Outboard Problems

[FinallySailing]

Hi all,

what a lovely day here in the South East ! 32 degrees and the weather is supposed to stay . I was happy as can be, recently sold my old trusty two smoke engine for a really good price on fleebay and had my new Tohatsu 6hp saildrive delivered yesterday. Unpacked it this morning, put it on Rockhopper. Filled it up with the recommended grade of engine oil, Fuel pipe connected. Petrol line primed, choke pulled, gear on neutral. I pull the starter cord, pull again, pull again. Nothing happens. Gone through the whole thing again and again. Nothing, just nothing happens apart from the engine oil light briefly flickering when I pull on the cord. Sparkplug sits ok, btw. What am I missing ??? I don't really believe that a brand spanking new outboard is faulty. I am sure it must be me who is just a noob with 4 strokes. It is a sin not to be out with this most beautiful weather. Was due to be sailing with the family the next two days before a really big MacGregor muster here on the East coast next week and then had a full week planned of exploring during my summer holiday that is coming up. The dealer is closed until Monday, so I need your help PLEASE

[K9Kampers]

Is the safety lanyard properly installed on the safety kill switch and the shift selector in nuetral?

[Sumner]

I'd pull the plug and put it against the case so that it is grounded with the plug wire on and pull it over and see if you have spark. If you do then it is probably a fuel issue. The carbs on these now have really small jets. Walt who is on here at times bought a new 9.8 HP like ours and the idle jet was plugged brand new. He cleaned it and end of problems. If you do try cleaning the jets and passages don't blow in there with the float bowel on as you could possibly collapse the float if it is not solid. Also be very carefully with what you put in the jets or passages as they have close tolerances on them.

If you have never done any of this then I'd take it to the dealer and not take chances. Good luck,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Catigale]

Sure sounds like the kill switch is grounded somehow. Even if the idle jets were plugged, it would kick a few times on the choke at least. Trace the wire back from the kill switch and unplug or unbolt the connection to the block...port side of motor, 10mm bolt I think (M6)

Oil light flashing is normal on starting.

Starboard side of engine...loosen screw on bottom carb and make sure fuel drips from fuel bowl. It will take about 20 pulls to prime gas up to the fuel bowl.

[THE CUSCUS]

Give her a shot of ether, fuel pump needs primed.

[FinallySailing]

Thanks for all your replies. Kill switch is ok. Certainly enough fuel. Managed to get it to start and rattle three or four times on Sunday, just to then die away for good. Since then not doing anything. After repeating the whole start procedure for the x th time, the admiral noted a small amount of white smoke coming out of the cowl. Haven't dared to try since. I am waiting to hear from the Tohatsu dealer (140 miles down at the South Coast) how they plan to sort this out. I feel reassured that I do have my warranty at least. On a good note, the admiral took delivery of a COBB oven yesterday and at least we are going to have a family BBQ at the stationary boat .

[K9Kampers]

DO NOT LET THE SMOKE OUT
You'll be done fer sure!

[133bhp]

Stress! - Not going to make Harwich friday then?

did it come fully assembled? worth asking if not, is there a transit blockoff of some kind on the air inlet?

try fuel off, no choke, wide open throtlle? any sign of tyring to catch then?

check again correct oil level? - having turned over from new, maybe the levels dropped enough to activate a low engine oil sensor if indeed has one?

Sometimes just opeening the drain on the carb float bowl can allow any dirt/gasket material/whatever to flow through the needle vlalve.

Else just Pull the plug as suggested - is it wet? if so dry "near" a flame. then check for spark, should see a decent white/bluey spark? try again. with only none or a little choke

can also confrim some compression by finger over the hole and turn over, shoud feel a substantial pressure? and smell for petrol getitng though.

[81venture]

Hi... My chance to start "giving back" since I am new to sailing and about to bother the resourceful/knowledgeable/and nice people with all sorts of newbie questions

However, I am an outboard/Car mechanic

I agree that even brand new the carb could be clogged...they are small jets
Here's a couple things to look for

1. Check your spark....pulll the plug, put the wire on and let it dangle near a good ground (since they paint cylinder heads usually a good place to ground it is against the hole the plug came out of) Make sure the spark is nice and Fat and blue....Off my head I think it uses NGK or NIPPENDENSO plugs....I work on mostly OMC (champion plugs) but if the Japenese Outboards are as finicky as the cars they make they don't like cheap plugs....make sure the Gap is correct...outboards care about gap more than most motors and are less "forgiving" about gap.

2. Look on the carb bowl...there should be a drain screw to empty the bowl....open it some (usually a phillips screw) and make sure the bowl does indeed have gas in it... If it doesn't I would check your primer ball...could be a bad check valve in it...

3. Pull the line from the fuel pump to the carb bowl....bump it a few times and see if it goes "spurt spurt Spurt"....Use an old bowl or soda bottle to catch the gas and be environmentally correct. The fuel pump uses "pulses" from the crankase/intake and moves a diaphragm...it could be torn (even new) OMC rebuild kits are like $14...

4. Give her a shot of Ether (starting Fluid) down her gullet and start without the choke on, throttle wide open....since it is a 4 stroke motor its not going to hurt anything....use ether on a two stroke and you can kiss your rings goodbye....you can use a shot of ether once on a 2 stroke, like when checking an outboard for purchase, but too much will strip the oil and kill it....

5. Lastly, If all the above checks out good....attempt to start in the following manner...the little four strokes can be finicky about the choke and you can quickly flood/foul the plug. I have a 4 stroke weedeater and its a PITA

a. Choke motor...ensure kill lanyard is on. Start engine until it just burps..not runs...
b. Remove the choke, start again ....Let idle and warm up

Hope this helps some...if it was an OMC I can help a lot more

From your description my bet is the choke is your problem...trying to get it to "run" with the choke on and then take choke off while running....my little 4 stroke does not work that way, but my riding mower does....

Dave

[Catigale]

If you flood it out the correct procedure is open choke, open throttle fully, pull slowly 5-6 times, then try to start in this configuration...this is for a 4 stroke

[K9Kampers]

Is that from a fuel flood, or a NY-style winterize

[Catigale]

[Tom F.]

It could be that the water is frozen if it is only 32 degrees where you are...

[FinallySailing]

Thanks for all your replies. Here is my follow up on this post.

Tohatsu UK sent me the following email:

Dear ....,

I am sorry to hear you are experiencing problems with your recently purchased Tohatsu MFS6CS Ultra Long SailPro.

From the description in your recent email it sounds like the outboard has been stood upside down whilst in transit or the Carburettor has flooded when priming fuel.

1) If flooded, the engine will start after being left for a while allowing the excessive fuel to evaporate. Well worth trying to start again now time has past.

2) If the engine has been stood upside down, the remains of oil left in the engine* will have contaminated the Carburettor and / or the Cylinder Head. If you are able, I would recommend draining the Carburettor via the Drain Screw and whilst the Drain Screw is still open, prime a little fuel through to flush. After this procedure you can try to start the engine. If the engine fires and runs, leave it ticking over (idling) for a couple of minutes to burn off any unwanted oil.

*All Four Stroke Outboard Motors are dispatched without oil in them due to courier regulations. Prior to using the Outboard, the correct amount of oil must be put into the engine as stated within your Owners Handbook.

If your problems still remain, please contact your nearest Authorised Tohatsu Dealer for assistance as follows:
....

I have spoken with Mr .... regarding your engine and he is happy to assist you (copied in on this email for his information). Mr .... will be your Authorised Dealer for all of your future Servicing requirements.

Once again we apologise for any inconveniences caused.

If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate in contacting me.

Kind regards

....
Service and Warranty Manager

I did drain the carburettor and since then everything seems to be fine. For the first two minutes or so the exhaust fumes were quite smoky (? burning off old oil) but since then its all running well. So whilst it was too late for the muster (made it to the evening meal in Levington, though ) it looks like finally we are out on the water again !!!

Again, thanks for all your suggestions. I've learned a lot about four strokes by just reading all this and now keep a print out of this thread on Rockhopper ... just in case !

[Catigale]

Remember to follow the break in procedure too!!! See manual...