Some people just have to learn things
themselves.
I tried to start the outboard a week or
so ago and it wouldn't start, despite my best efforts. In
frustration, I took it home to work on it.
Once at home, and using the internal
tank, I found I could spray starter fluid into the carburetor and it
would run for maybe a second. The fact that it would run with starter
fluid meant I had spark and air. That only left fuel to be the
problem. I took off the carb and tore it apart. The float was fine,
as was the valve attached to it. There were no “shoulders” or
“steps” on the plastic conical tip. I doused the innards and all
the tubes & passages of the carb with cleaner, wiped it clean &
dry and put it back together. OK, what's next?
I put it back on the engine and tried
again. Same result. Next I started at the carb and unhooked the fuel
line. A tug on the started rope produced a strong spurt. My first
thought was “Well, that's not it. Look at all that gas!” Then a
looked closer. What was coming out was not clear amber, but kind of
hazy. I grabbed a clear glass and collected the fluid. As it
settled a distinct layer of water formed in the bottom. I then went
to the hose running from the internal tank to the shutoff valve. When
I pulled it and drained some into the glass, there was quite a bit of
water. I recall not closing the vent several weeks ago. “It's not
really necessary,” I reasoned, “After all, I store gas for my
garden tiller and weed eater in a tank at home that no longer has a
cap on the vent. It's open all the time. I've not had the problem
with them.”
But apparently it is
necessary to keep it closed on an outboard. Probably because of the
higher humidity of the air, meaning there's just more water vapor
available to condense.
So, I connected the external tank that
had a can of Berryman's Chemtool added as suggested by one of the
club members who works with outboards a lot, and it started right up.
Yesterday I took it back to the boat and fired it up. With the boat
secured in its slip, I put the outboard in gear and ran it at a high
idle for about 15 minutes. It still doesn't like to idle and will
die if I let it get anywhere near slow, but I can deal with that
later.
Now, maybe if I can keep water out of
the gas, the motor will run better.
Moving from a 17' Daysailer with an
electric trolling motor to a Catalina 22 and outboard has been quite
a learning curve!
