Engine cuts out after a few minutes

warrenzn · 09 February 2014, 07:33

Hi, need some help I got motor mariner 60hp year 1998, out at sea a few days ago and the motor was fine for a few hours then just cut out, I tried starting and nothing would happen after about 10 mins I tried again and it fired up went for a few minutes then cut again. It seems to do this over and over now even in idle seems as though as it gets warm it cuts. I have checked fuel and fuel line but all seems fine. Some advice would be good. Thanks

Brian · 09 February 2014, 08:10

Could be your engine is salted up.
Sea water creates salt when not flushed through with fresh water after each use.

Maybe his happened before you acquired the boat?

spartacus · 09 February 2014, 08:16

Is this a 2-stroke or 4-stroke?

Do you have an inline fuel/water filter fitted? Check the fuel primer bulb for any signs of deterioration. There's also the fuel reservoir mesh filter on the engine - remove and clean. Lastly the fuel pump itself, the diaphragm can fail, but symptoms would be at WOT as it struggles to maintain flow.

Check the sparks first before doing anything, especially when it cuts out. Are they wet, fouled?

Pikey Dave · 09 February 2014, 08:27

When the engine dies, does the primer bulb go soft/flat or is it still firm & full?

biffer · 09 February 2014, 08:27

Fuel tank vent?

matt h · 09 February 2014, 09:45

keep pumping the fuel bulb when start to falter, could be ya fuel pump

RIB-Teccie · 09 February 2014, 12:06

If you are going along at speed and the engine gradually loses power and stops, it will be a fuel problem. If it is sudden, it is likely to be ignition.

A possibility is overheating and the engine shuts down to protect the engine, how strong is the tell tale??

A large bit of muck In the fuel tank can be sucked onto the pipe in the tank and then fall back to the bottom. Do you use a filter funnel? I have seen leaves come out of a petrol pump in the past.

uncle al · 09 February 2014, 12:41

have you tried to keep some pressure on the primer bulb if it goes ok I would fit a fuel pump kit, when it stops are you in a safe position that you can check the colour of the spark plugs ,and are the thhe same colour?Has it been sneezing lately if so check the pulse hose and connections to make sure there are no holes been blown thru them.

warrenzn · 15 February 2014, 08:59

Hi, changed the cdi and the problem has gone, this is the secondd cdi in two months but with different problems, does anyone have an idea what could be causing the cdi to go bad

Nos4r2 · 15 February 2014, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrenzn

Hi, changed the cdi and the problem has gone, this is the secondd cdi in two months but with different problems, does anyone have an idea what could be causing the cdi to go bad

Are you sure your stator is ok?That's the only thing that could damage the CDI.

warrenzn · 15 February 2014, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Are you sure your stator is ok?That's the only thing that could damage the CDI.

How do I test the stator

RIB-Teccie · 15 February 2014, 11:55

Most engine manuals will give the electrical resistance tests in ohms. You can test the wiring in sequence with an ohms meter. However as it takes 10 mins for the problem to appear, the stator may look ok when testing and the mistake would be to look for something else as the cause. At this point most people give up ( I've tested everything and I still can't find it syndrome). The only way to really know is to use a good second hand one from a running engine or pay the piper and get a new one.