1994 Evinrude Overheat

[Don SSDD]

My [1994 Evinrude outboard engine that later is described as a 140-HP loop-charged V4] had been working fine. I had not used it in a while. The two-year-old automatic bilge pump quit working again, so I went to my mooring, started the outboard to let it recharge the batteries while I pumped out the water in the boat, and cleaned up after the cormorant who had made a mess.

The [outboard engine] warmed up and ran fine, then stalled, and would not restart. I did not check to see if the water pump was pumping. I wonder if the pump needs replacing and the engine overheated. The engine warning lights are not working. I assume an overheat would cause the engine to shut down.

If that is what happened, then the overheat has not likely caused any damage. I only had it running for seven minutes at say 1500-RPM.

If that shutdown was due to overheating, now that it is cold again, should the engine restart?

If it should, I would like to restart it to see if the pump is or is not working.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Don

[flymo]

Don, it is unlikely that overheating is the cause of your problem. There is no overheat shutdown on your engine, although it will go into "limp home" mode. And in any case that is cleared by shutting down and restarting. I do not think it will do any harm, or additional harm, to try to restart.

When you say [the engine] would not restart, do you mean [the electric starting motor] would not even crank the [the engine]?

Or, [the engine] would crank but not start?

If the former, it is simple: the cranking battery is dead and needs to be charged. If this is the case, for a boat which does not get much use and needs to run a bilge pump, you may wish to invest in a solar battery charger.

Also, for future reference, most older motors do not put out much charging current at all when running at 1500 RPM - you probably took more out of the battery starting it than you put back in in 5 minutes of running.

I see from one of your other posts that you are not using the factory service manual, but rather a generic one. If you are going to keep the motor, the factory manual is a good investment - it's dramatically more accurate and complete.

[Don SSDD]

Thanks.

The engine would crank over but would not start.

The boat has two batteries, and they were not run down.

The engine seemed to be cranking at a normal speed.

The fuel primer bulb was hard. The fuel tank was 3/4-full. [Lack of fuel] wasn't [the cause of the non start].

I also put on a new fuel-water separator this spring, a new marine-grade fuel hose, an Evinrude primer bulb from the-fuel water separator to engine, new plugs, and new plug wires.

I couldn't find a factory service manual when I looked for one. I think you have to buy used now for something this old. All the local dealer sold was the one I bought, the Clymer.

Don

[Don SSDD]

My outboard is a 140-HP V4 loop-charged.

[flymo]

Don, the factory service manual for your motor appears to be available at marineengine.com, part number 500612. I bought a manual for my Johnson 70 from them.

If your motor cranks but won't start the next thing would be to check for spark. Also, just in case, double-check that the safety key is properly in place - maybe it came loose cleaning up after the shag (which is what cormorants are called in Maine).

Flymo

[Don SSDD]

Flymo--thanks.