Motor keeps stalling. Getting VERY frustrated.

[Mike S.]

When running on the top end, my motor shuts right off. Once in a while, it stalls at a slower speed, around 47 mph.  It mainly stalls at 67 mph. I just got it back from the dealer on Tuesday, as it spent the whole second week I owned it there, to get it back and have the exact same problem. It does it whether I use the jackplate or not. It is holding between 15 and 20 on water pressure, and running 5500 rpm's when it cuts out. On occasion, it will stay running, but most of the time it just stalls.  I put a new primer bulb on it, new plugs, and new fuel filter. I cleaned the vents for both gas tanks also. I am running off of both tanks, and filling them equally when I gas up. The motor is a Yam VMax 225, 2000 year, with the ox66 injection.  Any ideas?  I am going crazy, can't afford to go to the dealer 2 times a week, and I'm having a really hard time fishing tournaments because I can't get out and find fish during the week. I need to get this figured out.

[Eric]

I would say they need to figure it out.  It had issues when you brought it home form the dealership.  They need to figure it out to your satisfaction.  Period.  It stinks not being able to have it, but you need to make them take it and make it 100% before they give it back.  You might have to sacrifice the short term for the long term benefit.  There will be lots more tournaments for lots more years.  The longer you wait and let them get away with this, the greater the likelihood you will find yourself paying for years on something that is worthless.  Unless, of course, you signed some sort of clause that said you wanted to give them thousands of your dollars for a half-ass boat. 

[Mike S.]

I will say, they are being very cooperative with me on the boat. I just got off the phone with them, and they are sending a mechanic to meet me at Muskegon lake tomorrow afternoon.  Hopefully we can get this thing figured out quickly. I love the boat. I have gotten lots of compliments on it, and I would really like to just enjoy it. I'm sure they feel the same way, they would rather I enjoy it than keep calling them about it.

[djkimmel]

Sounds like it is pulling more gas than it can get. Like there is a constriction somewhere? Or maybe something in the gas tank is occasionally plugging the pickup?

[stackenem]

check your oil pump my Yamaha is set up to go down to an idle if it runs low on oil maybe you are losing oil pressure and stalling it out.

[LAPORTE]

check your oil pump my Yamaha is set up to go down to an idle if it runs low on oil maybe you are losing oil pressure and stalling it out.

If it's like my Vmax 150  the oil pump is gear driven off of the crankshaft itself.

[motocross269]

Does it shut down like someone hitting a switch or does it sputter and drop RPMs before it stalls???

It sounds like Gas tank Ventilation but you have checked all of that.....HMMMM!!

[LennyB]

There are many reasons a motor will stall. The wiring could be the issue. If there is an intermitten ground the spark may not be getting to the cylinder. If it is starving for fuel it may shut down. If the kill switch or wiring has a problem it will stop. If the motor is starting to seize up it will shut down. The list goes on and on. Make sure your mechanic is a good one. The guys at D&R have been good to me on the westside and on the eastside Nelson that use to work at Jan's before they closed is excellent. I believe he is at the Gander Mountain in Flint now.

[Mike S.]

I spent almost 4 hours on the water today with the mechanic they sent to me.  We did a lot of running and stalling today. First test was to eliminate the ignition system. That didn't work. Then, he started bypassing fuel lines, isolating tanks, pulling pick up tubes, checking anti siphon valves, and watching the primer bulb squeeze shut in his hand while I was running 65 across the lake. For the last test, we ran back to the ramp, and he brought a separate fuel tank on my boat, and hooked it directly to my motor. With a longer hose , he held the primer bulb in his hand, while sitting on his seat for the first time all afternoon, and he pumped the bulb as I ran the boat. That was the fastest I have ever gone in that boat. Bottom line, he says he is replacing all 3 of my fuel pumps, and all of the fuel lines, and miscellaneous parts of the fuel system. At no cost to me. He was very cool. He missed his kids ball game, that sucks. I feel bad about that. But, nonetheless, my boat will be fixed next week.

[Firefighter Jeff]

Good deal Mike.  I see the black clouds dissipating again  !!!!

[Mike S.]

Yep, it's getting there. When I get the boat back, I am going to turn this year around. Going to be more positive and productive. Going to get back to enjoying fishing, and not worrying about what is next to go wrong.

[motocross269]

Sounds like awesome service...You have to give them credit for going the extra mile..

[Mike S.]

To be totally honest, I didn't think they were going to be this helpful, or maybe cooperative would be a better word. I had to call them today to tell them how happy I was with their mechanic. I even asked for a boat to use until mine is done. We will see what happens.

[Eric]

Mike, Mike, Mike.....The only way things will quit going wrong when it comes to boats and fishing is to quit fishing.  So, realize that, expect it, and tall funny stories about it when it does.  Makes it easier I'm tellin' ya.

[Mike S.]

With all the crap I have gone through since April, believe me, the thought has crossed my mind many times.As a matter of fact, it has been on my mind all day today.

[Mike S.]

It's fixed!!!!  It ran awesome for me last night. I picked it up yesterday with less than 2 hours to get to White Lake for the NBAA last night. The lake was rough last night. I only managed to get 69.8 out of her on the gps. I believe there is still more. Didn't use a lot of trim, and I didn't even begin to numb the jackplate at all.

I watched the mechanic change all 3 of the fuel pumps, and the fuel lines from the tank switch to the tanks, and the feed line to the motor. All 3 pumps had different diaphragms in them.2 of which were shot. I now can say I love my new boat.

[motocross269]

Nice....

[Eric]

So was that deal last night on White a race or a bass tournament?  Tell us how the darn fishing was.

[Mike S.]

Fishing was awesome for everyone but my boat. This is my first year of tournaments, and there are quite a few guys that really have it down. I have a lot to learn. But, there were several bags from 15 to 17# last night.

[LAPORTE]

Glad to hear your boat is runnning well. Now start wacking them...