Yamaha 130 hp 2 stroke bogging and stuttering

Brian N

Brian N

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A little help would be appreciated here folks...

1997 Yamaha 130hp Saltwater Series 2 stroke

Took it out today for the first time for the season, between work and rain it's been a rough summer.

Fired right up, let it warm up for a while idling away from the ramp, then throttled up. It revved up to about 2400 RPM then bogged down... Two more times I throttled down and back up until finally is pushed through and got up to speed. We ran around the lake for a while with no trouble, idling down for slow zones and then revving back up with no trouble.

Later, heading back to the ramp, it did the same thing, but no matter what I did it would not push past 2200-2400. I popped it into Neutral and was able to rev it right up with no problem, but put it back into gear and it bogs. As I idled back to the ramp it also started stuttering every few seconds at idle, or maybe more like a stumble?

Where do I start troubleshooting? Are these likely related?
 
Fresh gas? Water in gas? All gas fittings & hoses tight & leak free? Spark plug(s) clean & gapped correctly? Fuel filter &/or carb dirty?
 
Sounds like a fuel issue getting worst. How old is the gas? Fresh filters? I d start with a fresh clean 5 gallon tank and clean filters. Then clean the carbs...

If it was ignition. I don’t think it would have fired right away.
 
I have no idea if this is applicable to that year range of SS2’s, but my newer Yamaha F40 (4 stroke) did the exact same thing, and it was because they used such tiny jets to achieve admittedly incredible fuel efficiency that they’d clog if you sneezed while looking at the carbs. Also the accelerator pump (I forget what Yamaha calls it - little dash pot below the carbs) was sticking. Had to clean that up, and really, REALLY clean the carbs. I also overjetted them while I was at it because I didn’t want to do it again. That triple stack required rocket surgery to disassemble and reassemble. Link and sync was surprisingly easy afterwards, though.
 
But as to likely related - yes, the problems you’re having are all signs of low or mid circuit in the carb(s) not working right. Pull the jets and I’d bet you’ll see at least one mostly obstructed.
 
About a quarter tank of gas from last season, but I topped off with 10 gallons of fresh gas on the way to the lake. I usually keep the tank about half full through the season so save weight.

Fresh spark plugs toward the end of last season, but I have a spare set so I'll change them out to see if it helps.

Fresh fuel filter last season, but I just ordered a replacement.
 
Year old gas and fikter? Even mixed with fresh... any additives? I hope it was ethanol free
 
PascalG said:
Year old gas and fikter? Even mixed with fresh... any additives? I hope it was ethanol free
Click to expand...

Unfortunately ethanol free is pretty much unobtanium around here...
 
Well here is your sign. Sorry. Here is your problem. :). You re going to have to drain the tank, flush the lines, change the filters and clean the carbs.
 
Nice! I have always wanted my own sign! ;)

Not unusual to have some gas in the tank over the winter up here...I'll change out the filters and go from there. Now that I think about it, I had a good local mechanic winterize it, I'll have to ask him if he put anything in the tank.
 
Brian N said:
Nice! I have always wanted my own sign! ;)

Not unusual to have some gas in the tank over the winter up here...I'll change out the filters and go from there. Now that I think about it, I had a good local mechanic winterize it, I'll have to ask him if he put anything in the tank.
Click to expand...
Yeah, us northerners can get away with gas from last season as long as it's treated. Been doing it for years.
 
So, an update...

This has been an intermittent problem for the past three seasons. One trip, the motor runs great, the next it gets bogged down. It has been driving me nuts! After replacing the plugs, fuel filters, fuel pump, thermostats (thinking maybe it was going into limp mode), all the fuses (I ran out of other ideas) and other random stuff, I finally broke down and brought it to a mechanic over on the coast.

Turns out, after all that, it was an anti-siphon valve at the fuel tank that was periodically restricting fuel flow to the engine. It has been replaced and we have full RPM again!

I was this close to taking her out into the Atlantic and pulling the plugs...though I guess that wouldn't work with an Edgewater...


Oh, by the way, @PascalG did you want that sign back? 😂🤣😂
 
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Good thing you tried a second tank and fuel lines before wasting a lot of time and energy......

This brings to mind something that happen to me yesterday. I needed to cut the damn grass so I was already in a bad mood. I had cut half the yard the day before and everything was fine. When I went down to cut the rest the damn mower would not turn over, it was dead, would not hit a lick. I figure the battery had died but after trying to jump start and also charge it I ruled the battery out. Anyway I'm cussing and fussing, go upstairs grouchy to get a drink and tell the admiral the damn mower is dead. I sit down on it and and start figuring how to bypass the interlocks so I can replace the correct one when I find it. Then it slaps mein the face, INTERLOCK, check the damn blade to see if you stupidly left it engaged! Opp's!!! Go back upstairs, admiral asks if I fixed the mower. My PRO answer was, "Yep, I figured out which interlock was causing the problem and fixed it." This is what separates the pro's from the amateur's. A amateur would have answered with I left the mower blades engaged when I last stopped it. The Pro maintains his dignity and reputation as Mr. Fix-it.
 
Bill D. said:
Then it slaps mein the face, INTERLOCK, check the damn blade to see if you stupidly left it engaged! Opp's!!! Go back upstairs, admiral asks if I fixed the mower. My PRO answer was, "Yep, I figured out which interlock was causing the problem and fixed it." This is what separates the pro's from the amateur's. A amateur would have answered with I left the mower blades engaged when I last stopped it. The Pro maintains his dignity and reputation as Mr. Fix-it.
Click to expand...

Been there...done that!
 
Bill here is some advice about lawn mowing. We had a large back yard. It sloped away from the house and at the end, it had a sharp drop off that had to be mowed. It was probably a 40 degree angle and I refused to get a push mower just to take care of that area which was about 10'x5'. So what I did was hang on and take the Snapper mower along it and get it done. I figured if I did that enough time would take care of things for me. Sure enough, one day, I was in the middle of getting the last part of the lawn done. That part. Riding the mower into it I got about half way when the motor threw the rod. I pushed it out to the street and someone came along and took it.
Problem solved. We hired a landscaper.
 
While I can afford to hire things done I've reached the age where it is important to do things for myself simply to remind me I can do. Besides that being a cantankerous old geezer is considered "colorful", or so I've been told. As long as I can, I will. When the time comes I am no longer able to "do" I'll be ready for the move to the other side of the dirt.
 
Well...so much for thinking I had that problem solved! Unbelievable...

This past weekend was the first time I have been able to splash the boat. Drop it in the local lake, running all over and it's running beautifully! Stop to drift and fish for a little while, firing it up for a few seconds here and there to reposition. When the sun goes down and it's time to head back to the dock I fire her up and head out. Ran great for about 2 minutes, then she just bogs right down to about 2400-3000 RPM and won't advance past. It is varying in that range, but won't move past it.

I am this close to dropping this thing off at the nearest landfill or giving it away.

Any fresh ideas on what to check? I am wide open to ideas.

What I've done so far:
Fresh fuel filter/water separator
Spark plugs
Fuel pump
Thermostats
Every fuse I could find on the engine
Primer bulb
Water pump and housing

It will rev right up in Neutral, only bogs under load. Let me see if I can get a video to post. When you see the RPM's bouncing around the throttle was at wide open.

EDIT: It just occurred to me, at least the stuttering seems to be gone...
 
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Collapsing fuel line somewhere? Maybe try running on a small auxiliary tank to rule out any tank issues?
 
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