This issue is very, very intermittent. It has only happened about four times in the three years I’ve owned the boat. I bought it new February 07.
It happened the very first time we took the boat out.
From those few times we’ve noticed that it happens after the boat has been run, shutoff, sat a few minutes and restarted.
It happened this weekend. We ran from Georgetown to N. Myrtle and stopped for lunch at Barefoot Landing. It ran great. We started up fine and idled away and when we planed out it stumbled. I pull the throttle back for a moment and then planed it again and all was fine all the way back to Georgetown.
Sometimes it stumbles for a moment and then goes and then the othertimes it will stumble, run rough and shut off. It will restart roughly and shut down again. Then it will fire and run fine the rest of the day even if we stop and shut down it will refire fine.
The boat always starts and runs fine at the landing. This never happens with a cold engine.
I’ll be interested to hear some replies. I have a similar problem with my F115. It only happens if the engine has been run and set for awhile. Mine stumbles more than yours and will not run unless you pump the bulb or push the throttle to full. After, it will run fine no problems at any throttle.
SEAJUICE - check your fuel lines under the cowl. Same thing going on with my 115 Suzuki, finally figured out the ethanol had eaten the fuel lines up and had a leak that would cause they system to loose prime. Pump the bulb and it would run fine. I had changed all the fuel lines to the motor and was under the impression that the motors were ethanol frendly…not true.
Same thing happened to me. Engine bogged down and I pumped the bulb and was on my way. Has’nt happened again… Also, I started using Yamaha Ring Free with fuel additive. It’s expensive but the mechanic at the marina recommended it.
186
from what u r describing, could be fuel or electrical
the worse part of this, is unless we can duplicate the problem, chance of fixing it are almost impossible
Could also be a spark ‘leak’ somewhere. Easiest to find at night or in a low-light situation w/ the engine cover off. I have found several motors w/ intermittant arcing issues that otherwise would be running fine.
The fuel bulb/line issue would also be my starting point though.
Just happened again this past weekend. I guess that’s what you call intermittent…lol.
Same M.O. Ran for a while and stopped to swim. Started up fine, pulled away and as getting on plane boat spit, sputtered and died. Restarted and slowly pulled away and all was fine.
Step one would be to check the bulb right when this happens. If it’s not tight, you have a fuel pressure issue. After that, harder to tell. But the bulb or fuel lines seem to be the problem most of the time when this happens. Bulbs break easy but are cheap to replace. My Yamaha 115 did this once. Pumped the bulb = immediate and so far permanent fix.
I have this problem on my '05 F115. I seem to have narrowed it down to it happening more frequently after running in rough water. This leads me to believe it is trash in the tank clogging the intake…getting jarred loose when running. The bulb will be completely sucked dry immediately after this. Once you can re-prime it, problem temporarily solved.
This may or may not be relevant but I had the same issue with my F115. Intermittently, after stopping to fish a spot, I would start the motor, throttle up, go a little ways then it would stumble. I eventually realized it only happened after I was fishing shallow and had tilted the motor all the way up. I guess the tilt angle drained a little bit of fuel out of the system causing the stumble.
I had the same sputtering problem on my '03 F115 a few years ago.Decarbed w/ 64oz Ringfree in 6gals gas,replaced plugs,oil,oil filter,and accessible fuel separator and filters.It still sputtered after being run and especially when at sea taking some slop.I found out from Mike murphy @ Hanckel that it was the internal vst filter.He cleaned it out and motor ran like new until last week and it is starting to do it again.I guess he will get it back this summer.It runs well and dependable enough to fish for now.I am happy with the Yamaha product and Hanckel’s service after 9.5yrs…
“Modern day Robin Hoodism-Steal from the sucessful and give to the poorly motivated.”
186, I have the same motor and year you have. Mine has been doing the exact same thing for a few years now. Started running seafoam through it and the problem has gotten better. Every once in a while it will hesitate when wide open. I can pull it back a little for a few seconds and push foward again and it runs fine. Took it to Hanckel and they said they couldn’t find a problem. Think I’m going to get some Ringseal for it also.
My 2001 F115 stumbles but only when at idle. It runs fine otherwise. I change the filters regularly, but don’t know what know what a VST filter is. I use Stabil, but have never tried seafoam or ringfree. It seems to stumble when we are up a creek catching bait.
I have checked for fuel leaks, etc and can’t find anything. I have never used seafoam or ringfree. I read somewhere that seafoam has alcohol in it. I have always used Stabil. Do you use seafoam or ringfree regularly or just as a ocasional treatment ?