Well that didn't go like it was supposed to... motor trouble question?!?!?!?!

Steven Alexander said:
Tod,

Take this brass screw out of the bottom bowl, and blast up in there with a new can of carb cleaner. Slap that linkage from closed to WOT several times. Blast carb cleaner again. Then re-prime your fuel line/bulb, and see if it keeps weeping out.
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THANKS! I think you missed it, it is running good now in the driveway, no leaks at all and running smooth.

Ironically, the bottom bowl drain is located where you can't get it with a screwdriver, so it has a hex head. Two with flat screwdriver heads and one hex. :).
 
We need cold weather to get birds, then our engines don't want to run. :rolleyes: Ya just can't win. Stick with it for tomorrow, then bid that one farewell. Just don't tell it till it's at the shop to be removed. A surprise divorce. Replace with a nice new, younger model, to keep your motor running out west. Not that it ever gets cold in WY.
 
OK, THANKS everyone. I'm going to go out and drain the bowls and flush with pure wyoming non-ethanol gas and give it a try again tomorrow.
 
tod osier said:
OK, THANKS everyone. I'm going to go out and drain the bowls and flush with pure wyoming non-ethanol gas and give it a try again tomorrow.
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You really think western gas is better than eastern gas? Guess I can't fault you for that. Just don't go too far west. Anything west of the Sierra Nevada's starts to get quirky again.
 
Huntindave McCann said:
You really think western gas is better than eastern gas? Guess I can't fault you for that. Just don't go too far west. Anything west of the Sierra Nevada's starts to get quirky again.
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Well, I can not buy ethanol free here unless I buy it in a one gallon can or race fuel in a 5 gallon bucket.

The gas station I like in Wyoming has ethanol free at the pump (and is right next to my favorite liquor store :) ) so I loaded up before I came to CT. Only reason I use WY gas, I also I have a lot of gas cans.
 
Update... The hose froze nearly solid, so I had to thaw it before a motor test. Connected my little fuel tank of pure gas and drained the bowls and hopefully purged out any water. Motor started and idled smooth.

I looked at the lower cowling and the drains were plugged up with dead bugs, so that could have contributed to me noticing the copious quantities of fuel that built up. I filled it up with water and got the drains opened up. Now at least it won't accumulate that quantity of fuel again.

I looked at new motors. Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki do not make short shaft 40s anymore. Tohatsu still does. Obviously, I could easily build up the transom, but the boat is built for a short shaft and I'd prefer to keep it that way. Anyone have a concern with a Tohatsu compared to (what I'd consider) the top tier motors?

Pretty sharp looking.

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I think Tohatsu's are very good motors and would buy one, but have not owned one myself. There are a lot more Tohatsu's out there than the labels on the motors read. They always made commercial grade motors, you would have to look around to make sure that is still the case.
 
I had a Nissan (Tohatsu) for years and regret ever getting rid of it. Never had a single mechanical issue.
I’m seriously considering getting a new one (9.8 electric start).
I would not hesitate to get one.
 
tod osier said:
I've had some fuel in water issues in the past. I have a water separating filter on it and I keep new gas in the motor.

Because the carb issues in the past and how expensive a rebuild is and the fact that the yamaha tech that has been rebuilding it says the ethanol fuel is to blame... I built a special little tank that I run fresh non ethanol fuel into the motor every time before I shut it off. For anyone not aware, the pumps here mandate ethanol, so there are no pure gas options from a pump here only canned (I import from out of state).

Boat was cold in the barn and ran beautifully a couple days ago.
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The problem is the ethanol draws in water. My rig only sees use from October-January. What I'll usually do is at the end of the season, I "summer-ize" the motor (lower unit, plugs, fuel filter, etc.), then I'll siphon all the gas from the tank into my truck.

Sometime in June-July, I'll throw a gallon of premium in the tank with Stabil Marine and run it on muffs for 10 min to draw some new fuel into the FI system. Start of the season, top it off with more premium, more Stabil-Marine, and run as needed.

An old-timer taught me the trick about premium fuel. If you buy from a high-turnover station, like on the highway, it's less ethanol and typically fresher fuel. So at least you're off to a better start.

If I had access to non-ethanol fuel man, I would never put anything else in. I know it gets pricey but that plus Stabil Marine probably eliminates 75% of the problems folks have.

I'm also fortunate that I can store my rig indoors. That's not feasible for everyone but the heating/cooling and sun beating down on the rig does a lot of weird stuff with the fuel. It's rough because even like you said, putting fresh fuel in a lot, the ethanol still draws water in over time.
 
Jay K said:
The problem is the ethanol draws in water. My rig only sees use from October-January. What I'll usually do is at the end of the season, I "summer-ize" the motor (lower unit, plugs, fuel filter, etc.), then I'll siphon all the gas from the tank into my truck.

Sometime in June-July, I'll throw a gallon of premium in the tank with Stabil Marine and run it on muffs for 10 min to draw some new fuel into the FI system. Start of the season, top it off with more premium, more Stabil-Marine, and run as needed.

An old-timer taught me the trick about premium fuel. If you buy from a high-turnover station, like on the highway, it's less ethanol and typically fresher fuel. So at least you're off to a better start.

If I had access to non-ethanol fuel man, I would never put anything else in. I know it gets pricey but that plus Stabil Marine probably eliminates 75% of the problems folks have.

I'm also fortunate that I can store my rig indoors. That's not feasible for everyone but the heating/cooling and sun beating down on the rig does a lot of weird stuff with the fuel. It's rough because even like you said, putting fresh fuel in a lot, the ethanol still draws water in over time.
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After march, I'll never have to worry about ethanol in that motor again.
 
Where are you at in NJ Jay? I'm outside of Philly, and there may some real gas over on the dark side(greater philly), but I've typically seen it in the more rural areas. But since Todd posted that site since I started my reply..............And that is a great tool and all you need.
I don't keep fuel (2 stroke) in my boat tank, I use it up that year in my lawn equipment. There are products to store ethanol fuel today but I just don't trust it like regular gas.
 
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In that size motor a Merc & a Tohatsu are basically the same motor. Tohatsu,s may have an advantage in available gearing. I,ve got a 25 Tohatsu on my 16" jon and its been a great motor so far. But Tohatsu builds Mercs up to I believe 60 H.P. They also built or did recently the larger Honda,s.
 
roy brewington said:
In that size motor a Merc & a Tohatsu are basically the same motor. Tohatsu,s may have an advantage in available gearing. I,ve got a 25 Tohatsu on my 16" jon and its been a great motor so far. But Tohatsu builds Mercs up to I believe 60 H.P. They also built or did recently the larger Honda,s.
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I don't believe that is true. The numbers certainly do not support that. Smaller motors, maybe, but not the 40 and 50.
 
Non ethanol down here is around $1.25 more per gallon than “normal” gas. All the WaWa stations have it in Tampa.
 
I really can't add to much this conversation that hasn't been already said...I put in a racor fuel/water separator in,it has solved my problem with the ethanol fuel. Today was my last day on the salt for ducks,was able to scratch out a couple of black ducks. Good luck tomorrow!!
 
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