I need motor help

Bad Wood 75 · 07-11-2008, 08:12 PM

I have a 120 horse volvo inboard engine that when you idle for a while, then go to take off again it dies. It then take around 20 minutes for it to start up again. It turns over but wont fire up for atleast 20 minutes. I had the carb rebuilt last year and im still having problems. If anyone has any ideas about what the engine is doing and how to fix it, please PM me back or post what you think that it is.
Kris

Orion · 07-11-2008, 10:12 PM

Have you checked your fuel filters including the screen in the tank? It sounds like you might be picking up some crud that blocks the flow of fuel. When you stop pumping fuel for a while, the crud might be falling away from the filter. You crank it up and the crud blocks the filter again? Do you have a single Solex side draft carb?

Bad Wood 75 · 07-12-2008, 08:24 AM

I replaced the fuel filter last year as well. Its just wierd that I can run it hard at full or even half throttle and then when it idles back down and idles for a while, for example if I stop at a place to fish and fish for 30 or so minutes and leave the engine running it will die when I try to throttle up again. Its so wied and I just cant figure it out.

Orion · 07-12-2008, 09:12 AM

I was picking up parts at a marine store recently and spoke with the owner for a few minutes. A guy walked in and said he had motor trouble. The owner offered a few tips and the guy kept repeating "it ran just fine when I put it away last year". Marine shop owner asked a few questions about various measures taken to prepare the boat for storage including fuel stabilizer, topping off the fuel tank, fresh filters, running the fuel out of the carbs, etc.... It became apparent that the boat owner had simply parked the boat for the winter. When the guy left, the owner turns to me and says..." If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase, "It ran just fine when I put it away, I could have retired by now" I guess my point is that you may want to check all fuel related possibilities even though it ran fine last year. You may have crud in the carb even though it was fresh last year. You may have plugged jets, or filters that have varnished to a point where they don't allow fuel to pass. It may be something as simple as an idle screw adjustment. The problem does indeed sound like a fuel issue, but then again.....Let us know what you find out. The solution would be good to know when my turn for fuel challenges comes up again. I am probably in the on deck circle right now!

Orion