Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

OK, I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

Built the boat over the winter and bought a rebuilt motor. Had the motor in once with a leaking schraeder valve. The mechanice fixed it and initiated the break-in mode after he did a 30 min water test. Took the boat out and it ran fine, but when going from forward or reverse into neutral, the motor dies frequently. It starts right back up and it runs fine.

I took it back in and he's had it for about 2 weeks. He hooked it up to the computer and on the hose and didn't get any codes and couldn't get the motor to die when shifting from gear into neutral like I had experienced on the lake. He hasn't been able to water-test due to the weather.

We're supposed to be going to a lake on Wednesday that's about 2 hours away. I'm contemplating going ahead and getting the boat from him to use for a few days and then drop it back off once we get back.

Is this completely stupid to do? I know it would be best to leave it with him till he resolves it, but we've had these plans for a while and there are a two other couples going with us. One of them has a cabin and slip at the lake so we're going from Wednesday through Sunday.

I can deal with it dying on me, but don't want to cause any major issues. It runs fine when running and there's no codes popping up on the computer.

Anyone with motor experience have any thoughts?

Obviously the worst case is the motor dying is part of a bigger problem, but I really don't think it is.

Maybe just something to do with spark plugs?

I'm learning to try and have patience with boat work items as there's far less places that work on boats so they have a long wait list to get to the boat.

I have a friend who has a 50 Yamaha that I drive for him every 4th of july because we come back at night. Every time I take that boat off the trailer it dies when I put it in reverse. at least two times. Since I only drive it once a year, I forget it has that kink. Once it warms up it is fine and never does it the rest of the trip.

Yours may just be cold natured. Try letting it warm a little longer before you shift it.

Hope this helps.

Mine's somewhat opposite. It starts fine and I can run it for quite a while, then it will do this. I should also state, that it didn't do it the first hour or so when I was running it. So this makes me wonder if it's more to do with the plugs and the extra oiling from the break-in procedure.

Thanks for the response!

DISCLAIMER - i am not a mechanic but had a similar problem with an outboard years ago. Older outboards (??not sure if new ones are computer controlled or different??) have a shift interrupt that is designed to cause a temporary misfire so you can shift in and out of gear easier. I bet you have a linkage problem or adjustment issue. Google it and you will see several threads - 3 or 4 on thehulltruth.com

Here is one

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... ral.html#b

And another (on this link he had no issues when using muffs)

http://www.boatlocal.com/forums/showthr ... to-neutral

You can also google "outboard shift interrupt switch" and get pics and specs.

PS...I would take the boat and tell everyone to expect problems - set their expectations low!

To touch on the second part of that question.... I would take the boat...enjoy my vacation the best you can.... It will either fix itself or you know what to expect.... Either way you win...

Of all the things I've lost... I miss my time the most.....the one thing we all have in common.... We can't get it back !!!!

Mike

thanks for all of the input. I would be inclined to think this sounds like the issue. The mechanic did say that i should adjust the linkage a bit.

Go get your boat and tell the mechanic that your going to go put some hours on it since it is not acting up for him in the shop; I will all but bet money that he will not have an issue with this. I'm assuming from what I've read that this is a rebuilt 2-Smoker motor? I'd grab two sets of spark plugs while I was at it and install a fresh set as those in the motor might be slightly oil fowled from increased oiling and keep an extra set onboard as critical spares. They don't cost much, don't take up much room and don't go bad if properly protected and can absolutely save you ass somewhere down the road....

^^^ Yep. Live with the issue, and have fun. Maybe you'll figure it out yourself and save some $$$!

ToonGuy wrote:^^^ Yep. Live with the issue, and have fun. Maybe you'll figure it out yourself and save some $$$!

x2 Go for it!

Can we assume you have clean carburetor(s)? A $7 can of Sea Foam fixes a lot of problems.

what manufacturer?

i assume the shift cable is properly adjusted ???

i had a 2 smoke, black max for a while that would do that after being warmed up, the carbs would leak down for some reason while sitting for lunch etc., before starting it again after sitting, pump the bulb on the gas line before starting her up, not too much, don't flood it,

if i ran the boat all morning and then sat for lunch we would have to pump the line in order to get her to take off regularly,

i have also seen some 2 smoke outboards that do not like long periods at idle and will richen up to the point of almost flooding, hit the gas and they will die, my black max did not like to be eased into gear, romp on her get her moving then back out of the throttle a bit to cruising speeds

Thanks for all of the replies. Took it down and had a nice vacation other than the random dying problems at idle.

To answer questions. It's an 05' 150 Optimax

My last 90 4stk Merc hated to idle unless straight up on transom. As soon as I trimmed up would start to miss.