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2001 Honda 40hp 4 stroke

S

Shawn_Laughlin

New member
This isn’t my motor but I’m trying to help a guy out.
The other day he was running in the marsh and it started running kinda bad so he shut it off. Let it sit for a bit and cranked it back up and proceeded back to the ramp when he noticed smoke coming out of the cowling and cut the engine.
The flywheel cover and valve cover are both melted. Melted through where oil was squirting/splashing through the valve cover.
Has anyone seen anything like this happen or what could’ve caused it?
I’ve read that on one outboard a flywheel bolt came loose which rubbed enough on the cover to cause a fire but don’t see on this.
I wasn’t there so everything is here say and there is probably important information missing.
if a motor got that hot to melt all that I wouldn’t think it would turn over like normal?
Thanks to anyone who has any suggestions or for at least reading through it.
 
So it melted all that stuff and it still cranks over "normally"?

That's strange to me too.

Is there any evidence of fire? If so, it could be caused by an oil or gas leak that would have been stifled somewhat because the cover blocked oxygen and then stopped feeding it fuel when he shut down.
Just a W.A.G. though.

One thing I see is that these have the exhaust pipe with gasket. See item 11 in the link.



Those are famous for the gasket failing and filling the engine bay with exhaust. It typically only kills the engine due to oxygen starvation but, if there were an oil leak too, it might ignite. I don't know.

My first money would still be catastrophic overheat but that is just another idea.

I would pull the gearcase and inspect the pump. If it's cooked, then it's likely that the engine may.be too.

Hope he didn't kill it.

Good luck.
 
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