Yamaha txr150 carb issues?

General Boats and Motors
1

Got an 04 Carbed 2 stroke 150 on the grady. Never had a moments trouble out of it until last night.

I had run the boat all Tuesday afternoon, with no issues. Put it in the water Wednesday and it ran for about 2 minutes, then sputtered, then died.

I threw out the anchor (just at the lake here in Charlotte, but the wind was blowing me towards the rocks).

The fuel bulb was about half-tight. I gave a little squeeze and the engine fired right back up and then died.

I thought I may have water in the gas and the filter was full, so I changed the filter with a new spare one I kept on board. The problem persisted.

Long story short, I was able to get back to the ramp by using the electric choke switch every time the engine would start to die.

Today, I bought new NGK plugs, and put them in. It started and ran perfect on the ear muffs. Took it to the ramp, and it sputtered at first, but then ran ok – not nearly as smooth as normal. Then I found that if I tilted the engine up – higher than any trim angle I would normally run, the engine would smooth right out and ran fine. Also, if I hammered the throttle, the engine would just cough and die. Normally this engine will take full throttle without any hesitation.

I ran it for about 20 minutes, and at the end of the time, it was running right again – even at normal trim angles.

Is this indicative of a stuck carb float? water in the bowls? I dont know, I just want to make sure that whatever the problem is – that its fixed. I am assuming it may have sucked up a piece of trash in one of the carbs, but I dont want a summer fishing trip to go bad when I have an indication of a problem here.

With the price of gas and having to haul from Charlotte to go fish – I dont want any suprises from the engine!

Thanks for any help you can offer. The carbs have never been touched, and the fuel has the stabilizer stuff in it but it does have ethanol. It is probably 20 gallons of old and 10 fresh at this point. The crazy thing is it was perfect the day bef

2

Ran it for an hour at 4k rpms, then wide open, idles and runs great. I did add some more fresh fuel and ringfree with the ethanol protector, maybe that helped.

Seems to be fine now.

I guess everybody else is stumped too…

owned by trailer bearings…

3

grady
sounds like you had water in the carbs
sounds like you got it out, but you need to be careful
if one of the cylinders run lean, (doesnt get as much fual as it needs) the engine will blow up.

www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org

4

Thanks, I wanted a pro to give their opinion. Anything I need to do from here forward? I was really worried I was going to tear something up.

owned by trailer bearings…

5

you should be good

www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org

6

well, the plot thickens…

After running flawlessly, and I mean perfect, for a whole day. I parked it for two days. My wife and I went out to have an evening cruise – and it shut off after 5 minutes, running rough even before that.

I ran it home slowly using the choke switch.

So today I removed the carbs and drained the bowls. Lots of water, then discolored fuel. In all carbs.

Then, I pondered whether the water was in tank, or just condensation from minimal use last year.

So I squeezed the primer bulb and let the fuel run out of the fuel pumps on the engine and onto the lid of my soda can – very milky – smelled like old gas, but I just put lots of fresh in. And I could see the water droplets on the lid.

So, I grabbed a bucket and squeezed the primer bulb until I got about 2 inches of fuel – literally couldnt see the bottom of the bucket. The fuel was tea colored. I tilted the bucket on its side a litte, and you could see clear fuel on the top half inch, and then a defined line/color change.

I am told this is the phase separation that I am witnessing and that the new fuel filter that I just put on cannot stop this water that is suspended in the ethanol fuel.

I was told to remove all this fuel from the tank. Any other tips? This had stabil in it, the kind for ethanol. I was told by a local mechanic that all of that stuff is a scam and it can still separate – any opinions on that?

Other than the water and fonky fuel, the carbs looked good – anything special I should do while they are off the engine?

owned by trailer bearings…

7

drain fuel
rebuild carbs
or you will most likely be performing a 4-bolt tune-up (unbolt 4 mounting bolts, install new 4 stroke yamaha)

www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org

8

Once you do what Chris says make sure you find out how water got into your fuel so it doesn’t happen again. I had water in my fuel last year and after I drained the fuel and rebuilt carbs all was good. Make sure you get the fuel out of the motor as well before you rebuild.

9

LOL, four bolt tune up – I like it.

I have been told that the water is condensation from not using the boat much last year.

owned by trailer bearings…