1973 50 horse will not run in water.

[Macdaddyjpicard]

I just bought this boat and motor. Even tried it out with the clamp connected to a hose going to the water intake vents while running it for extended periods of time. This thing fires up with one key turn and runs smooth.... UNTIL I put it in the water. Then it won't start to save it's life. I'm new to this but I've got some mechanical background. The plugs are new. the fuel is new @ 50:1 , the lines and bulb are new. the fuel filter is clean.. WHere else do I look?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Macdaddyjpicard]

some more info.

I took apart lower unit. Water impeller and housing are good. didn't have much gear oil so draining and refilling the murky left overs. Also tested compression one at 145 one at 150 so that's good. I'M LOST any help please?

Thanks
J

[Guy Peloquin]

have you re-checked the spark after you took it out of the water

[Macdaddyjpicard]

I did not check plug for water if that's what you mean...... Only because once i pull the boat out of the water it will immediately start... I figured if it was getting water in there it would cause plug to not operate for a length of time ( until dry) I have checked and adjusted timing now.. but still the same.


One thing that's baffling me is there is no water outlet hole "pee hole" what's with that. heads are staying cool to the touch after running for 5 mins with muff on the motor but the only water exiting is through the lower unit ?????

[Guy Peloquin]

so it only runs on land and not water..

[Macdaddyjpicard]

Yea only when the motor is submerged in water will it not start. Not even with starter fluid shot in carbs..... I think I'll send it to the island of unwanted toys. lol , A boat that doesn't like water.

[highcountry]

Ok, this is to weird! Let's start from the water side, try putting the motor is a barrel filled to the normal level and see if it starts. If it does, then the boat is out of the water and you have some type of an electrical problem that is in the boat. Depth finder? lighting? who knows? a short of some type. If it still won't start in a barrel then there has to be wiring that is getting wet in the motor some how. You might try waving a dead duck over it next while singing surf city.

[Macdaddyjpicard]

I can't find a barrel big enough to fit the lower end.... I can use an ice chest but it will only go up so high on the motor.. and it runs fine like that.. You may be on to something though. I checked out all wires that go to depth finder and spedo.. Nothing is hooked up.. I'm going to put a meter on them and get back to you with results.. GOOD IDEA ! Thanks

[Macdaddyjpicard]

dead duck surf city??????? I must be either too old or too young for this reference.

[highcountry]

I couldn't think of any type of vodoo stuff so that was the best I could come up with.

[Macdaddyjpicard]

Oh well I'm coon*** so I know a few of those voodoo0 spells but don"t want to cast them on my motor.... YET ..... I checked all electrical and nothing is live except for the motor wire harness..... the motor is a manual shift so no wires go below water level. so that leaves me with nothing.... This is a really bad issue to have.

[Macdaddyjpicard]

update

o.k. let me start by saying I'm almost as smart as this motor now..... Luckily I had a friend who had the same exact motor down to the year, and he blew a bearing or rod out of the block. I stripped everything off his ( even an ss prop) for $100.

Now I got it to start in water. I've gotten it to run wide open a few times, but 98% of the time it will run fine but not full power..... I checked the stator and found those reticles ( i think that's what they called them ) had melted from being so hot... I changed it thinking it was a fire problem.. took it to the lake. and no wide open..... I changed the coil packs and made sure everything was good with fire test.. took to lake and still won't run top speed. Got a brand new fuel pump from evinrude... Same problem.... Is there something I'm missing here....

I have noticed that making adjustments to the idle timing stop point and the WOT stop points changed nothing at all.......I mean to say in running it. it does advance the timing marks when a timing light is used but never seems to fail to fire or backfire no matter where the stops are? anyone know about this?

Thanks, I've almost got it just a bit more help please !

[Kenny C]

will not run

Does your boat have a kill switch and if so maby it got pulled out enought to kill it while you where on the lake. Its only a far shot but you mite take a look at it.