[Rhodes22-list] Another ethanol-related failure point

Michael D. Weisner mweisner at ebsmed.com
Fri Aug 14 18:03:34 EDT 2009


Dave,

Obviously you need to store the Yamaha O/B outside and try clearing snow 
with it.  A winter operation should cure the problem if the engine knows 
what's best for it - so much easier to move water in the warm weather or is 
it?

Seriously, are you sure that the idle jet is clogged?  If the inlet valve 
fails to seat, the fuel bowl will continue to fill, preventing normal 
idling.  Usually it stalls at low speeds due to flooding if this is the 
case.  This is just the opposite of John Lock's problem where the inlet 
valve stuck closed, cutting off the fuel so that once the bowl was empty, 
the engine quit.  Both conditions may permit the engine to run normally with 
partial to full throttle since the engine is either using the fuel at the 
rate that it is entering the bowl (valve stuck open) or the float never 
closes the valve (sticks when closed.)

If the idle jet is indeed clogged, check out everything after the fuel 
filter looking for a source of gunk or varnish and be sure to replace the 
filter after servicing.

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: <david.walker5 at comcast.net> Friday, August 14, 2009 5:41 PM
>I too am having OB problems with my Yamaha 9.9. Will not idle and speed 
>hunts up and down. Prelim diagnosis is a clogged idle jet. I don't 
>understand why small OB's are so finicky. I have a Honda snow blower that 
>is 15 years old never been worked on never had gas additive never had the 
>gas run out at the end of the season and has always stored outside  and has 
>never failed to start on the first pull and run perfectly.
>
> Dave
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Lock <jlock at relevantarts.com>
>
> Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:27:32
> To: Rhodes 22<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Another ethanol-related failure point
>
>
> About 2 weekends ago my trusty Nissan 8hp outboard quit while we were
> motoring home under windless skies.  Fortunately not too far from home
> and we got a tow in.
>
> Fiddled with it a while and could get it to run for 15-30 seconds or
> so and then it would just die.  Checked tank vent, filter, fuel line
> and confirmed that fuel was flowing freely all the way up to the
> carburetor.
>
> Having a little experience with outboard repair, I took the carburetor
> off and dismantled it.  On closer inspection I realized the float
> valve was sticking up - in the closed position.  So, it would let fuel
> into the carburetor until it closed and then never opened again.  The
> engine would use up what was in the float bowl and quit.  A couple
> raps on the side with a screwdriver would sometimes knock it loose and
> let fuel come in again.
>
> So... the problem was obvious but the cause was more insidious.  The
> float valve (also called the needle valve) has a rubber tip that seals
> the fuel inlet opening when the float rises and the carb bowl is
> full.  But ethanol had degraded the rubber tip, making it soft and
> sticky.  The float would push it up in the valve chamber and the
> rubber would deform and stick in the narrow opening.  So, no more fuel
> coming in until it got knocked loose again.
>
> Strangely, the other rubber parts seemed to be in good condition.  But
> I ordered a carb kit and replaced everything anyway.  Now tt's back to
> its usual smooth running self.
>
> Another thing to check if you have fuel-related problems...
>
> Cheers!
> John Lock
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
> Lake Sinclair, GA
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> __________________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to 
> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>
> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives go 
> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
>
> __________________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to 
> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>
> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives go 
> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
>
> 


--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
We are a community of 6 million users fighting spam.
SPAMfighter has removed 3034 of my spam emails to date.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

The Professional version does not have this message




More information about the Rhodes22-list mailing list