gogittum
Well-known member
A few days ago I picked up a 12 tin skiff - older MirroCraft - for a very good price, knowing that it's a fixer-upper. Got lots done to the boat/trailer and it's ready for the water. When I looked at it, the guy told me he'd installed a carb kit in the motor and put in a new impeller, since it'd been sitting for some years. Motor is a '91 Force 15 hp.
When I looked at it, he had the motor running and tho' it sounded a little ragged it seemed responsive enuf. I found that the trailer wheel bearings were bad, so he went to pick up new ones and I worked at fixing those for a couple of hours. Tried the motor again and it started right up.
OK, it's been sitting for a week or so, then yesterday I dropped it into a nearby canal and tried to start it. No luck.
(I ran a chainsaw in the Idaho woods, falling timber for years and have a technique developed for starting 2 stroke motors that haven't been run for a bit. Ignition on, choke out, (butterfly closed) hold full throttle and crank it several times till it sputters, then open the choke (butterfly open) give it full throttle and crank it. Boom....running)
I tried that with this one and had gas everywhere. Motor flooded instantly. Finally gave up and tilted the motor to load boat back on trailer and gas started pouring out of the housing. Whoops - unhooked the gas line very quickly.
Got it home and pulled the plugs and yup, dripping with gas. Cleaned and dried the plugs, cranked it a dozen times with plugs out to dry the cylinders a bit, then put the plugs back in and tried it again. Nothing. Checked plugs and they were dry. Couldn't get that thing to leak gas again, tho' carb looks wet.
Went to parts house and picked up an inline spark plug tester and had no spark. Traced that to shorted kill switch and now had spark showing. I've cranked that thing with and without choke till my arms are sore and can't get a pop out of it. Plugs are still dry, even with choke closed, so I assume something not opening in carb. Had the fuel pump off and it looks good.
This thing is new to me, Idaho was 40 years ago and I've forgotten a lot. What should I look for ??
When I looked at it, he had the motor running and tho' it sounded a little ragged it seemed responsive enuf. I found that the trailer wheel bearings were bad, so he went to pick up new ones and I worked at fixing those for a couple of hours. Tried the motor again and it started right up.
OK, it's been sitting for a week or so, then yesterday I dropped it into a nearby canal and tried to start it. No luck.
(I ran a chainsaw in the Idaho woods, falling timber for years and have a technique developed for starting 2 stroke motors that haven't been run for a bit. Ignition on, choke out, (butterfly closed) hold full throttle and crank it several times till it sputters, then open the choke (butterfly open) give it full throttle and crank it. Boom....running)
I tried that with this one and had gas everywhere. Motor flooded instantly. Finally gave up and tilted the motor to load boat back on trailer and gas started pouring out of the housing. Whoops - unhooked the gas line very quickly.
Got it home and pulled the plugs and yup, dripping with gas. Cleaned and dried the plugs, cranked it a dozen times with plugs out to dry the cylinders a bit, then put the plugs back in and tried it again. Nothing. Checked plugs and they were dry. Couldn't get that thing to leak gas again, tho' carb looks wet.
Went to parts house and picked up an inline spark plug tester and had no spark. Traced that to shorted kill switch and now had spark showing. I've cranked that thing with and without choke till my arms are sore and can't get a pop out of it. Plugs are still dry, even with choke closed, so I assume something not opening in carb. Had the fuel pump off and it looks good.
This thing is new to me, Idaho was 40 years ago and I've forgotten a lot. What should I look for ??