thermostats.. both were broken but were broken in the open position.. I replaced both with thermostats that I know work and closed it up.
I've then opened the fuel filter, cleaned out some dirt and flushed it.
At this point I then noticed that when I prime the fuel line I was seeing a little bit of fuel leaking out of the VRO pump toward the oil chamber (Oil is pre-mix and the Oil in is capped) near the alarm circuitry, but fuel was exiting the pump. I took the pump apart and noticed that the fuel piston diaphragm wasn't in the best health. But I found a VRO pump on ebay for £60 and bought it, assured by the vendor that it came from a working engine, when it arrived the gas/oil output was facing 180' from where it was on my 1987 pump, possibly a VRO pump of a later generation?
While waiting on my new pump, I undertook a strip down of each carburettor, there was not a huge amount of dirt and there were no fully blocked jets. I've put them back on the engine and also verified the primer switches on when power is supplied.
Today the VRO pump arrived in the post and I placed it on the engine, I had to rig a new pipe between the output and the bottom of the fuel manifold assembly. When everything was connected I squeezed the fuel bulb and primed the engine, only to discover that fuel is leaking from the exact same place AND the joins on the fuel chamber!
Again on turning the key to 'on' the alarm sounded, I disconnected the starboard temp sensor and the alarm silenced, I reconnected it and it did not sound again.
I primed the engine and it must have taken about a minute of cranking before the engine roared into life with a huge cloud of smoke, again a great stream from the tell tale, I throttled back but it sat a very high idle for a long time. I'd lifted the throttle cam up and away from the throttle controllers so the butterfly inlets would have been closed.
I was then able to stop/start the engine more or less within a second of turning the key but with a very high idle. After running the engine for a minute or two I noticed the tell-tale was as warm as a comfortable shower would be. I believe water was circulating as the exhaust was spitting water out behind us.
I have some youtube vids of my progress to share:-
When I first started it upon buying it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFAeAzD8Kg0
Replaced Plugs, water pump and some paint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKO0KbQuaso
Today, high idle on warm engine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqC3TKWEKN0
So my questions:-
Thank you for your help so far, I would not have gotten this for or learned so much without the forums on the web.
Ryan
I've been a lurker on here for a while but I've reached the limit of what I can learn from the internet without asking a few questions.
Sorry its a little long winded, but a bit of background usually helps.
I'm based over in Ireland, been working as a hobbyist and around boats since I could walk... but I've been working in computers for years and felt the need to get my hands dirty and have a happier life... I got my wish
Last year I bought a ~30 year old boat and engine very cheap... I figured I could do it up to a reasonable standard while learning a new skill or two. The hull had no holes and the engine started... I quickly learned about replacing stringers, doing fiberglass work, repairing bearings and how to search the web for information on engines. I've been following this forum, watching Dangar Stu doing almost everything I needed and a ton of other people its amazing just how much relevant information there is on a 30 year old outboard on the web.
My outboard came with an additional mostly stripped powerhead which was really useful to strip down for parts. But both the powerhead and engine were very corroded with little evidence that the bolts on the lower unit or the mounting bracket had been loosened recently.
So far:-
- Replaced the tilt/trim motor
- Replaced water pump unit, previous impeller wasn't too bad but had been demonstrated running dry
- Purchased a new(used) remote control unit (old one was a hack job of wires)
- Replaced Spark Plugs with the correct plugs
Concerned that I had an overheat issue, I removed the thermostat covers and tested both the thermostats.. both were broken but were broken in the open position.. I replaced both with thermostats that I know work and closed it up.
I've then opened the fuel filter, cleaned out some dirt and flushed it.
At this point I then noticed that when I prime the fuel line I was seeing a little bit of fuel leaking out of the VRO pump toward the oil chamber (Oil is pre-mix and the Oil in is capped) near the alarm circuitry, but fuel was exiting the pump. I took the pump apart and noticed that the fuel piston diaphragm wasn't in the best health. But I found a VRO pump on ebay for £60 and bought it, assured by the vendor that it came from a working engine, when it arrived the gas/oil output was facing 180' from where it was on my 1987 pump, possibly a VRO pump of a later generation?
While waiting on my new pump, I undertook a strip down of each carburettor, there was not a huge amount of dirt and there were no fully blocked jets. I've put them back on the engine and also verified the primer switches on when power is supplied.
Today the VRO pump arrived in the post and I placed it on the engine, I had to rig a new pipe between the output and the bottom of the fuel manifold assembly. When everything was connected I squeezed the fuel bulb and primed the engine, only to discover that fuel is leaking from the exact same place AND the joins on the fuel chamber!
Again on turning the key to 'on' the alarm sounded, I disconnected the starboard temp sensor and the alarm silenced, I reconnected it and it did not sound again.
I primed the engine and it must have taken about a minute of cranking before the engine roared into life with a huge cloud of smoke, again a great stream from the tell tale, I throttled back but it sat a very high idle for a long time. I'd lifted the throttle cam up and away from the throttle controllers so the butterfly inlets would have been closed.
I was then able to stop/start the engine more or less within a second of turning the key but with a very high idle. After running the engine for a minute or two I noticed the tell-tale was as warm as a comfortable shower would be. I believe water was circulating as the exhaust was spitting water out behind us.
I have some youtube vids of my progress to share:-
When I first started it upon buying it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFAeAzD8Kg0
Replaced Plugs, water pump and some paint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKO0KbQuaso
Today, high idle on warm engine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqC3TKWEKN0
So my questions:-
- When I prime my engine should pressure cause any fuel to escape from the VRO unit at all?
- How quickly should it get up to temperature?
- How do I address the high idle?
Thank you for your help so far, I would not have gotten this for or learned so much without the forums on the web.
Ryan