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HELP! 1989 70hp OK but now won't start

J

John Haggerty

Contributing Member
Friday the motor was running fine. Turned it off with carbs full of fuel.

Yesterday I topped off the VRO oil tank full to the top.

This morning I added 3 gals. of 10% ethanol to 7 gallons of rec fuel.

This morning I forgot to tilt the motor down in the water and started the motor. It fired right up and I immediately lowered it into the water. I got a short warning beep and that went away. Motor idled but I sensed it not running correctly (lacking power). I wasn't able to get it to rev beyond about 1500 rpm. I tried running it to see what would happen. Never could get it above 1500 rpm and the seemed to get ever lower. I turned off the motor and started it a few times in hopes this would go away. Eventually I couldn't get it started.

Any ideas? I just did the carbs a few months ago.

Thanks,
John
 
First, make sure you still have compression and spark..... and the spark with all s/plugs removed should jump a 7/16" gap with a strong blue lightning like flame... a real SNAP! Note that checking spark by using the spark plugs is a waste of time... the 7/16" gap is important.

Assuming the above two areas are okay, remove the carburetor face plate and drain the carburetors via the drain screw/bolt at the bottom front area of the float bowl. It's possible that they somehow may have been loaded up with oil (it happens). Let us know what you find.
 
Joe,
You're close. I took the boat to a shop. Walt's Marine in Sarasota, FL. Nice to find a guy with 35+ years working on motors in his own small shop. Turned out to be the small retention wire holding the float needle (shows I shouldn't rebuild carbs in a tent using the wife fry pans!). Top carb not getting any fuel.

I saw an earlier post wining about service in a shop. Spend the time to find a good mechanic and it pays for itself.

Today, I talk to a tech who sends me to the owner (Walt who did he work). Walt explains well the costs up front. I give him a two hour limit. He checks compression, spark (replacing the plugs) and begins to check the fuel system. He finds high pressure behind the #1 hose while removing the supply hose and then finds the float wire problem. $150 total. Well worth it for a good job and other shared advice about the motor.

John
 
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