Suzuki 140 2 stroke question - The Hull Truth

David Whitley Jr. · 09-03-2008, 10:26 AM

We took our boat to the coast for the first time (99 GW sportsman 180) this weekend and after a couple of days just cruising around the sound/ICW (Wrightsville Beach NC), I noticed the engine seemed to be missing...it was almost like it was gasping for fuel. It would not really get up out of the hole very well and even when I pushed the throttle all of the way up, it still skipped...a couple of buddies noted that sometimes when you just poke around it loads up on fuel and will do that.
Is this normal/something I should be concerned about and how do I alleviate this problem?

slickster · 09-03-2008, 10:33 AM

First check the plugs....if it still misses, pull off one plug wire at a time with insulated pliers...(while engine is running)...the one that makes no difference in engine rpm's/smoothness is the cylinder not firing....spark from the wire?....if the plugs are good and you have a nice fat spark....check compression...(or do it when you have the plugs out)....with good spark/compression and still no effect when removing the plug wire while running...fuel/carb issue...stuck float/needle valve....I don't recall whether those engines used reed valves?....I think not...good luck....Mick

JoeR2 · 09-03-2008, 10:38 AM

It is not normal -- that engine should get that hull up easily. I am pretty sure that engine is fuel injected. Slickster gave a great troubleshooting sequence -- follow that. I always keep an extra gas tank (6.6 gallons) around. If the engine is not running right, I hook up the 6.6 (got the fuel line rigged with a quick release) to see if the problem is engine or fuel related.

David Whitley Jr. · 09-03-2008, 11:40 AM

thanks guys I will try that.

David Whitley Jr. · 09-03-2008, 11:47 AM

Mick,
One more thing I didn't mention, after I dropped off the kids/wife, I took it back to some open water so I could open it up a little and after it sputtered a little more, I finally got it to where it was accellerating and taking off and not skipping anymore---essentially back to normal... does that lend to it being a fuel issue perhaps and not a spark plug or compression issue?