Hey, I am a first time boat owner. I have a older Pro craft Bass boat that I have had for a month or so. It has ran pretty good in the water and still runs good just not in the water.

The time before last I took it out and it was running good. I went to go leave a fishing spot and it would not start. I went back to the engine and fuel on the water, I knew it was flooded. So I trolled back to the boat ramp. I got home pulled the plugs let it dry and it started right back up.

Ok, Now the last time I took it out over the weekend, It runs good until I get to 10mph and push the throttle down it seems to bog out and want to shut off.Well I got home put it on the ear muffs and it runs fine. All the way to full throttle. So only does that when it is in the water. Anyone know what would cause that?

Well I opened it up after running it at the house and it appaers that it is getting to much fuel. All three carbs have some fuel sitting in them and the plugs were wet. But it still starts up and runs. I did buy a repair manual but they dont really go over too much fuel. Could it be spark plugs? I had a suggestion to rebuild carbs but the extra fuel is sitting in all three of them, I dont think they would all need a rebuild at the same time... I dont know I am not a outboard experet. If anyone has any info I would be very grateful. I dont even know where to start, All I know is I cant afford to take it to the shop anymore.

Thanks, mark

The carbs have some mechanism to limit the amount of fuel they carry in their bowls at any given time. Ususally it is a "needle and seat" configuration that uses a float to push a conical shaped needle up into a narrow hole at the fuel inlet called a seat. If the needle is not sealing due to debris or age, or the float is ruptured and cannot float then the flow of fuel coming in is not checked and spills out of the bowl and gets sucked into the engine unregulated by the carb. This is one reason you got the suggestion that the carbs are in need of a refresh. I have no specific knowledge of the operation of the carbs on your engine but they have to be able to regulate the amount of fuel they carry in their bowls.

Thanks Man. I guess it is time to rebuild the carbs I guess..lol.. I have a manual that has step by step on how to do It so I guess I am gonna attempt it myself... I mean even if they dont need rebuilding it can only help. Thanks again.

Hi I am new to this forum but hope that I might be able to help you with your problem. I own a70hp johnson that had similar simptoms and as you are experiencing, and was thinking as you are(carby rebuilds,fuel pump rebuilds) Turns out Johnson/evinrude have notoriously bad electrics.I had the cdi unit replaced ,problem solved.Apparently if used at low revs for any length of time they dont get enough power and when you go to power away they die in a heap like there is a fuel problem.
Hope this helps
Ardy
South Australia

I have heard of the problem ardy describes also. I would check the electronics before I got too worried about the carbs. The chances of all of them going south at the same time is remote, as you mentioned earlier.

Old, weak fuel can have the same effect. It takes no power at all to go to full throttle when there is no load on the motor, but put a load on it and fuel with less explosive power will bog the engine and put the fire out.

My guess is either weak spark or weak fuel.

Do you live in an area that has recently gone to E10 or E20? The ethanal will clean your fuel system as it is a solvent. All that gunk ends up in the carb.

BoatUS Mag had an artical about this in the issue I just got last week.

Hey thanks guys, I should check here more often.. I actually just got dont taken the carbs off and about ready to rebuild them... I guess it cant hurt now that I got them off.. As far as the CDI unit is concerned what does that do? Would that cause it to leave a lot of fuel on the carbs and on the plugs?? even at idle??

DeepV, I live in GA, I have no glue on that.

I am actually rebuilding them as we speak, They are soaking in carb cleaner... Got some nice debris floating in there...lol I am also go new plugs.... I am gonna also drain my gas out of the tank and use some fresh gas... and see how it runs...If it is not running right after all that, I guess I will have to check in to this CDI unit...what exactly does that do? and how much does it cost? This boat stuff is getting expensive...lol

Well I got the carbs rebuilt, new plugs, and New gas in the tank... Took it out on the water and it ran better then it ever did. But when i got home I still noticed some gas coming out of the front of the carbs. Could it be coming out because I have the Tilt set to high when I trailer it???

The capacitor discharge ignition as I understand provides power for the coils to provide spark, correct me some one if I am way off.Some thing you should check with the carbys is the drain screw at the bottom of each carby is quite tight ,They can and will work loose!!! personal experience on more than one occasion here.As for the cdi unit they can be a bit random but my experience is they play up after they have been idleing for a few mins and when you give it full power the motor dies in a heap. Back on the fuel system check that all 3 spark plugs are the same color they should be grey and slightly wet,remember 2strokes only lubrication is via the oil in the fuel and dry plugs usally mean that it is running way too lean and this will DRASTICALLY shorten your engines life
Hope this Helps
Ardy South Australia

Ardy, Thanks for the Info. I just rebuilt the carbs last night and snugly tightened the drains plugs with new gaskets. The thing is all 3 carbs have a little gas comes out. Its not constantly coming out. From what I have seen it does not do it when it runs, only when not running. I was thinking since I dont have electric tilt, I have to raise and lower my motor by hand and when put all the way up it is almost Horizontal. I am still not sure what a CDI unit is... or what it does.. But like I said the motor runs bettter then it ever has since I rebuilt the carbs and put new plugs in. Spark plugs are all the same I checked that, A light grey and slightly wet. I always notice the gas coming out of the carbs when I get home and lower the engine. I cant complain the motor runs 100% better then it did before the carbs rebuild. I just didnt think it was normal for gas to come out like that... I mean it may have always done that I just never noticed it.

Don't think it is normal for fuel to drain when not in use but I could be wrong .I will check at easter when I see mine and have a look, so you have a comparison.By the way no power tilt remind me never to arm wrestle you!! You didn't mention what year your engine is.I am on my second one the first was an 85 vro evinrude ,now dead with a hole in the block, the current an 84 johnson non oil injected on the back of my 15foot aluminum runabout
Safe boating
Ardy

Yeah let me know... The engine is not to heavy, It is really easy to put up and down. Well not that easy but you get use to it. The engine is a 1977. I know what you mean about the hole in block. My Merc 150 has a rod right through the side.

I take it that it has a white leg on it.As far as I know they were the first to have electronic ignition (CDI) making them less prone to plug fouling. I will check the carburettors for any leaks ,that is after I have gotten my feet wet (been waterskiing)
All the best
Ardy