Thread: Crappie are hot, my motor is not.

Well, This is the time of year I love the best for chasing crappie. I was doing pretty good using DK’s single pole technique and now my boat motor is failing me. 2007 Optimax has always run great. Now it will run ok for about 15 minutes then dies and won’t stay running....won’t even idle. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and it will start perfect and will run at an idle long enough to get it on the trailer. Fuels good, no trash in the filters or in the fuel pump chambers. It’s sure got me scratching my head.

Maybe the inside of your fuel line has degraded.

Happens all the time

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One more thing. It appears that you have not yet run the ultimate definitive test for problems like this - that being the temporary fuel supply. Find a buddy that will loan you a good portable tank with hose, disconnect your fuel fitting at the motor and plug in the portable. If the problem returns, then you know for sure it is in the motor somewhere. If the problem goes away, you know for sure that it is somewhere in your fuel storage/delivery system. Diagnosis by the process of elimination.

No. I replaced it all a couple of years ago . I’ve also cleaned the fuel pump housing and all screens and filters.

Originally Posted by Grumpygramps

No. I replaced it all a couple of years ago . I’ve also cleaned the fuel pump housing and all screens and filters.

Just because you replaced it 2 years ago is no guarantee that it is still good. Some of the fuel lines being sold now are crap and they can go from OK to bad in a heartbeat.

I had a similar issue with my 89 yamaha 150. Went through all the easy fix fuel lines, filter, rebuilt the fuel pump stuff myself. Finally took it to a mechanic. He said it was a piece of something (probably file line) in one of the carbs that would settle and then get sucked into a jet and block the fuel flow while it was running.

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Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I’m going to have to find a good mechanic. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by Grumpygramps

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I’m going to have to find a good mechanic. Any suggestions?

Glenn Gamble. Outboard Docs I think is the name of the business.

I’ve been out of town a couple of days and just saw this. I’ll sure give them a call. Thanks DK