88 Evinrude help!

General Boats and Motors
1

I have a 96 Evinrude 88 spl motor has spark fuel and good compression 100 lbs on each cylinder
my issue is it starts then abruptly shuts off. If I throttle up by the binnacle it sounds like its running on two cylinders then shuts down. then its almost like it hard to turn over no sure what is causing this could it be a sheared flywheel key or bad stator?

what’s the best place to take a old evinrude to get worked on thanks im close to Charleston marine wanted to repower with a new 4 stroke as I’ve done a lot of work to the boat just trying to fix the motor now

2

I’d start by taking a fuel sample and seeing if you have water in your fuel

_____________________________________________________ Proline 201WA Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon) Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
3

where you been Bo?

4

If you have spark and compression, then your problem has to be fuel. Could be timing, but, that would be very uncommon unless some of your linkage has literally fallen apart.

Can you disassemble and clean a lawn mower carburetor? If so, you can do the carbs on this motor. They are that basic. And, this is where I’d given your symptoms. Even if the carbs have been cleaned relatively recently, a bugger in a low speed jet will cause exactly what you describe. 'Could be a weak fuel pump. But, I’d still do carbs, first.

If you’re up for spending a few hours on it yourself, get a manual and have at it. First, time through it will take 3-4 hrs. Second time and every time after (should be done every year or so), about 2 hours.

I’m no certified mechanic or anything. But, I have cleaned the carbs on my '95 88spl dozens of times. If you think you’d like to go at it yourself, 'would be glad to answer any questions.

First tips. Buy a manual. Jets are made of soft metal. If you bugger them up, you buy new ones. Not a catastrophe. They are available and ~$15 each. When removing them, use a screw driver that fits the slot perfectly and don’t let it slip. When cleaning them, do NOT run anything hard through the orifice. Soak in carb cleaner and blow out with clean air. If you tear up the top or abrade the inner wall of the orifice, she’ll never be right. Buy a manual.

Have I mentioned that if you think you want to work on her yourself, you should buy a manual?

Good luck.

PS - completely agree with the posts above, she could simply be starving for fuel. Try a known good portable tank and line (including bulb), and new gas.

--------------------------- 17' Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl 26' Palmer Scott project hull 14' Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
5

I went into hiding. been trying to find out if the PeaPod was myth or man. i couldn’t come to any conclusion, so i gave up and came back.

_____________________________________________________ Proline 201WA Aloha 24ft pontoon (LooneyToon) Old Town stern with 7.5 johnson
6

I’ve installed new tank lines fuel water separator even ran the boat on a small tank no change in symptoms I’ll start taking the carbs off and cleaning them good thanks for the reply’s back

7

Before you take the carbs off…does the motor run better with choke? That would a sure sign of carb problem…otherwise could be electrical.

The ENTER-NET Fisherman
8

Make sure you don’t have a leak in a fuel line under the cowling.Might be sucking in air somewhere.

9

I had a power pack go bad on me before and before it fully bit the dust it had symptoms of bad carbs.

10

SMAN AND 40 GAVE 2 VERY GOOD POSSIBILITIES , 2 BANGERS DON’T LIKE AIR LEAKS AROUND THE CARBS
NOR A BLEEP IN THE FIRING SYSTEM

George McDonald US Navy Seabees,Retired, MAD, Charleston Chapter [http://www.militaryappreciationday.org

When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown

George McDonald US Navy Seabees,Retired, MAD, Charleston Chapter [http://www.militaryappreciationday.org

When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown

11

before starting work, lets do a little more diagnostic work.
if you can keep the motor running long enough, pull the plug wires 1 at a time and see how the motor responds.
If the motor is running on that cylinder, it should bog down. If not, there will be no change. This simple test will at least let you know where your problem is.
next thing is to make sure you have good spark on all 4 cylinders.
then lastly, if you have a cylinder that did not respond to pulling the spark plugs, use a propane torch without lighting it, and introduce the propane into the carb and see if the motor picks up.
If it does respond to the propane, you definitely have a fuel restriction issue.

www.teamcharlestonmarine.com IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
12

Carbs cleaned really well motor won’t even start just backfires through exhaust guess I’ll double check spark with a tester
I read somewhere it could be a broken piston ring

13

First, this is a great site to get motor questions answered. Most folks on here try to help shade tree mechanics. You even have a professional mechanic, chris V, that gives his time to answer questions/give suggestions.

I read your original post more carefully again :

"I have a 96 Evinrude 88 spl motor has spark fuel and good compression 100 lbs on each cylinder
my issue is it starts then abruptly shuts off. If I throttle up by the binnacle it sounds like its running on two cylinders then shuts down. then its almost like it hard to turn over no sure what is causing this could it be a sheared flywheel key or bad stator?

what’s the best place to take a old evinrude to get worked on thanks im close to Charleston marine wanted to repower with a new 4 stroke as I’ve done a lot of work to the boat just trying to fix the motor now "

What I gather from the last confusing statement is Charleston marine wanted to sell you a new four stroke versus fix your 23 year old motor…
"Charleston marine wanted to repower with a new 4 stroke as I’ve done a lot of work to the boat just trying to fix the motor now "

Why??? Because it’s a 23 year old motor. Bolts break…metal fatigues…improper maintenance…all contribute to no one wanting to work on it…or because it isn’t worth the price of fixing it. If money is no object…they’ll fix it …I would imagine.

Back in the day, before the internet, if I had a question about an engine…I’d go to the shop…put $ 20 down on the shop table and say “I got $20 for a moment of your time”…
Either they gave me an answer or told me to get lost.

"“I have a 96 Evinrude 88 spl motor has spark fuel and good compression 100 lbs on each cylinder”…You did the compression check??? If so, why do you ask if it could be a broken ring…after your original question concerning the flywheel key:
"…my issue is it starts then abruptly shuts off. If I throttle up by the binnacle it sounds like its running on two cylinders then shuts down.

14

I got a ohm meter checked coils,power pack and grounds ended up being a faulty ground wire to power pack. Thanks for all the help especially you mdaddy. I guess there really is a art to being a mechanic

15

Chris V is the one to be thanking. He gives his time freely … and you don’t have to drive down to his shop to axe him a question.

The ENTER-NET Fisherman