Need advice

**htr2133** · 08-30-2012, 10:46 AM

on my 67 Johnson Seahorse 6hp. I have had a really hart time getting this thing to start the last two outings. It has always been a great starting and running motor for us and it is kind of ticking me off.

Recent Work:
2010 carbs were redone and no ethanol or old gas has been used since; only 93 or 89 Oct. non-ethanol, plugs look new and were replaced at the time carbs were done
2012 Spring, lower unit complete serviced and the mechanic tested the motor out at his shop and ran it for me as well when I came and said everything was running great.

First 2 trips out after that work was completed I like to killed myself getting the thing to start. I identified it was my fuel hose. I swapped hoses from my dad's boat yesterday and got the motor to start. I took the motor to a nearby lake and ran it for about 30 min. Killed it and re-started it a few times and it seemed to do much better. But, it still seems to be harder to start than it always has been even after its warmed up. I have messed with Rich/Lean adjustment and that doesn't seem to help either way. Also, I couldn't get it to start with the choke on; I had to un-choke and give it more throttle than usual to start yesterday.

What could be the causes of this? I don't think the carbs are bad bc they were just done and the motor has barely been used since with only good non-eth gas. Would you guys recommend I put some SeaFoam or something like that in the fuel and run a tank through it to decarb? Or maybe some sort of carb cleaner in the fuel?

I am kind of lost and don't really have the $ to get it worked on right now but really need it to be reliable for me.

**Barnacle Bill** · 08-30-2012, 11:15 AM

I would try the Sea Foam first and then go from there. If you haven't done so yet change all the rubber fuel lines. The original lines are not made for ethanol and it will not be much longer before you will have to use it.

**shermanator** · 08-30-2012, 08:27 PM

If you're getting good enough spark I would guess you're carb float is bad and soaking up fuel or is sticking. If you're having to unchoke it and open up the throttle to get it to start it sounds like its flooding out...

**htr2133** · 08-30-2012, 08:55 PM

Thanks guide. Will the Seafoam do any good for the carbeurator or will it only help w carbon deposits in the engine?

**shermanator** · 08-31-2012, 05:11 PM

If it is the carb float seafoam won't help, you need to take the carb apart and see what's going on. Maybe a bad float, sticking float, or maybe set wrong allowing too much fuel in before closing the fuel supply off...

**shermanator** · 09-02-2012, 09:43 AM

Another thing I just thought of, since you've got a 6 hp motor I'm assuming your fuel is stored in one of those red portable fuel tanks, if it is I've seen those go bad and will not vent properly hence no fuel will pump out of it resulting in an engine that is a bear to start. My friend had a 15 hp that we pulled and pulled it wouldn't start for nothing we got another can poured the same fuel in and it started right up. Just something to check...

**Hanr3** · 09-04-2012, 08:46 PM

or the vent in the gas cap is plugged?

**Barnacle Bill** · 09-04-2012, 08:49 PM

True Sseafoam will not help a bad float but it will help remove carbon. There is a procedure for that you can do once you get it running.

**htr2133** · 09-05-2012, 06:12 PM

Thanks BB and Sherman. I picked up some Seafoam today. How do you guys recommend I run it through motor most effectively? I would prefer to just add the right amount but mixed strong to the tank and run at least a half tank through it? Will that clean the carb jets and internal parts of the motor adequately? I am not a OB motor mechanic by any means so I prefer not to disassemble any carbs or try to get the Seafoam into the motor directly unless it's very easy.

Thanks for all the help.

**SeaRay** · 09-05-2012, 06:32 PM

HTR
This is gonna sound far fetched but I had a 76 Mercury 5HP which was brand new. It ran like a top once you got it started, but it was difficult to start. I took a small outboard repair course at a tech school in Atlanta and when I discussed this with the instructor he asked what kind of oil I was using in the gas. I was just using stuff from the gas station, Penzoil or other. He told me to get QuickSilver and run it several times to get the old mix out of the tank. It was like a different engine. It would start with half a pull from then on. Since then all I have ever used is Quick Silver in both Johnson and Mercury engines. Not sure if that will help you but it made a world of difference with mine. And no, I did not believe for one minute it would help, but I tried it to appease my instructor.

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