Unreliable Outboards or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Getting Towed

[pescadero]

Yet another installment in the continuing saga that is me and my outboard.

For historical info see:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176827
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180386
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183175


...and now our feature presentation.

Scene I: Fourmile Lake
Windy and Cold. My outboard and I enter.

Sunday morning I decided to run out to Fourmile lake and do a little fishing. I've now had my outboard out 3 times and it has ran wonderfully all 3 prior to this.

Got the boat in the water and pulled the cord a few times - starts right up. Motor up about half the length of the lake, shut down, fish for a while. Fire it up again, move, fish some more. Repeat 5-6 times.

Around 9am I'm ready to move again, and now it won't start. Wind has picked up a bit, and I'm drifting across the lake with a motor that refuses to run. After drifting to the far shore, trying to start the motor for all she is worth the entire float - I started alternating attempts to start the motor with attempts to flag someone down.

After an hour of almost continuous pulling (and the blisters and sore muscles to show for it) I was rescued by some good samaritans who gave me a tow back to the launch. Thanks again whoever you were that saved my butt.

I haven't had a chance to poke at it yet and see if I can figure out what is going on, but I'm about at the point of resigning myself to the fact that I'm never going to have a reliable outboard. This one isn't showing itself to be very reliable, the one it replaced wasn't especially reliable, and given the absolutely ludicrously insane costs of even relatively new outboards that isn't much of an option. Maybe boats just aren't for me... at least I never get stranded shore fishing :lol:

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lp

[Westlakedrive]

I had the same thing happen to me yesterday. Thats why I never go out without a 2nd motor ie electric trolling motor so I can at least get back to the launch. :(

[shametamer]

i'll give ya credit, pescadero...you must have EONS of patience!..i've been known to sell whole boats the moment a motor quits on me a SECOND time!:yikes:

[pescadero]

I had the same thing happen to me yesterday. Thats why I never go out without a 2nd motor ie electric trolling motor so I can at least get back to the launch. :(

I'm beginning to wonder... as bad as my luck is though I'd probably have to carry three motors... and I'm not sure I can fit ANOTHER motor in the back of the station wagon.

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lp

[pescadero]

i'll give ya credit, pescadero...you must have EONS of patience!..

I don't know about that - if you could have heard what was coming out of my mouth while I was drifting across the lake yesterday you might not see me as so patient. If I didn't have $50 in parts in the stupid motor I might have tossed it overboard.

i've been known to sell whole boats the moment a motor quits on me a SECOND time!:yikes:

IF a 5hp outboard didn't cost as much as replacing the engine in my car i probably would - as it is with two small children and a pile of debt my choices are:

1. Whatever I can scrounge up.
2. Oars.

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lp

[Bowslayer]

Sounds like the story of my life!!! Been there done that way too many times to count. And I hate it more and more every time. IT has even happened on that same lake (my favorite by the way). Last year it happened on Otsego L. in Gaylord, now that is a lake that you DON'T want that to happen. But luckily I have a 50lb Minn Kota and made my way back. I have found that a can of ether on board and a fresh spark plug can work wonders if you're stranded.

[pescadero]

Sounds like the story of my life!!! Been there done that way too many times to count. And I hate it more and more every time. IT has even happened on that same lake (my favorite by the way). Last year it happened on Otsego L. in Gaylord, now that is a lake that you DON'T want that to happen. But luckily I have a 50lb Minn Kota and made my way back. I have found that a can of ether on board and a fresh spark plug can work wonders if you're stranded.

The first two times I took it out I brought:

1) Starting fluid
2) spare plugs & wrench
3) screwdriver to remove recoil starter, electric drill, and flywheel nut sized socket - aka the poor mans electric start

All because I didn't trust it after having so many problem getting it running initially... but after starting it 50-60 times both in the tank and in the first couple times I had gone out with no problems and it running great - I stupidly didn't bring that whole pile of stuff I wasn't going to need....

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lp

[pescadero]

The problem has been solved - and it's something I should have expected, but hadn't thought of since first working on the motor.

The problem: plug wire pulled loose at the coil end. Upper cylinder therefore not firing.
Fix: plug wire back into coil.

Upon discovery it immediately brought to mind the first thing I thought when I saw the movable timing advance that alternately pulls and pushes at the plug wires combined with an attachment to the coil which is less than robust - this is a design failure. This design basically guarantees these sorts of problems along with premature wearing of the spark plug leads due bending, stretching, and being dragged across sharp metal edges.

In fact, the strain put on the leads is so extreme in my opinion I'm wondering if my plug lead routing is wrong... Anyone have pictures of the correct plug lead routing on a JW-10? The closest I've been able to find are at:

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repai...%20Tune-up.htm (http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repair.com/Evinrude%203%20HP%20Lightwin%20Outboard%20Boat%20M otor/Evinrude%20Johnson%203%20HP%201952-1967%20Ignition%20System%20Tune-up.htm)

...and that is a much newer model, but it definitely has very different plug lead routing...

So, anyone have pictures of the correct plug lead routing on a JW-10?

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lp

[ih772]

I might have something for you to look at, I'll have to find the old repair manual I have.

[pescadero]

I might have something for you to look at, I'll have to find the old repair manual I have.

That would be wonderful. Thanks.

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lp

[ih772]

While unpacking some more boxes from moving last summer, I finally found the Johnson/Evinrude repair manual I had. It only goes back to 1956 and I couldn't find a JW-10 in it.