Outboard Engine troubles

[Zanna]

Hi all! I am completely new to the boating world. I have just bought a old wilderness beaver, the engine was meant to work but it just doesn’t now. I think it’s a 10hp 4 stroke Yamaha. I’ve been told that it probably needs replacing. My boat is only 23ft, do you think I could just get a two stroke? I don’t really know the difference but I do want the boat to be able to move eventually. What hp would I need if I decided to go with a 2 stroke? Engines are so expensive and it’s just cost me a bit to move the thing across the country!

[WotEver]

17 minutes ago, Zanna said:

I’ve been told that it probably needs replacing.

My money would be on it just needs a service. 

[Guest]

19 minutes ago, Zanna said:

Hi all! I am completely new to the boating world. I have just bought a old wilderness beaver, the engine was meant to work but it just doesn’t now. I think it’s a 10hp 4 stroke Yamaha. I’ve been told that it probably needs replacing. My boat is only 23ft, do you think I could just get a two stroke? I don’t really know the difference but I do want the boat to be able to move eventually. What hp would I need if I decided to go with a 2 stroke? Engines are so expensive and it’s just cost me a bit to move the thing across the country!

Welcome to the forum.
It has been a few years since I ran outboards, but I always found two strokes expensive on fuel when compared to a 4 stroke.
How old is the Yamaha and do you know why it has stopped running? They always seem to have a good name as being reliable and robust. Could just need the carb. cleaning and a good service?
Hopefully those who are more up to date will comment.

Edited June 19, 2019 by Guest

[OldGoat]

Quote

 

Outboards can be a pain to start 2-strokes are worse than 4-

They all need a strong arm - a good wrist action.

How do you know it doesn't work? - 'cos you cant start it - or some other reason?

 

[Sea Dog]

If it's been stood a while, the first thing I'd try would be to empty out any stale fuel and pop a bit of fresh stuff in. Petrol can "go off" - ask anyone with a lawnmower!

 

Good luck - and welcome to the forum. 

 

Edited June 19, 2019 by Sea Dog
Double post

[Murflynn]

new 2 strokes can no longer be legally sold to private customers - not for a long time.

having said that, I bought a 20 year old Evinrude 4hp 2 stroke twin cylinder, with hand start, and it's very light and easy to carry around, which suits my purpose, but those advantages are irrelevant for powering a small canal boat;  it is noisy and makes a lot of smoke - not good characteristics for a canal boat.

 

you really need an electric start motor, I assume the 10hp Yamaha is electric (remote) start.

persevere with your Yamaha - get it serviced (anyone working with small petrol motors can do it - even a local garden centre I imagine). 

the Yamaha 10hp is a twin cylinder : it should be easy to start once it has been serviced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 19, 2019 by Murflynn

[Guest]

36 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

If it's been stood a while, the first thing I'd try would be to empty out any stale fuel and pop a bit of fresh stuff in. Petrol can "go off" - ask anyone with a lawnmower!

 

Good luck - and welcome to the forum. 

 

Agree with this, and likely the carb. is full of gunge. Generators I have owned have done this if the carb. wasn't drained before storage.

[Mad Harold]

It's quite likely that the petrol in the tank has lost it's volatility,so won't vapourise properly.

If the carb wasn't drained before storing,the fuel in the carb will have turned into a sticky sludge.

The Yam 9.9 is a very reliable lump,and yours probably just needs a service.

[bizzard]

Carburetters don't like unleaded petrol which tends to leave a light brown sediment which can  block small jets easily. I recommend using Redex UCL which helps keeping the jets clean.  When unleaded petrol began I had loads of trouble with customers cars, cleaning, renewing idle jets. My car has a Webber carb and I use Redex in the petrol and no problem anymore.