Kicker motor problem

Audball · 09-02-2009, 12:46 PM

I have a 2000 Evinrude 9.9 4 stroke that I had extensive work done on about a year ago (new module, tune-up, carb rebuild) at a professional boat repair shop. Probably have 100 hours of trolling on it since then.
Heres the issue. It starts up fine and will run perfectly for the first few minutes, then it's as though it's running with the choke on. If you crank the handle for more speed it will not go any faster than about 2 mph. If you turn the motor off, and then immediately restart it, you can go 20 mph (14' light aluminum boat). However, if you slow back down to 2 mph or so, it will once again not go above 2 mph, regardless of how far you turn the handle. I first noticed this about 6 months ago, but it rarely happened. Now it happens all the time.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Audball

DJD · 09-02-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audball

I have a 2000 Evinrude 9.9 4 stroke that I had extensive work done on about a year ago (new module, tune-up, carb rebuild) at a professional boat repair shop. Probably have 100 hours of trolling on it since then.
Heres the issue. It starts up fine and will run perfectly for the first few minutes, then it's as though it's running with the choke on. If you crank the handle for more speed it will not go any faster than about 2 mph. If you turn the motor off, and then immediately restart it, you can go 20 mph (14' light aluminum boat). However, if you slow back down to 2 mph or so, it will once again not go above 2 mph, regardless of how far you turn the handle. I first noticed this about 6 months ago, but it rarely happened. Now it happens all the time.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Audball

Sounds like a spark problem

fishkisser · 09-02-2009, 09:09 PM

Yep ...

I ran into something this week at the Harley shop same running conditions on one cylinder ...
Turned out the spark plugs insulated center electrode cracked in the middle of the plug ...
Hold it terminal down , perfect gap ...
hold it terminal up , and the center electrode fell against the ground electrode , producing no gap at all...
check your plugs and resistance on your wires ...

http://www.aa1car.com/library/spark_plug_wires.htm

Audball · 09-04-2009, 08:59 AM

How would a spark plug or spark plug wire problem cause it to run "perfectly" for a few seconds, then run like it's choked, then, when turned off and restarted, run "perfectly" again?

One guy said it sounded like a vapor lock problem.

Does that sound plausible?

Thanks for any ideas/input.

Audball · 10-09-2009, 08:11 AM

Well Folks I finally figured out what the problem was - it's actually really embarassing, but I'm going to tell about it here so that we all learn from my bone-headed mistake.

I want to thank those that took the time to respond to my post with their insight, I really do appreciate it.

Anyway, I bought a new fuel line, fuel pump kit, spark plugs, fuel/water seperator, and carb/fuel injector cleaner was added to the gas. Still same problem. In talking with one of the mechanics down at Auburn Sports & Marine, I think his name is Mike, he let me know that it sounded to him like the motor was overheating. He said when it overheats, the motor will limit it's RPMs to protect itself from damage.

Well the motor was peeing water just fine. So I checked my oil level, and..... didn't even register on the dipstick. I added 1/4 qt. of oil and it still didn't register. I added a full qt of oil and now it registered OK. Fired up the motor and it ran like a champ.

Take home message: THINK WITH YOUR DIPSTICK!!, you Dipstick!

spooner · 10-09-2009, 09:02 AM

one time my kiker died on the water. just stoped. I tryed every thing I could on the water, could not start it. a budy of mine was fishing neer me came buy the boat about ten feet away looks at it and said your dead man switch came off.

thanks I was going too check that next heh heh.

Okie · 10-09-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audball

Well Folks I finally figured out what the problem was - it's actually really embarassing, but I'm going to tell about it here so that we all learn from my bone-headed mistake.

I want to thank those that took the time to respond to my post with their insight, I really do appreciate it.

Anyway, I bought a new fuel line, fuel pump kit, spark plugs, fuel/water seperator, and carb/fuel injector cleaner was added to the gas. Still same problem. In talking with one of the mechanics down at Auburn Sports & Marine, I think his name is Mike, he let me know that it sounded to him like the motor was overheating. He said when it overheats, the motor will limit it's RPMs to protect itself from damage.

Well the motor was peeing water just fine. So I checked my oil level, and..... didn't even register on the dipstick. I added 1/4 qt. of oil and it still didn't register. I added a full qt of oil and now it registered OK. Fired up the motor and it ran like a champ.

Take home message: THINK WITH YOUR DIPSTICK!!, you Dipstick!

Glad you found the problem. Runing a engine with out oil is really a serious problem and could damage the engine in a very serious way.

Good Luck

boatman · 10-09-2009, 03:14 PM

I learned the hard way to allways check Fluid levels. He who has not run out of gas through the first stone

fishkisser · 10-09-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman

I learned the hard way to allways check Fluid levels. He who has not run out of gas through the first stone

Well thats not going to be me ...

Mrdorkfish · 10-11-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkisser

Yep ...

I ran into something this week at the Harley shop same running conditions on one cylinder ...
Turned out the spark plugs insulated center electrode cracked in the middle of the plug ...
Hold it terminal down , perfect gap ...
hold it terminal up , and the center electrode fell against the ground electrode , producing no gap at all...
check your plugs and resistance on your wires ...

http://www.aa1car.com/library/spark_plug_wires.htm

I had something similar happen to me...it was the insulation around the center electrode that had cracked and would fall down and had the same effect.....I was running on a plane with my 50hp Honda....all of a sudden I lost power and the motor ran like Doo Doo, I checked my plugs before anything else...and it was the plug.

Lou

SeaRunner18 · 10-23-2009, 10:39 AM

It would be very interesting to learn how people have plumbed their kicker motors into the fuel system.