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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Honda Outboard Idle issues

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Brentc
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/24/2004 : 14:45:08

First of all, let me say that if inanimate objects have an afterlife, I hope this motor spends it's time in outboard purgatory, or something similar. (Just had to get that off my chest).

1993 Honda BF8, long shaft, manual start. When at high rpm, in gear or not, runs perfect. I recently motored to a destination for an hour straight without any problems. "Purrs like a kitten" as they say. However it will not idle, just dies. When lowering the rpm to idle, in gear it will die after a few seconds. When not in gear it will die in 10-20 seconds, then die. (basically I have to keep the idle very high to putter in and out of my marina/slip. Once in open water, move to half trottle, and everythings rosey.

Heres what I have done so far.
1. replace fuel with new fuel, added Stabill.
2. Replace fuel line, bulb, male/female hose connector on engine.
3. confirmed vent is working on gas tank
4. carb rebuilt and tuned by outboard mechanic.
5. replaced plugs.

Does anyone have a recommendation as to my next step. What should I look for next. (ran out of boat bucks, so mechanic is out of question, his rebuild didn't solve the problem anyway).

Thanks in advance,

Brent,
(you should be able recognized me, I am the one slamming into the docks.)

Brent Chaote
84 C25 FK/SR
#4881

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2004 : 16:13:04

Brent,
Hello from a fellow sailor with the same problem... My 1987 Johnson had the same problem, did many of the same fixes but no solution, she still quit when at idle, also when switching directions, which makes it really hard to pull into a slip- no reverse...
I ended up buying a 2002 Honda which doesn't stall out (sorry- not the answer you are looking for....) But am still trying to figure out how to reattach my bow light as it got knocked off when I ran into my dock one time the reverse stalled it out and has been hanging by a wire to the bow pulpit railing for a year or so now.
Good luck!
Karen :)
Karen Christensen
Moondance 1986 C25
Traverse City, Michigan

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2004 : 16:18:06

Does the engine "blubber" a bit before it dies on idle?
(like it's loading up)

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Brentc
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2004 : 16:41:25

Yes, if I understand the term bubbler.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2004 : 17:42:42

The idle jet is probably fouled with water. it is a simple, 2 minute fix and you can do it on the water. But the carb re-build should have fixed it? Pull the cover. Looking at the motor, the 2 jets and the idle speed adjustment are on the right. Pull the idle jet by screwing counter clockwise with a small flat blade. This is the aft jet. The idle jet is in a little tunnel on the side of the carb. Make sure you know how deep in it was. There is also a little spring. Don't lose the jet or spring. The smallest drop of water will foul this jet and it will not idle. Once out, clean the jet and spray B-12 Chemtool carb cleaner into the tunnel. Try to start it with the jet out. The motor will actually run at idle without the jet (but very very rough).

Do the same with the main jet. There is no spring. However, if the motor will idle but not run wide open then the main jet is fouled so I don't think it is your problem. But if you are cleaning one you might as well clean the other.

When you put the idle jet back in it should be screwed in about 1/8 inch. Run the motor at idle and in neutral and slowly screw this in and out until it is running fairly smooth. These motors don't really idle smooth since both cylinders are firing at the exact same time.

Crank up the idle speed until it runs fairly smooth IN GEAR. Take it out of gear and make sure it doesn't race. If the throttle response is not smooth reving from idle to mid throttle, adjust the idle jet until it is.

There is also a little screw to drain the carb. Catch the fuel in a cup and see if there is any water.

If this does not fix it then it is my guess that a wire or connection is corroded, most likely on the pulsar to the CDI. Pull all wires apart and clean the connectors with WD40. Every wire is color coded. The pulsar wires come from the left under the flywheel by the plugs, across the block, to the CDI which is a black box behind the carb with many wires. As I recall, the pulsar wires are green.

Mine were terriblly corroded with the same symptom as the result.

Make sure these wires are clean.

If they are clean, then I would replace the CDI. The pulsar generates the timing signals, the CDI makes the coil fire the plugs. The pulsar also generates your charging current.

The motor is bone simple and the biggest problem is a miniscule drop of water in the idle jet causing just what you are describing.

If it's not a carb/fuel problem, then it must be electrical.

Good luck. Be sure you can clean the idle jet on the water because this happens once in a while - especially after a long day motoring in rough seas (you ingested a small amount of spray somewhere along the way).

99% sure this is your problem

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2004 : 18:40:19

Idle jet was not cleaned when rebuilt. Cleaning it should fix the problem. All the older Hondas have an idle jet that is too small.

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gerdo
Navigator

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107 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2004 : 16:36:33

I had the same problem and did everything youdid but finally replaced the carb and all is well.

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John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2004 : 22:28:59

I have an 86 Honda 100. this motor will run perfectly at 1/2 throttle for 10 hours and will idle so smooth and quiet that it is barely audible.

I have heard of many honda honda horrors but never a problem with this model. Is this older motor known for its reliability?

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2004 : 13:14:50

all the Hondas are known for reliability except the very newest 120 lb high thrust models. Cleaning water out of the idle jet is a minor problem once you know how to do it.

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Brentc
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2004 : 14:15:51

Thanks to all, especially Jim,

Advice was dead on. Clean jet and it will now idle. Not as smooth as I would like, but will work for now. I will check out the CDI connections this weekend and look for corrosion.

Thanks again.

Brent

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