On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:53:16 -0500, "Dan J.S." wrote:

I took my bennington 21 footer out on the lake on Saturday. The Honda
started harder than usual, but I got it going after 7 or 8 tries. The engine
ran smooth, took it about 1/4 miles at 3000 rpm and the engine suddenly
died. Almost like someone turned it off.

I tried to turn it on, nothing worked. I was towed back to my dock, and
poked around. The engine is a 2000 year model with only 134 hours on it. I
bought it with 97 hours and was told the fuels filter was changed.

Can someone tell me what this may be? The marina mechanics will look at it,
but they specialize in Evenrudes and Johnsons. As a matter of fact, one
mechanic even said that no one wants to do Hondas because they never need
any work - well mine does!

That's not far from the truth. In fact, I have it on good authority
from somebody with no axe to grind, that he was told by the Honda Rep
that the reason Honda doesn't do a service school is because Honda's
never break.

I also heard from that same person that one marina actually went to a
Honda car dealership, borrowed a mechanic to help fix an outboard
because they couldn't get any factory help with the problem.

Having said that, Tony Thomas gave some good advice in a different
thread and I'll repost it here.

"You can do some diagnosis if you take an extra person to the lake w/
you to avoid buying parts as a trail and error.
First - remove the pickup from the tank and make sure the screen is
clean on the bottom of the pickup.
Second - remove the fuel filter and make sure it is good an clean.
Then go to the lake and run.
When the problem happens have the extra person check the fuel line
bubble to make sure it is not collapsed.
If it is - replace the fuel line bubble.
If not try pumping the bubble and see if the problem goes away. If so
then the fuel pump needs replacing.
If not - try engaging the choke and see if the engine picks up speed.
The choke is a fuel enricher and not an actual butterfly. If it picks
up you have a carb problem.
If not or boggs more then you probably have an intermittent ignition
problem from a stator or powerpack."

With the sudden shut down, I would suspect a clog somewhere in the
fuel line. It could be mechanical like a loose spark wire or similar.

Assuming you can't find a mechanic, it's all about fuel, air,
ignition. Anyone of those can cause the problem.

Give the yard mechanics some time to try and fix it - it's a four
stroke and thus pretty simple.