Outboard will not start

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We have a 4 stroke, 4 HP Tohatsu outboard for our dinghy. I ran it 3 months ago and it ran fine but when I went to start it the other day, for the first time since the 1st of April, it would not start. I pulled the plug and although not in to bad of shape I replaced it and still nothing......it does not seem to be getting anything in the form of spark and or fuel as I get no response when I pull the cord. I recently changed the lower until oil and engine oil, it is said you should always consider the last thing you did when trying to figure out a problem so thats why I mention this.In addition fuel does spits a little, as it always has, when I connect the fuel line to the engine...so fuel is at least getting that far.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I might check or do to correct the non-start problem?

Jim

 

[Scuffy]

Jim,
I would pull the plug and crank the engine over to see if you can detect spark at the end of the plug. Provide some shade as the spark can be hard to see. You also need to ground the plug by touching the metal base of the plug to some metal. If you have spark my guess is the problem might be fuel related. Another thing to check is the kill switch if it has a lanyard if you have a lack of spark. Those switches sometimes can go bad. They would kill the juice to the spark plug. Never had a TOO HOT SUE. Maybe check for an owners forum as sometimes they can lead you to the usual culprit.
D.D.

 

[Brian B]

If you have spark at the plug as previously described its most likely fuel related. You said you last ran it 3 months ago. If ethanol fuel sat in the carburetor for 3 months it could have gummed up the carb. If that's the case then the carb will have to be removed and disassembled and cleaned, or see what a new carb will cost. I had the same issue on my Honda 2HP, I now only use ethanol free fuel. It's more expensive but in engines that aren't used a lot it saves headaches. if you can't get ethanol free fuel replace the gas every 30 days even if you use a stabilizer.

 

[ALICE J]

I suspect a gummed carb. Particularly if you put the engine away without running the carb dry. Turn off the fuel and run the engine until it stops by itself. I went to an auto parts store and got a gallon of carb cleaner. It has a basket in it and you place to whole carb in it, after reading directions. Leave it sit, maybe over night, having removed all the rubber, and this stuff in the can will clear all the metering valves and passages in the carb. If you remove any of the metering screws, count the number of turns and write it down, then after cleaning, replace the screws with the same number of turns on the screws. After I cleaned the carb I never left fuel in the carb and always ran the engine dry if it were to sit for more that a couple weeks.

 

[Sam Walker]

Hi Jim. I am w/ Brian and Alice. I have had motorcycle carbs gum up in as little as 2 weeks. I would narrow it down to fuel as has already been discussed. I would order the carb rebuild kit (mostly for gaskets in case you goober one like I would) take the carb apart, use aerosol carb and choke cleaner and compressed air to clear every needle and jet and then reassemble. Let us know how it turns out.

Sam

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Thanks for all of the good tips. As it relates to fuel I did use Marine fuel the last time I filled up but I have not always. I'll check everything mentioned and report the final outcome. As a pre-cautuion I'm going to empty the portable fuel tank and I just bought new non ethanol fuel today. The engine has an internal tank I've not used, I've always used the portable tank. At any rate after I check for the spark and if I have one I'll try new fuel in the internal tank and go from there.

More later,

Jim