454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

[havasuboatman]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

I definitely use a timing light, but one engine from the next aint all the same believe me, ask any mechanic that uses a dyno machine.

If you know what you are doing its as safe as ever

I'm a certified marine mechanic. I NEVER set timing that way.
Come on dude, people come to this site for advise on how to do things. Don't give shade tree answers. Timing by ear is never better than when done by a light unless you have an incorrectly set up, or installed, distributor.

 

[andg]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

You will need to check your timing, what sort of distributor do you have old style "points" or no points.

If you have points set them to specification and check the dwell angle and reset the timing.

It's a good suggestion.. try it

 

[Black as]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

I'm a certified marine mechanic. I NEVER set timing that way.
Come on dude, people come to this site for advise on how to do things. Don't give shade tree answers. Timing by ear is never better than when done by a light unless you have an incorrectly set up, or installed, distributor.

Yes your right timing light is the way to go but one day you might come across a situation and you may not have a timing light and your sitting in the middle of the lake then what do you do

Dont stress about it buddy, Ive done it and Im sure youve done things to get you up and running because you dont have the tools available at the time. And Ive seen plenty of hack mechanics in my time but if your got a good ear you can do a lot in a time of need. Then once you get back home you check, check and re-check

One day I was out in a boat and 3 plugs fouled up coulnt get the boat running right to get home so I pulled the fouled plugs out and away we went, not logical way to fix it but we got home

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

How, exactly, does your timing change while you are out on the water? Even if it did, that is an entirely different situation than setting it by ear when tuning a motor.
The reason you don't set timing by ear is that your ear isn't calibrated for the fact that a boat idles differently on the water than it does on the trailer. There is a load put on a boat engine when it is on the water because of the back pressure created when the exhaust system is submerged.

And I'm not stressing, I'm laughing, because you made a really silly statement that you keep defending.

 

[Black as]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

How, exactly, does your timing change while you are out on the water? Even if it did, that is an entirely different situation than setting it by ear when tuning a motor.
The reason you don't set timing by ear is that your ear isn't calibrated for the fact that a boat idles differently on the water than it does on the trailer. There is a load put on a boat engine when it is on the water because of the back pressure created when the exhaust system is submerged.

And I'm not stressing, I'm laughing, because you made a really silly statement that you keep defending.

Im laughing because you keep biting

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

Oh, your just joking. I guess that's why you held you position for those other 3 guys, too.
You really are a joke, aren't you.

 

[vamanos]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

OK on the WOT. I get it. I didn't realize the engine would run well on three or so cylinders in neutral. So, checking the feul and the timing are the first things, or go to the sticky section and go through the steps. What has to be done has to be done. Any oother comments at this time? Thank you.

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: 454 Mercruiser won't run under a load

fuel supply problem.