Utter failure. I suck.

Thanks. Not the first place I’d go without a personal recommendation/experience, ya know? Jim Bob’s mobile mechanic. Let us in you garage and see what you got.
At one point in my workin' life I somehow got the un-glorious assignment to manage maintenance of my employers boats with the exception of two LCM-8's. The company had between 14 - 16 boats that were operated by assorted union craft. Two 22-footers had 4-stroke outboards that were early high pressure fuel injection. It seemed like half the time the boats were on the road headed back to the dealer where the boats were built and furnished. I got tired of dealing with all the assorted travel authorizations and invoices. When I heard about a "mobile mechanic" who had some credibility I called him up and asked to meet. Eventually I was able to hire him to maintain the jet and prop boats.

They're out there. Good luck. I feel your pain. ;-)
 
I’m pretty over it…but slightly less so than I was last night. I am not sure if I want to hang on to this thing or not. Not that I have $2200 laying around for a new fuel injected Tohatsu either. But I was skeeved out by the guy I bought this from a few years back and have always wondered about its history. I let my desire to get something soon win out and went against my better judgment when I bought it. Of course it had the remains of two impeller wheels in the water cooling system. That was the beginning of our relationship, me and this Honda.


I suspect I’ll be making some calls when places are open next week. Anyone in the Seattle area have a reco for small outboard repair? My friend said Ballard Marine. They are a Mercury dealer. We’ll see.
It’d be amazing to have a mobile mechanic come and let me watch him do the repair.
Seaway in Lynnwood
 
This resonates. I cleaned that thing with carb cleaner. I don’t know if I damaged it, hope not, guess it’s possible.
I checked the oil and level was normal but I’ll sniff it tomorrow (oh boy!) since the whole thing shouldn’t smell like fuel by then, the way it did today.

If you do go back in, be sure to clean the bore and seat the pin sits in very gently. I like to use a Q-tip with some carb cleaner. Pay close attention to the seat, if it shows any damage, you'll probably need a new carb.

Good luck.
 
It's pretty clear that @Matt B needs to assemble a meeting of PNWFF's greatest minds at a popular Seattle watering hole. Bring in the carburetor for all to inspect with some basic solvents, rags, brushes, and Q-tips. I really want to closely inspect that float needle and seat. The float itself will need inspection and possible adjustments too.
 
It's pretty clear that @Matt B needs to assemble a meeting of PNWFF's greatest minds at a popular Seattle watering hole. Bring in the carburetor for all to inspect with some basic solvents, rags, brushes, and Q-tips. I really want to closely inspect that float needle and seat. The float itself will need inspection and possible adjustments too.
I ran a little clinic like that for a couple guys with SU carbs here in WW. The guy at NAPA was a little upset because he had been charging them for tunes. Some things are really best learned hands on.
 
@Matt B: And by the way, you don't suck , this just shows you're human.
Thanks. I expect myself to be able to do things that have been done millions of times by other humans but that doesn’t factor in all their f*ck-ups too.

I did get a new ducted under cabinet range hood installed in my kitchen today—on my own. Good lord, I even had to go up in the attic space to adjust and secure the ducting which I knocked loose during the work. It’s all blown-in insulation up there, requires bringing a ladder into our not-code stairwell…a classic 5 hour 1 hour job that left me soaked in sweat. But I did get that thing hung there and it looks and works great.

The bummer on that deal is that I was going to take the family to the river this afternoon but the project dragged out a bit too long. Ah, well.

Thanks for the kind and helpful words, @wanderingrichard and all.

Before I buy all y’all a round of $9 Seattle microbrew pints while you fondle my orifices, let me get a quote or two; the price in the end could be comparable.
 
(P)rice of a (r)ebuild + (t)ime x (f)rustration²
__________________________________________ =?
(P)rice of new carb installed - (T)ime not spent with family x (A)gravation³


Pr+(TxF²) ÷ P-(TxA³) = Write some dude a check


There's your path forward grasshopper....
😎
 
Throwing $$ at it's hard when it's adds up to new kicker so quickly... Especially right when folks are getting geared up for salmon and crab.

Maybe there's a great sale for 4th of July?
 
It's pretty clear that @Matt B needs to assemble a meeting of PNWFF's greatest minds at a popular Seattle watering hole. Bring in the carburetor for all to inspect with some basic solvents, rags, brushes, and Q-tips. I really want to closely inspect that float needle and seat. The float itself will need inspection and possible adjustments too.

Just be sure the inspection and any work is completed before you start buying the beer/drinks, otherwise the work quality might be a wee bit sub-par. 😉
 
View attachment 158680

Here’s the serial number in case anyone out there more internet search savvy than I am feels like taking pity on me and finding exactly what year this thing is and a detailed service manual.
Matt, I have a service manual for Honda outboards that I bought and downloaded. It's a large file (39MB) and was too big to upload here. I compressed it (28MB0, but the site was not allowing me the option to upload a zip file. I did have success sending the zip file to an alternate email address of mine and it was successful. I am more than happy to try and send you a copy.

After making my post I found some additional information and have now edited it to include it:

I did a Google search on your serial number
AI Overview

The information provided suggests that
BABJ is a prefix used in serial numbers for various Honda outboard motors.
Specifically, serial numbers within the range of BABJ-1000001 to BABJ-1099999 correspond to the BF9.9D1 models. This series encompasses models like the BF9.9D1 LHA, LHSA, LRA, SA, SHA, SHSA, and SRA.
The serial number BABJ 10022215 falls within this range, indicating it is likely a Honda BF9.9D1 model. One source also suggests that a serial number starting with BABJ indicates a 2001 engine.

 
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Thanks. I expect myself to be able to do things that have been done millions of times by other humans but that doesn’t factor in all their f*ck-ups too.

I did get a new ducted under cabinet range hood installed in my kitchen today—on my own. Good lord, I even had to go up in the attic space to adjust and secure the ducting which I knocked loose during the work. It’s all blown-in insulation up there, requires bringing a ladder into our not-code stairwell…a classic 5 hour 1 hour job that left me soaked in sweat. But I did get that thing hung there and it looks and works great.

The bummer on that deal is that I was going to take the family to the river this afternoon but the project dragged out a bit too long. Ah, well.

Thanks for the kind and helpful words, @wanderingrichard and all.

Before I buy all y’all a round of $9 Seattle microbrew pints while you fondle my orifices, let me get a quote or two; the price in the end could be comparable.
It’s not that you’re a failure, just you found one thing you’re not adept at. The same as the guy who can rebuild a carb and says it easy, anyone can, has other areas he is not good at.
I learned years ago carbs are not my thing, car, truck, chainsaw, I don’t care. But I excel at multiple other things. Nothing to beat yourself up about.
 
When I would disconnect the fuel line on my vw bus, I would shove a pencil in the fuel line to keep it from spilling-as directed by the hippie service manual. They should have said to break the point off the pencil first, since a pencil point has the exact same taper as the carb inlet. This is clearly no help to you @Matt B , other than to say that you could have found out between Tucson and telluride, so be glad for that I guess 🤷‍♂️
 
It’s not that you’re a failure, just you found one thing you’re not adept at. The same as the guy who can rebuild a carb and says it easy, anyone can, has other areas he is not good at.
I learned years ago carbs are not my thing, car, truck, chainsaw, I don’t care. But I excel at multiple other things. Nothing to beat yourself up about.
This
 
It's not that hard. You can do if you want to...

Like others say, certainly more than ok to punt.

For me, it's hard to give up, even if it's something I need to work a bit harder at. Feels pretty good when you finally nail it.
 
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