1996 Yamaha Pro 60 tiller question

I ran into a problem with my outboard on Saturday and hoping you guys can help me out.

I ran the motor in my yard with muffs on and it idled great, I could rev it up no problem. I let it idle for around 10-15mins or less, when I put it away for the winter it had maybe half a tank of gas (according to the gauge) (built in tank).

I took it out to the lake and it started right up, and idled great so i took off around the lake and after about a min of run time it bogged down, no alarms just like it was running out of gas. If I put it in neutral it would idle again fine, I could rev it back up and it sounded normal with a good water stream. I put it back in gear and I could run again for a min or so the it would bog out again.

One thing that I’ve noticed and this has been ever since I bought the boat several years ago is that the primer bulb on the fuel line never gets hard.

So here’s what I’m thinking of doing and hopefully I’m on the right track,

1: Changed spark plugs (it’s been several years since they were last changed)
2: Put Fresh gas in the tank and add seafoam
3: Swap out the Fuel line
4: clean the carbs out

Sounds like a lack of fuel.

I’d change the hose/bulb since that’s acting up.

I’d also change your fuel filter if you haven’t done that in the last year or two.

check the tanks fill cap,the vent may be plugged,if it is not a portable tank check the vent as it may have a muddaubers nest or leaf cutter beetles have filled it with their eggs and leaf cuttings causing a restriction.

once you get it running again and the carbs are full,remove the fuel pumps outlet hose,install a long hose onto the pump and run it into a bucket.
make dang sure there are no ignition sources nearby as you will be running raw fuel into the bucket.
at idle the fuel stream coming out of the hose should strong with no air bubbles present.
air in the fuel stream indicates a leak on the suction side of the pump or in its diaphragm.
a weak lazy looking stream indicates debris in the check valves or the pump is worn out.

If you added a stabilizer to the gas last year, I would not be terribly worried about it. I’d start with #3. #1 wouldn’t hurt. My guess it #3 will solve your issue.

Thanks guys, yeah I was leaning towards fuel as well. I’ll check the tank vents, the fuel filter for debris and change out the fuel line, just to be on the safe side.

I owned a ’94 Pro 60 tiller.
My fuel pump went out and like you I could not get the primer to feel hard even with continuous squeezing. It ran like some one pulled a spark plug wire off. New fuel pump and it ran like new again.
I know Sheldon has posted a couple of times about the problems with the gas that we use nowadays especially gas with ethanol. So if the pump is bad that may be a cause.

I’m betting on fuel pump myself.It is cheaper to just buy the complete pump vs the individual parts.

A good way to check is when outboard bogs,squeeze the bulb and if motor speeds up then pump is issue.But would also replace the fuel hose and filter along with it.

That is a superb outboard,I would do whatever to keep it going.

I checked a few things on the motor yesterday, I checked the fuel filter and there were 3 tiny black specks in it so I cleaned it out and put it back on. I also check for water in the gas and there wasn’t any that I could see. Next I check the fuel line and I couldn’t get the primer ball to stay firm, so I disconnected it from the motor and it would stay tight. I put it back on the motor and it would stay firm now. So I think I figured out what was causing my problem, I think the field line was not engaged all the way and was sucking in air. I did remove the fuel line before I ran it in my yard to make sure fuel was flowing, I must not have had it clicked in place. I’ll have to test it out on the lake to be sure.