Evinrude Ficht problem

[n2bassn]

I have a 2003 Evinrude Ficht 175 HP. This past week it died on me in a tournament. There were no warning light or bussers going off. I was idleing in a no wake zone and all of a sudden it felt like something was wrapped around my prop. The engine had no power and felt like it was was running on a few cylinders. I shut it down to check prop and it was clean & clear. I tried to re start it and it would not start. It sounded like it wanted to fire but would not. I then had it towed in. Before I take it to a certified technician are there any suggestions as to what I could check. I am a good mechanic and can fix most mechanical/fuel situations.
I am going to start by changing & indexing my plugs. Then replace water seperator and fuel filter. It really felt like it was not getting fuel. I will also check kill switch. All the fuses are good. I am not sure if the Emm Ignition & stop circuit relay or fuel pump relay would have anything to do with it. Any suggestions ?
I might also mention that it started up in the morning and ran fine all day. This problem just happened all of a sudden. It kind of reminds me of the time my power pack went out on my old 94 Fast Strike 150

[Tom G.]

I'd perform a compression check just for giggles before you get too involved with all the extra parts... just to make sure...

[Danrude]

I would look at the plugs first to see if by chance they are fouled then I would take a timing light and check each plug wire for fire. If you have the software check to see if the EMM has set any codes, then as hooserbasser said check compression. Let us know what you find.


Dan

[ccichris]

Hello
Suggestion - Check the VST - fuel pressure at the shrader valve next to the VST should be 20 - 30 PSI - I believe (check your manual to be sure)

Regards - ccichris

[Whaler27]

Also make sure that the brass schraeder valve fitting is still in the plastic tee. One of my 2002 225s actually spit the brass schrader valve out of the tee -- not a good thing. The engine will run temporarily, basically in a run away like manner if in neutral, with no power because air is getting into the fuel system. Runs kind of like pulling the fuel hose off of an old small carbureted motor when running the gas out of the carbs.

When I went to my dealer to discuss the problem and get on his calendar to fix it (fixed the same day, talk about GREAT service) , he showed me a small basket he had that was full of these tees (probably about a dozen) where the brass schrader valve fittings had popped out of the tee. They are blaming excess (substantially more than 10 percent) ethanol in the fuel for this problem. The replacement part is different and does not have what appears to be the typical schrader valve fitting interference fit (possibly glued as well) into a plastic tee.

Just as word of caution, everyone with a Ficht used where ethanol is added to the fuel should keep an eye on the integrity of the joint between the schrader valve and the plastic tee.

[jorgeparagon]

Ask your dealer about schrader valves kit's ,there was a service bulletin when your engine was under warranty.
Have a nice day

[Captain Dan]

What and where is the schrader valve??


Dan

[ccichris]

Shrader valve - can look like: the valve you use to put air/fill your car/ bicycle tires

the ones on the DI outboards look similar - on the port side by the VST - has a gray cap on it like a bike/car tire would have.....................unscrew it and there is the shrader -

Hope the description is as easy as I have tried to describe it

ccichris