I have a 98 200 optimax that has been a great motor. A month ago I noticed it idleing a little rough, which it never does and it progressivly got worse. Then it started cutting out when at full throttle on take-off. After it died it took a while to get started. Now it wont start at all. The plugs are new and clean, there is no water in the fuel, and the primer bulb stays full. I need some opinions or things I can try before I pay $100/hr and miss out on my tournaments. Any help would be appreciated. Thankyou in advance!!

If it progressivly got worse you may be looking at a bad cylinder. Hope not for your sake but very possibly could be. Is there any aluminum on the spark plugs??

By the way its $65/hr in east texas!!

Check the compression first, then we will help you figure it out if its not a cylinder. If it is a cylinder, their is a rebuilt powerhead for less than 3K on e-bay.

Don't forget to check your under the cowl fuel filter. It almost sounds like you are not getting fuel.

My own opinion but I usually have my motor looked at once a year by my mechanic. He can pull the codes and see if everything looks right in the motor. At the first sign of a hiccup on an Optimax I try and find the problem. A 2 or 300 dollar bill is better than a 4 thousand dollar one.

Thanks everyone for your input, please keep it coming. Will pull the plugs again and see if I find any alluminum. I pulled the fuel filter and recenly replaced it, all seems ok. It feels like I have a fuel or ignition problem but with these motors my troubleshooting skills suck. I'm used to carbs and have never messed with compressors for hpdi. One more thing, last time I was out it started at the boat ramp after alot of cranking and shortly thereafter died. I fished for 3 hours and it finally started just in time to load it on the trailer. When it did start it idled great and ran up on the trailer fine. Yesterday I hooked it up to the hose in the driveway and no dice, would not start. Does it still sound like could be a bad cylinder? Thanks again! Just had a new baby girl(Alissa :-)) and really cant afford to put it in the shop, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

Sounds like you have lost fuel pressure. You need special gauges to check that. It is around 80psi. You may also have a bad fuel or air injector. You really need to take it to a dealer if you do not know what you are doing. Sorry I know that you do not want to hear that.

I have never owned an Optimax, but I am having the exact same issues with a carbuerated motor, so I would day it is some type of fuel issue. Either a clogged injector(s) or mabye the high pressure fuel pump.