Kicker Woes - Honda BF8

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:43 pm Post subject: Kicker Woes - Honda BF8

Diana and I went up to Lake Merwin to chase kokanee this morning, and had trouble with the kicker.

First, it was very hard to get started, then after running nicely for a bit, it started running on just one cylinder. Even though it was running roughly, I decided to go ahead and use it. After 30 minutes or so of putting along, the second cylinder started working intermittently. So going from 1.9 mph to 3.0 mph as it caught. Not so good for chasing kokanee. We ended up having a nice put around the lake, and not much else.

My thinking is that I have either a bad plug, or if there is one for each cylinder, a bad coil. Do any of you Honda kicker experts have an opinion and a suggestion for the best way to troubleshoot? I think it is the lower cylinder, as I was able to pull the upper plug while on the water. It was clean.

Thanks in advance,

Steve[/u]

nimrod · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:35 pm Post subject:

do you use gasoline with ethanol? Is it filtered? Was it "old" gasoline?

I'd check those things first.

jd

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject:

journey on · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:04 pm Post subject:

Journey On has a 2005 Honda 9.9, which for it's year is the same as the 8. In addition it's the newer model, which is eco-friendly. This means the carb is leaner than normal. It's used primarily to power the inflatable, so it sits a lot. I don't know what year your motor is, but your boat is a 2005, also.

That said, last year the 9.9 refused to start. The carb needed cleaning. So I took it to a dealer, in Bellingham, who cleaned out the bowl and replaced everything else connected with the fuel system. And it still didn't start. So when I got home, I took the carb apart, a really simple job cleaned out the cold start system, reinstalled it and it started first pull and ran great.

In summary my advice is to take the carb apart, clean it out, reassemble it and put it back in. About an hour. Or find a good mechanic who can do the job, and have him start the motor after he's done.

Ignition/plug problems are rare with the new electronic ignition. Just make sure all connections are good and also clean.

Boris

Les Lampman · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:10 pm Post subject:

Hi Steve,

Is this a BF8A (rather square hood with no spin-on oil filter) or is this a BF8D (rather rounded hood with a spin-on oil filter)?

Les

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:38 pm Post subject:

Les, it's the BF 8D, not the classic. Thanks! It's a 2007 or 2008 if I remember correctly.

Boris, I may end up doing the cleaning as you suggested. If for nothing else, to learn how to do it. Thanks!

I just spoke with Ryan Bigbee at Sportcraft (good people there!). He had several thoughts on cause, one of which was an over temp. Ryan said that they have found that when this engine runs too hot, it will shut a cylinder down. Other possibilities were carb, plug, coil and/or wiring.

I put a new plug in, and started it in the flush bag. It fired right up, ran nicely until my flush bag fell over and I had to shut it down. I am draining it now, getting a better base under the bag, then will run it again to see if it shut down a cylinder after running for a while. If that's the case... hmmmm, why is it running hot. I probably don't have more than 20-30 hours on the water pump that I had replaced under preventive maintenance in 2010.

More to follow...

dotnmarty · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:17 pm Post subject:

Steve- This is a problem that I can help you with. The definitive diagnosis of your kicker problem is, 'kickapoo'. Kicker's are, as a class, very sensitive. I won't go into details, but just think about it. Most of the time it just sits there like the proverbial bump on a log. Then, when you need it, it's summarily dropped in the water, choked, and yanked over and over, without so much as a 'by-your- leave'. The treatment is simple. First, talk nice. Tell it how much you appreciate it's effort to be ever ready. Explain how you are going to run it from here to there all by itself. Let it know how much you truly enjoy those rare together times, just you and the tiller, enjoying a day on the water. You'll see, it will start right up and roll over just like a kitten. If this doesn't work, well, then do exactly what Les says.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:23 pm Post subject: Hmmmm

New plug and all back together again. Runs like a champ, first pull.

My suspicion is that the old plug is fine, too, just flooded and wouldn't fire. I was not able to put the engine in gear with a 3/4 throttle where it was set when it acted up, but had it approximately 1/3 throttle and in gear. No problems (yet). I will let it stand over night, then try it again in the morning.

Me thinks another trip to Merwin is in order, prior to back in the ocean or on the Columbia.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject:

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject:

Back on a serious note. I have been running the fuel out of the carb after each use. I wonder if this has contributed to the hard start and subsequent issue.

Your thoughts...

nordicstallion · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject:

Once a week or so, I run them both for about 10 min if im not using them regularly. Its kinda like a mini tune-up. The worst thing you can do is let them set.Vern/C/Dog

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject: Update...

I let the motor set for two days. Started easily this morning, using half choke. I ran it in the flush bag for 20 minutes, no problem. Hopefully the plug was the issue.

journey on · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

Good news and a quick fix. Congratulations.

Random note: There's a screw on the side of the carb which lets you drain the gasoline out of the bowl. I think it's better than running the engine dry, because it gets all the gas out, whilest running it dry leaves a little in the jet sump.

Boris

dotnmarty · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Update...

Bill and Brenda Russell · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:17 am Post subject: Kicker 9.9 Honda Electric Start

We purchased a Honda 9.9 Electric Start No Manual Choke 6/23/2010.

From day one this kicker was difficult to start and 7/24/2012 while on Lake Ouchita it would not start at all.

Back home it would start by holding a shop towel over the carburetor intake because it has no manual choke. The kicker is now at the Texarkana, TX dealer for warranty repair.

Our Honda 75 performs like a dream and is quiet as a mouse.