Outboard repair questions

[macowneril2015]

The 26x I have has a 50 hp tohatsu NSD2 (its a 3 cylinder). I know for sure it hasn't been started in 5 years. I have a locksmith that is making me keys since the previous owner lost them but I was wondering what things that I need to do to get this motor alive again. I was planning on replacing the spark plugs, and water pump. I changed the lower unit oil already. I looked in the cylinders when i sprayed fogging oil in the fall and they looked pretty clean and undamaged. I have a repair manual I found which helps with general items but should I spend the cash and have a marine mechanic start it or what would everyone here suggest. My original plan was to do everything I could do and then have someone else start it.

[yukonbob]

I recommend doing as much as you can yourself; the more you know your motor the better it will help you if you run into problems on the water. I'm no mechanic but if it were me I'd fog the cylinders again and crank it by hand a few times to make sure everything is free. Drain all your fuel lines, carb and replace all your fuel filters, check the intake for debris and insects. Change your impeller, leg and engine oil (4s?) as you've indicated, top up tank with fresh premium gas, hook up your battery and go. The internet is a great resource and if all else fails call your mechanic and see if he'll let you help fix the problem.

[kevinnem]

I think I have the same engine.

yep , new spark plugs, and get one of those 3$ "gap" tools to check the gap, very very easy to install. I am not mechanically inclined, and I did it and buy 6 not 3, they are cheap, and why not carry a spare set?

Glad you did the lower unit oil already ,I would have suggested that as well.

One issue I had was that my engine would die as soon as I tried to rev it up. Turned out there is a arm ( the one that moves when you push throttle forward) - this arm connect to the 3 cylinders at the carburetors I think .. any way one of those links came off. So when I pushed the throttle forward, it only opened up 2 of the 3 cylinders. Fix took about 3 second to just clip it back on.

Get rid of the gas, both in the tank, and right up to the engine. I would even empty the hose feeding the gas.

Until you get it running solid - only use 100% gas, not the stuff cut with ethanol, sometimes this is listed as premium gas, sometimes not. High octane fuel is not required at all, but if you have to buy it to get the 100% gas, then what ever.

I think it is a 2 stoke yes- and requires oil mix in the fuel. I think it has to be between 25:1 and 50:1. I think best thing to do is error on the side of too much oil. Worse thing taht can happen ( as far as I know) is that you will foul your spark plugs. cheap cheap mistake to make, compared to too little oil , and it over heating.

[jstyers]

I truly had a nightmare with a similarly unused engine. What I discovered, after a certified outboard mechanic had spent a $1000 of my money on the engine, was that all of the fuel lines on the engine were rotten. Ethanol destroyed all of the fuel lines, they disintegrated and destroyed the fuel pumps and fuel injectors. All told it was a very expensive and frustrating experience. I was working with an 05 Evinrude and I can't say enough about how Evinrude stood behind their product but my experience with mechanics left a lot to be desired.

Having said that, I would recommend you just replace every fuel line under the engine cover. If I'd done that up front I would have saved myself a lot of pain and heartache. When you squeeze the lines, they should be VERY firm, if they are squishy at all, don't run the engine until you replace the lines.

[133bhp]

You mean m50d2? great engine, They're so simple, see how it runs before getting a mech involved.

Bores seem un corroded which is the main thing, the rest can be sorted easily.

plug change and impellor yes, Use decent tw3 oil. we dont have petrol problems over here so visual the pipes sounds sensible.

have a look at the fuel pump, the rubber diaphragm should be flat, not bulging in any way. else change as it will fail at some point.

these don't gum up when left long term tilted but check the middle carb has a small rubber bung in place under/or next to the main jet/middle of carb? wont rev out without it.

visually check some movement of the flywheel timing linkages as open throttle.

if have problems you can delve into carb/timing/spark etc in more detail, but basic stuff.

Note middle coil is more prone to failure. oil is mixed via a tank/pump, not manually premixed

[tlgibson97]

My old Tohatsu needed a fuel pump diaphragm. If you run into an issue that you have to keep priming it to keep it running, especially at higher RPM's, it may need to be replaced. They tend to get dry and brittle and ethanol doesn't help any.

When I bought mine, it had been sitting in a marina for at least 3 years. After the fuel pump, spark plugs, oil, and impeller replacement, my '96 has turned into a pretty reliable old motor as long as I don't overprime it and flood it.

[yukonbob]

http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/ethanol-and ... ll-engines

IMO there's nothing worse for any engine than ethanol blended gasoline. Here's a good info link and there are hundreds of others out there. Outside the varnish that accumulates in filters, tanks etc, the low octane will cause misfires at higher rpm, most of which go unnoticed except to knock sensors of equipped. It's not hard to properly mix fuel, just do the math. Erroring on the heavy side with the oil can foul plugs, rings and cause just as many problems as not enough.

[C Buchs]

Everything above is great advice. I'll only add a little tip to changing spark plugs. The hole the plugs screw into is aluminum. It's really easy to cross thread into aluminum. It's soft. Therefore, start by screwing the plug in by hand. Usually I put the plug in the socket and have an extension that I turn. It should easily spin a few turns before you can't turn it by hand. Then tighten with a ratchet.

Jeff

[Mark]

Here is a nice website for finding gas stations that sell ethanol free gasoline, apologies if it has been posted before:

http://www.pure-gas.org/


And since I'm new here, I'll refrain from going on a rant about the idiocy of adding ethanol to gasoline.