SGT.JOE
16th February 2014, 08:18 AM
Hi guys, had a problem with the Evinrude 70 hp on my last trip out, was going fine then she started to loose power at WOT? just seemed to bog down to about 2000rpm?.
then I heard a sound, it may have been there from the start but it took this long for my ear to pick it up, it was like taking the muffler of a car slowly while it was still running, the engine note got louder by the time I dropped anchor to effect repairs. took the hood off and ran the engine again at idle, yes it had small amounts of smoke rising from the powerhead exhaust manifold! from the outer plate gasket to be exact.
Shut engine down and test bolts with fingers, all the Ones at the top to about half way down are finger loose?:o so out with the on board tool kit (if you don't have a tool kit on ya boat you are mad) re-tighten all bolts then start her up.
WOW! all those little things like rough idle ect gone, It would seem those bolts had been working themselves loose for the last five trips out or so (that is when the little problems first showed up) now she idles like new leaps out of the hole with no effort and runs all day without one stutter or hard start at all. so needless to say I am putting 'bolt tightning' on my Once a month job list. Engine pushes a 14.5 Mtr Stejcraft halfcab with all our gear, kids and the Wife and I, in all the conditions that Tassie water can chuck at us. I hope this helps if you guys have mystery power loss on your boats, listen for the tell tale change in engine note or smoke rising our of the engine cover. happy Boating :D
then I heard a sound, it may have been there from the start but it took this long for my ear to pick it up, it was like taking the muffler of a car slowly while it was still running, the engine note got louder by the time I dropped anchor to effect repairs. took the hood off and ran the engine again at idle, yes it had small amounts of smoke rising from the powerhead exhaust manifold! from the outer plate gasket to be exact.
Shut engine down and test bolts with fingers, all the Ones at the top to about half way down are finger loose?:o so out with the on board tool kit (if you don't have a tool kit on ya boat you are mad) re-tighten all bolts then start her up.
WOW! all those little things like rough idle ect gone, It would seem those bolts had been working themselves loose for the last five trips out or so (that is when the little problems first showed up) now she idles like new leaps out of the hole with no effort and runs all day without one stutter or hard start at all. so needless to say I am putting 'bolt tightning' on my Once a month job list. Engine pushes a 14.5 Mtr Stejcraft halfcab with all our gear, kids and the Wife and I, in all the conditions that Tassie water can chuck at us. I hope this helps if you guys have mystery power loss on your boats, listen for the tell tale change in engine note or smoke rising our of the engine cover. happy Boating :D