How to Start a Boat Motor

1、What to do before starting: Don't rush to ignite, these preparations can save your life

First of all, it should be noted that starting the boat motor is not as simple as "turn key and go", especially when playing on a boat by a lake in the United States. Old folks often say "Preparation beats frost". Let's fill up the 'pre mission' first, otherwise it's very likely that we'll take a break as soon as we leave, and we'll have to call the tow boat to rescue the scene. That would be too arranging!

The first step is to check the fuel and fuel system - this is the most vulnerable link to chain failure! Open the fuel tank cap and smell it, make sure there is enough gas (gasoline). Don't play jet ski like me last time. I ran out of gas just 50 meters offshore and was laughed at by my friends for floating on the lake all summer. Then check if there is a leak in the oil pipe and if the joint is tight. Americans call this' check the fuel line for oopsies'. If the ship is stored for more than 30 days, remember to replace it with fresh gasoline or add a fuel stabilizer.

Step 2, check the cooling system - the ship's motor is cooled by the lake water, do not skip this step! If it is an outboard motor, first clean the water inlet and do not let water plants or plastic bags block it, otherwise the motor will overheat and be scrapped. Americans often say 'Keep the water flowing, keep the motor going', it's not just empty words. If it is an onboard motor, you also need to check the water level in the cooling water tank. If it is not enough, add distilled water instead of tap water, as it is prone to scaling.

The third step is to have safety equipment in place - when playing on boats in the United States, safety is "no joke"! You must wear a life jacket, don't think you don't need to swim like a cow. It is also necessary to ensure that there are fire extinguishers, whistles, and flares on board, all of which are strictly inspected by the Coast Guard and may result in fines. In addition, fasten the rope of the kill switch to your wrist. This thing is a "life-saving rope".

2、Ignition operation: Step by step, simpler than driving a car!

Once the preparation work is done, it's time for the most exciting "fire it up" phase! Whether it's an outfiard or an inboard, the operating logic is similar. Follow me to recite the mnemonic: "Breathe, pump oil, shift to neutral, ignite", you'll be guaranteed success once.

Firstly, open the oil circuit vent valve - there is a small switch on the fuel tank labeled "On/Off/Vent", turn it to the "On" and "Vent" positions, dude， Don't forget to turn on this, otherwise negative pressure will form in the fuel tank and the oil won't be able to be pumped out. The motor will only make a "click click click" sound and won't start. When I first played, it was stuck here for half an hour and I thought the motor was broken. Later, I found out that the air valve was not turned on, which was really frustrating.

Then, pump the oil and exhaust the air - most ship motors have a bulb pump, which is located on the oil pipe like a small balloon. Pinch repeatedly with your hand until you feel the pump body harden, which indicates that the air in the oil circuit has been purged and the oil has been sent to the carburetor. Be gentle, like pinching your girlfriend's face (just kidding). Americans call this step "prime the fuel system", which means "preheating the fuel system". Stop pinching it until it becomes hard, don't keep pinching it endlessly.

Next, shift to neutral and adjust the idle speed - first check the gear position of the gearbox to ensure it is in the "Neutral" position. How to confirm? Gently push the boat, it will be in neutral if it can move. If it cannot move, it means the wrong gear has been engaged. Quickly adjust it back, otherwise the boat will suddenly rush out and collide with the dock or someone else's boat when it ignites, which will be a big trouble! Then turn the idle knob up to about 1500 revolutions per minute. Novices should not adjust it too low, as idling too low can cause stalling. Wait until the motor heats up before slowly adjusting it down. Experienced drivers know that "warm up first, then adjust".

Then it's ignition! Ignite! Ignite! ——If it is started by a key, just like driving a car, insert the key, turn it clockwise to the end, and gently pull the throttle lever (don't pull too hard) until the motor starts. If it is manually started (which is the case for many low horsepower outsoards), first open the choke of the motor halfway (the choke needs to be opened for cold engine start-up, not for hot engine start-up), then hold the rope and gently pull it a few times to make the piston move, then pull it hard and it will hit with a "bang"! Don't bend down too hard when pulling, otherwise your waist will flicker. Use the strength of your arms, not your waist. Americans shout "pull hard and fast" when pulling, don't be soft and limp.

After successful startup, don't rush to turn it on. Preheat the motor for 3-5 minutes - let the motor run at idle speed for a while, and observe if there is water flowing out of the cooling system. If there is water flowing out from the bottom of the outlet motor, it indicates that the cooling system is normal.When preheating, you can check the dashboard to see if the oil pressure and water temperature are normal. If the pointer is in the green area, there should be no problem. Americans often say 'Warm up is not optional, it's mandatory', and these 3 minutes can be saved to extend the life of the motor.

After preheating, turn back to normal idle speed - turn back the previously elevated idle speed knob to about 1000 revolutions, then slowly push the oil valve lever to see if the acceleration is smooth and if there is any abnormal noise. If the motor sound is stable, there is no noise, and the throttle response is fast, then it's done and you can shift gears and drive out to clear the waves! When shifting gears, be slow and shift from neutral to forward or reverse. Do not engage abruptly, otherwise the gearbox will make a "click" sound, damaging the gears. Be gentle and shift gears gradually, just like a shifting car.

3、Novice must avoid pitfalls: Don't make these mistakes!

I have summarized several of the most common mistakes that beginners make, all of which are lessons learned through blood and tears, dude， Be sure to remember:

The air door cannot be opened when starting a cold engine - especially in winter or when the motor has not been turned on for a long time. The air door must be opened when starting a cold engine, otherwise the fuel atomization will not be good, and it will not ignite at all, or it will immediately shut down when it catches fire. Americans call this' choke it when cold ', when the cold engine opens the air door, when the hot engine closes, remember!

Igniting without shifting to neutral is the most dangerous mistake! Last time, my friend started the ship by pulling the rope without shifting neutral gear. Suddenly, the ship rushed forward and collided with the dock, causing the propeller of the motor to bend. It cost 500 dollars to fix, and I was heartbroken. Remember: Before ignition, be sure to confirm neutral gear. It is better to check tirelessly than to have a lucky mentality.

Ignore the kill switch - many beginners think this rope is a hindrance and don't fasten it in their hands, it's a joke with their lives! If you fall into the water and the motor doesn't stop, the boat will keep moving forward, and you will be hit by the propeller or dragged away by the boat, with unimaginable consequences.

Immediately accelerate rapidly after starting - the motor has just started, and the components have not been properly lubricated. Stepping on the accelerator immediately will exacerbate wear and even pull the cylinder. The correct approach is to preheat and slowly accelerate, gradually increasing the speed, just like warming up the motor, so that the motor can last for a long time.

4、Closing work: A good start and a good end, and next time you can have a pleasant boat trip

Enough fun, come back and dock at the pier. Don't just turn off the engine and it's done. There are still a few key steps to take:

Firstly, idle for 5 minutes to cool down - first release the throttle to idle and let the motor run for 5 minutes to cool down. Do not turn off the engine immediately after high-speed operation, otherwise the residual heat will damage the engine. Americans call this' cool down before shutdown ', which means cooling down before turning off the engine. This is the key to protecting the motor.

Then, close the oil circuit and vent valve - turn the switch of the fuel tank to "Off", and close the vent valve to prevent fuel leakage, especially when storing, be sure to close it tightly, otherwise there will be safety hazards.

Finally, clean and inspect - clean up the water grass and garbage on the motor, check if the propeller is entangled with ropes or fishing nets, and if so, cut them off, otherwise it will affect the power when starting next time. Check if there is any leakage in the oil pipes and joints again. If there is a problem, repair it in time and do not delay until the next time you play.

In addition, if the ship needs to be stored for more than a month, remember to fill the fuel tank with oil (to prevent rusting), add a bottle of fuel stabilizer, start the motor, let the oil circulate, and then turn off the engine. This way, the next time you start, there will be no problems due to old oil. Americans often say, 'Take care of your motor, and it will take care of you', this is really not a problem!