I have a 115hp evinrude. Sometimes it runs great other times it  loses power . I'm thinking there is a clog somewhere .  The primer bulb squeezes until its hard and stays that way but I kind of think that  is where the  problem is . I just used it every day for a week and squeezed the primer every morning    . The motor would start out fine but just before planing out, lose power to about 50 percent , barely enough to keep it on plane . The last morning I did not squeeze the primer and it ran pretty good . It did cut out a couple of times but regained itself . I'm thinking a fuel line issue or bad primer . It starts and idles fine .

I'd start with the cheapest thing, get a new fuel line and bulb. If that's not the problem, you'r not out a lot of money

Outta curiosity @scaleface, when was the last time the fuel filter was changed?

I bought it used five years ago . I havent changed it .

 

What year model is it.  There are some major differences in different year models.

My outboard is a Mercury. It started running about like yours is and losing power. I changed the spark plugs and fuel filter and solved the problem. My experience with primer bulbs is if it is bad it won't hold pressure and you would have to pump it up again.

If you are using regular gas the ethanol will eat the inside of your gas lines. & it will plug your engine up. You need to check your fuel filters once a year. I use Sea Foam every fill up it helps.

8 hours ago, scbassin said:

If you are using regular gas the ethanol will eat the inside of your gas lines. & it will plug your engine .

X2

 

Get a new line and bulb along with a new filter and see if that doesn’t work.  After 6 months take  that water separating fuel filter off and dump it.  At the end of a year replace it.  Use 91 octane ethanol free gasoline.

 

14 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Use 91 octane ethanol free gasoline.

Thats what I use .

All these recommendations and know one knows what the motor is, other than a 115 Rude.  There are a number of different 115s. Without knowing year model, it may or may not have a fuel filter unless someone added an after market, it may or may not be DFI, it may or may not have oil injection, which means there are several different fuel pumps it could have.  So all you are doing is recommending things that may not even apply to this motor.

Its a 98 . 

 

Guys I am very mechanically challenged . Things just dont click for me . After removing the cowling the seal came off . Does that have to be glued back in ? Because its impossible to put back on without it falling off . If it needs an adhesive , what do I get . I did an internet search and found zilch on the subject .

They made three different 115's in 98.  the looper, the crossflow and the Ficht, all three are totally different.  Unless you know which one it is, need the model number. 

Without knowing the motor, it's like trying to tell how to trouble shoot a Ford when you are driving a Volkswagon.  There is that much difference between the three motors. 

model # is E115ELECM

That should be the 115 looper.  Are you running the oil injection?

It does have a fuel filter, but not one that is obvious, it inside the vapor housing.  Do you know where the fuel filter is at?

When it starts running bad, have you tried having someone pump the primer bulb while its not running right to see if it clears up.  That an easy way to check if it's a fuel delivery problem.  If the primer is weak and mushy, it may have a fuel pickup problem at the tank.

Have you take the cover off and pump the primer bulb and held pressure on it to see if there are any leaks.  Doing this pressurizes the whole fuel system, so if there are any fuel leaks, that means they might be sucking air when the pump is trying to pull fuel.

The gasket around the cowling can be glued with 3M weather strip adhesive.  The problem is, the best stuff comes in two different ones so you need to know what kind of rubber it is, and I don't know.

It has the oil injection .

I did not see the fuel filter .

I tried priming the bulb when it is running but it didnt do any good .

I'll try pumping the primer bulb to check for leaks . 

I guess I'll have to have it checked out and the gasket glued back on when I winterize it .

 Thanks a lot .

This will show you were it's at.  Item 28

http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=hpqkd6v8n4p2ekp545hb0ai6u2&catalog_id=0&siteid=1

OOPs, it only get you to the main index. 

select year

then select hp

then select model

then select fuel bracket and components

Then look at item 28, you can blow the page up by clicking the + in top left corner

If you haven't replaced the spark plugs, it would be a good time to do that.  Use Champion plugs in it.

Not at all familiar with your engine. Regarding contact cement for general use rubber seal Pliobond makes a decent product, 3M marine is top quality. Closed cell foam neoprene it should be black. Closed cell silicone is usually gray. Wipe the gasket clean using denatured alcohol let it dry, also clean the cowl surfaces. 

Most OB's have a recess channel and clips to hold the gasket onto the cowl?

Good luck.

Tom