2000 225HP Yamaha VMAX Problem

[CrankinStein]

Lately the motor is getting very hard to start. I have always used Yamaha Ring Free 1 oz. to every 15 gallons. The motor has 350 hours on it. First thing in the morning when it is stone cold it cranks great but after that it will sputter when if fires and then die. After 4 or 5 tries it will finally stay cranked long enough to get it in gear but it will smoke very heavily and sputter till you put it in gear and give it some gas and get going. If you stop the motor after running and immediately crank it again it does fine, but after sitting there for a while as I fish, it will again be hard to crank. It doesn't matter if it is cold weather or hot weather. I had it tuned up to see if that would help but it didn't. Any ideas on what is wrong or where to start looking for the problem?

Does Ring Free and SeaFoam do the same thing? Should I switch to SeaFoam to see if it helps? Should I stop using Ring Free and see if it helps? I'm at a loss. The shop that tuned it up said compression was fine and he didn't see anything wrong with it.

Any ideas / help appriciated.
CrankinStein

[21XDC]

Two things I would check... The O2 sensor and TPS adjustment. Have you tried running NGK-BR8HS10 plugs? When have you last changed them? Has your oil pump linkage been checked?

[CrankinStein]

Have not tried a different (NGK) plug. I had the plugs changes a few months ago and only have a few hours on them (4 or 5 fishing trips). Also have not had the linkage, O2 sensor or TPS checked. What is TPS? Next time I take it in I will get all these checked. Thanks.
Any other advise by anyone?

[craigs06]

See my post on 250 OX66

[DAL520vx]

This is a fuel pump problem, it has 3 and at least one is perforated, it is an easy fix. Buy 3 they are about 35 bucks a piece and replace in an hour or 2. I had this problem exactly and as soon they are replaced you will not believe how perfect she starts!

[wildkat7]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DAL520vx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is a fuel pump problem, it has 3 and at least one is perforated, it is an easy fix. Buy 3 they are about 35 bucks a piece and replace in an hour or 2. I had this problem exactly and as soon they are replaced you will not believe how perfect she starts!

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Was about to say the same thing. Fuel pump. Get them all replaced.

[CrankinStein]

Can they test the fuel pump or is it cheaper to just replace them? By "easy fix" do you mean I could do it myself? I'm not really much of a mechanic but I can take the cowling off and take a few bolts / screws out. Also, if I need a mechanic, could they do them all in 2 hours or is it 2 hours for each fuel pump? Last question, are you talking about the whole fuel pump or a fuel diaphram?

Thanks for the advice.
Alan

[macinckirk]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CrankinStein &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can they test the fuel pump or is it cheaper to just replace them? By "easy fix" do you mean I could do it myself? I'm not really much of a mechanic but I can take the cowling off and take a few bolts / screws out. Also, if I need a mechanic, could they do them all in 2 hours or is it 2 hours for each fuel pump? Last question, are you talking about the whole fuel pump or a fuel diaphram?

Thanks for the advice.
Alan </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'll 3rd that you need new fuel pumps, no since in trying to test them it just easyer to replace, as the other guys say just buy the whole pump and you will need 3 but there cheap

you should be able to handle it yourself its only a few bolts and lines on each and the 2 hrs is for all 3 to be change out if you have someone do it/shop it should not be more then 2 hrs shop time.

if you do it and take your time it still should not take more then 3 hrs, after you do the 1st 1 it will be a walk in the park

here is a link to the pimps all the 2000 motors use the same pump so I just used a hpdi link

http://www.boats.net/parts/sea....html

you will need 3 of the #39 pumps
you will need 3 of the #54 gaskets

Also I think mike is right about the 02 sen needing to be cleaned

[CrankinStein]

Thanks to everyone for the help. When I get it done and tested I'll let you know how it worked out. Since it is winter it might be a few weeks.
Thanks again,
Alan

[ghind]

There are 3 fuel pumps on your motor. Each is held to the block by only two bolts. If you unbolt them from the block and squeeze the primer bulb, you should NOT get fuel coming out the back of them. This is the test.

Fuel pumps on your motor are pretty much a scheduled maintenance item, but it doesn't say it in the service schedule...

The concensus is to replace them every 3 years as preventative maintenance. Either way yours are way overdue.

I had one of those motors, it was nice. I did have to replace the fuel pumps.

As far as replacing them, it is an easy job. It think it took me about 1/2 hour or less. It is 6 bolts and a few zip ties to get them off and the same to get the new ones back on. Easy.

[CrankinStein]

Can you see the pumps when you take the cowling off or are they buried under some other stuff?
Thanks,
CrankinStein

[esoxfly]

Are we talking OX66 here or HPDI? Could these pumps be the culprit in my having a low top end RPM on my 01 200? I'm running about 4600 WOT.

I don't think the previous owner had them changed....I reckon I'm due as well.

(Don't mean to hijack your thread here Crank...but thought I'd piggy-back on ya. )

[CrankinStein]

OX66

[esoxfly]

Cool. Same here.

[DChamp]

I have the same motor you do. Mine started doing the same thing. Put in new plugs, cleaned the O2 sensor and then replaced it. Was better but not like it was before (barely turn over when hot and start right off). Read some post and ended up replacing the 3 mechanical pumps ($135 for three new pumps from Yamaha dealer) Cured all my problems including the excessive smoke at start-up and the 3 - 5 hundred loss of rpms at w.o.t.. Something to look at.

[esoxfly]

Good to hear about the pumps and the RPM's. It's on my winter list of things to do.

[CrankinStein]

DChamp,
Did you do the work yourself or hire it out? Are the pumps easy to find once the cowling is off?
CrankinStein

[201pro]

The pumps are easy...You can see them on the port side of the engine with the cowling off...If you do some searches, there are some good posts on here that lead you thru all of the steps to replace them...Took me less than 30 minutes to change all 3 of mine...

[esoxfly]

These?

[macinckirk]

Yes I was just going to post a pic for you guys