Skeeter Jay needs help!!!! Fred!!!!

[ACBass]

1:10 PM 11/8/2005 Reply Edit

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tried to start an outboard without any spark plugs in it?? I know from experience now that it wont start and you will get a big BOOM!! We had our work boat worked on last week, its a 48hp rude. Evidently the shop forgot to put the new plugs in after taking the old ones out, I didnt know this until I tried to start it, cranked and cranked it and thought I had flooded it, gave it one more try when it blew the cowling about 20' up into the air! scared the crap out of me, I didnt know whether to duck or dive in the water.. I guess it just built up fumes in the cowling and the plug wires had enough spark to them to set the bomb off. At first I thought it had just backfired through the carbs until I crawled back there and saw there were no plugs in the head Needless to say its back at the same shop getting new plugs put in it and getting fixed right!
I guess I learned 2 lessons from this, first is I will never take my personal boat to this same shop, and two always pull the cowling and inspect things yourself before taking it out.


Thanks Fred!!
AC

[Skeeter Jay]

Thanks AC, but I dont guess I need any help, just wanted everybody to read my experience and to be sure and check their plugs anytime a shop/dealer puts new ones in. This could of been a very dangerous situation.

[ACBass]

i'm sure it was, but its kinda funny too. I'm trying to vision that cowling shooting thru the air like it did!!! Its amazing it didn't hit you!!! I saw Fred this weekend and he cranked my motor with no plugs too AND it didn't crank, hell, it didn't crank with 6 of them in there, either!!!!

Need a re-bore or a new powerhead!!!
AC

[Skeeter Jay]

I was lucky that the wind was blowing just enough to carry the cowling out towards the lake and not back on top of me, that would of hurt, especially since I didnt even know it was hurling in the air above me until it was almost all the way back down! You know it didnt break anything, I figured the latches were trash after that but some how it didnt hurt them. And ya, after I got done cleaning out my shorts I laughed for about 30 minutes straight...

sorry to hear about your motor, sounds expensive.

[ACBass]

I appreciate that Jay....I have a few options and I'll try them all and see what happens.... Some days, it don't pay to get outta bed does it??
AC

[ChampioNman]

Rule 1 when cranking an OB with out plugs pull the Kill Switch or it turns into a flame thrower !
Rule 2 see rule 1.

[Skeeter Jay]

I'll second those rules!! Good thing I didnt know they would do that back when I was younger, probably would of done it just to see it happen..

[ACBass]

You and me both Jay!!! @ Fred!!
AC

[toddandy]

Rule one doesn't apply when you have a kill switch like mine.,....Right Fred?????

[toddgot5fish]

my best re-enactment .......

BOOM!!!!!!!

[toddandy]

Fred tried to check the compression on my motor.....funny how the old style switches will kill a running motor,but you can start it when it's unhooked.....I think I saw a dozen or so more gray hairs on his head after that.....I tried not to laugh

[Bassmeister]

Mines the same way Todd!!!

[ChampioNman]

Yep forgot about those get you home kill switches. !