I haven't been getting out this year and I just got a couple opportunities to get the Dwen wet.
I'm launching at Folsom Lake. No challenges. Combination of sailing and motoring. The engine performs fine.
Time to call it a day, I motor to the dock, shut off the motor and tie off. Get the truck and trailer and when I try to motor on to the trailer, the motor starts right off but won't accelerate. Barely comes off idle. I give up and just manhandle the boat onto the trailer.
I take her home and put the earmuffs on. Engine works perfectly.
2 weeks pass and I take her out again. Launch. Motor around the lake a few hours. Took time while out to check installation of new depth sounder. Engine runs fine. 17 knots at 5600 rpm with a 14X13 prop. All seems good. Back to the dock, shut down and get truck. Engine will not accelerate on to the trailer.
Ok, what's the problem? Is it getting cold while I get the truck and I need to warm her up a bit? I am impatient dealing with the traffic jams at the ramps. When I get home everything works fine with the earmuffs. I can't see anything wrong and I don't want to be running it in gear and high throttle in my driveway.
Maybe she just doesn't want to go home?
Any suggestions?
ETEC 50 acting weird
Sounds like the 'limp home mode' is somehow kicking in...
Could it be too hot? Probably not the issue, but...
Is it possible that you are low on oil? If you get the thing inclined a bit on the trailer, the oil might be shifting enough to trip the no oil switch, thereby forcing the engine into that limp home mode...
Could it be too hot? Probably not the issue, but...
Is it possible that you are low on oil? If you get the thing inclined a bit on the trailer, the oil might be shifting enough to trip the no oil switch, thereby forcing the engine into that limp home mode...
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Kevin
- Engineer
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- Sailboat: Other
- Location: Roseville, California USA "Toucan" Tanton 43 Cat Ketch
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For sure an engine shouldn't be run above idle or in gear on the earmuffs. It feels in my soul every bit as stupid as it sounds.
Then we get to the practical fact that the problem isn't with idle or starting or anything. I have to test the throttle so, blip the throttle and it obviously responds. Shut it down.
Weird out on the water I shut it down to sail and start again, no problem until I get to the dock.
Then we get to the practical fact that the problem isn't with idle or starting or anything. I have to test the throttle so, blip the throttle and it obviously responds. Shut it down.
Weird out on the water I shut it down to sail and start again, no problem until I get to the dock.
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Kevin
- Engineer
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Limp home mode never occurred to me. I didn't note the RPM. I also haven't checked the oil level. I have run 6 gallons since I last filled the tank and I didn't think to check the oil.
I'll be checking oil level tonight after work and I'm going to see if I can pop her in the water tomorrow for a quick test. This time without a date so I can devote more attention to the ailing motor.
I know the throttle comes up but without enough power to motor on to the trailer so the limp home mode makes a lot of sense.
I'll be checking oil level tonight after work and I'm going to see if I can pop her in the water tomorrow for a quick test. This time without a date so I can devote more attention to the ailing motor.
I know the throttle comes up but without enough power to motor on to the trailer so the limp home mode makes a lot of sense.
Recommend you call your dealer or Evinrude tech support ASAP and get the problem resolved before going out again. The engine is trying to tell you something.
Double check for warning lights and read your owners manual cover to cover. You don't want this to happen at a time you really need the engine.
Double check for warning lights and read your owners manual cover to cover. You don't want this to happen at a time you really need the engine.
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Beam's Reach
- First Officer
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- Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada 97X, 50HP Mariner 4 Stroke
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Kevin
- Engineer
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 10:04 pm
- Sailboat: Other
- Location: Roseville, California USA "Toucan" Tanton 43 Cat Ketch
- Contact:
Limp home mode seems to be the partial answer. The oil tank is low, but not out.
The odd part is that I'm not getting an out of oil warning yet the sensors are sensitive enough to detect the change in oil level as the boat is tilted up going on the trailer.
This raises a whole slew of new things to check like am I losing oil out of the tank storing the engine in the tilted up position?
The odd part is that I'm not getting an out of oil warning yet the sensors are sensitive enough to detect the change in oil level as the boat is tilted up going on the trailer.
This raises a whole slew of new things to check like am I losing oil out of the tank storing the engine in the tilted up position?
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Kevin
- Engineer
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 10:04 pm
- Sailboat: Other
- Location: Roseville, California USA "Toucan" Tanton 43 Cat Ketch
- Contact:
This weekend I went out to just concentrate on the boat and test everything in prep for a really long trip next week.
Of course, everything worked perfectly.
I think my problem is one of those carbon based interface issues. Seems the last two times out I changed my routine. I also had a date along which is distracting.
The problem seems to be that before I would always tie up the boat a ways away from the ramp and get the trailer. Then I'd motor over and drive the boat on to the trailer. With the current crowded ramp conditions I tie the boat lined up with the ramp, run and grab the trailer, drag the boat up as far as possible on to the trailer and then jump in the boat start the engine and try to run her up. I wasn't waiting for the engine to finish the self test diagnostic and she won't operate until it's done.
I repeated the steps as a test a couple times and that seems to be the whole thing. Wait 7 or 8 seconds and everything is fine. Try and slam the throttle prematurely and it balks. You'd think I was old enough to have learned that lesson.
Of course, everything worked perfectly.
I think my problem is one of those carbon based interface issues. Seems the last two times out I changed my routine. I also had a date along which is distracting.
The problem seems to be that before I would always tie up the boat a ways away from the ramp and get the trailer. Then I'd motor over and drive the boat on to the trailer. With the current crowded ramp conditions I tie the boat lined up with the ramp, run and grab the trailer, drag the boat up as far as possible on to the trailer and then jump in the boat start the engine and try to run her up. I wasn't waiting for the engine to finish the self test diagnostic and she won't operate until it's done.
I repeated the steps as a test a couple times and that seems to be the whole thing. Wait 7 or 8 seconds and everything is fine. Try and slam the throttle prematurely and it balks. You'd think I was old enough to have learned that lesson.