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