suzuki o/b question
 

Not a sea craft question but here goes. I have a 1987 suzuki 40 on my whaler and having some trouble with it. Engine will only fire on starting fluid. Carb has been off and cleaned, all fuel lines have been flushed and cleaned, fresh gas in a clean tank, new fuel pump installed. Pretty simple little engine just can't seem to figure what I'm missing. Going to do a compression test when i get the tester from a friend, I know its old but it doesn't have many hours on it, cant imagine it lost compression? Any thoughts on this little engine? Thanks

No offense, but I refer to any suzuki 2 stroke I see as "the $400 motor". This is because when you see one for sale, no matter what the horsepower or year of the engine (they are all getting to be pretty old since suzuki discontinued the line a while ago), it seems like they are always selling for $400 and have the same description in the add: "starts but wont stay running. Needs work, call for details". After owning 3 (and swearing never to own another) with similar problems, I have come to realize that 2 stroke zukes are not known for there longevity. They are well designed (like most jap products), but the 2 stroke series has an Achilles heel: it was made with VERY poor metals. A lot of times, this results in cooling system issues, and maybe in your case, a small amount of water interfering with the combustion process when you try to crank the motor on gas. The poor metals also make for a 75% chance of snapping a bolt any time you put a wrench to something that touches a waterway (thermostat housing, head, waterjacket, etc...). This is all based on an assumption that you properly serviced your carb and it is functioning correctly. Had you not told me it was a suzuki, I'd say go back to the carb. Also make sure you replace every fuel line inside the motor and back to the tank. When a motor wont crank off the gas tank, I usually check to make sure fuel is getting through into bowl and that needle isn't sticking. Open carb drains and crank motor. If no gas trickles out bowl, then sticking needle/float, fuel line restrictions, or fuel pump not working. Too many things to suggest, and not enough energy in my fingers to type them! Anyhow, at the end of the day, before you put to much energy into restoring the old girl, remember that you are working on a $400 motor.;)

Thanks for the information JJ. I was not aware of the poor metal issues with these old suzukis. As far as a $400 dollar engine you are right in the ball park, i paid $250 for it. And sold a non running evinrude for $200. So I'm really only $50 into it! but it really has given me some fits, runs, doesn't run. I have completely gone through the entire fuel system, and all is new and clean. Compression is 90 and 100 kinda low but not terrible. Next up remove carb.....AGAIN, and check reeds. And then start looking for another engine