Living off grid with no road connection means becoming a jack of all trades. Often seen as a bad thing due to being misquoted as “A jack of all trades, master of none”, when it was originally meant to be a compliment. While we may not be experts at anything we do out here, we end up with a lot of broad knowledge and adaptability. This time that means knowing how to utilize Google, and having basic engine knowledge to fix a problem with fuel injectors.

If you read this post, then you know our boat got swamped, and the motor is giving us issues. Our plan was to clean our fuel injectors for our boat motor. But because we can’t just run to the store and grab a tool or item any time it’s needed, we end up MacGyvering to make things work.

Step One:

Fix air compressor. This involved rewiring the plug for it since it had been frozen to the ground last time we tried to move it (oops!). First, we had to take the housing off to reach everything. Did we have the tool we needed? Of course not! That would make things just way too easy. Instead, we ended up stacking 2 quarter bit drives on a screwdriver handle, then a screw bit. Behold: The FrankenTool!

But it worked! We got the screws we needed out and were able to fix the wires. Well, Kyle fixed them anyway. I have a rule about not dealing with electricity. Guess who got shocked? Not me! 😅

Step Two:

We soaked the fuel injectors in a mixture of Seafoam and gasoline. After about 15 minutes, we shook them around a bit and could see all kinds of debris. Sand and rust flakes are really not a good sign.

Step Three:

We cut two lengths of wire and attached them to the fuel injector. Facing the terminal towards yourself would make the right side positive and the left side negative.

Step Four:

Again, something we MacGuyvered. We didn’t have a hose that would fit our trigger attachment on the compressor. So what we ended up doing was placing them backwards instead, and that worked just fine for this. We put the trigger attachment directly on the air compressor, then used a length of tube on the end of that. Then filled the tube with Seafoam and placed the fuel injector on the opposite end, with the side that goes in the engine first.

Step Five:

This part was a two-person job, and afterward we were covered in Seafoam and gas, so no pictures, sorry! Kyle held the wires connected to the injector to a 12 volt battery, while I sent compressed air at about 50 psi through it. Since we were sending cleaner through backwards, we had to use electricity to open the valves.

Step Six:

Then we flipped the fuel injector around and blew Seafoam through the correct way, without being connected to the battery. This produced a fine mist when the injector was properly cleaned out. Two of the injectors needed to be flipped several times before all the debris was out.

Make sure to wear safety gear when doing this! We had one that was so clogged it blew out the end of the hose rather than spraying through the injector. I got a face full of cleaner and gas when that happened. Glad I was wearing glasses!

 

Afterwards we were able to pop them right back in the outboard. The outboard fired right up!

Be aware if trying this your mileage may vary and doing this incorrectly or too many times can damage the fuel injectors. But, if like us you need the motor working quickly and/or it would cost $800 for new ones definitely try cleaning them! (P.S. I also found the exact same injectors for $40, including shipping, on Ebay 😒)

Unfortunately, we still have some other issues related to the boat swamping. But we got really lucky in another set netter taking us under his wing, lending us another boat and moving us to fish one of his sites.

 

This summer seems like it’s just been one thing after another coming at us. Sometimes it’s felt like we aren’t meant to be here anymore. We just have to keep pushing through because we’re here to stay ❤

 

Tagged : engine / fishing / Outboard