140 mercruiser wont start

[dyarumian]

i just bought a 86 Fabuglas boat with a 3.o 140 hp mercruiser in the back. the last time it was registered was 99 so i assume it has been sitting for a while. So far i drained the old gas, and replaced the dist cap, points, and condenser. it has spark and will crank fine and it almost starts up when i spray starting fluid or dump gas down the carb but i doesn't seem to want to go. after i was cranking it on and off for a while i noticed that the coil got hot is this normal? any other things i should check before i bite the bullet and take it to a marina?

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: 140 mercruiser wont start

hows the compression?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: 140 mercruiser wont start

If it's been sitting that long the lifters may have bled down and may not be opening valves very much causing starting dificulty.

Did you change the plugs?

Do a compression test.

 

[dyarumian]

Re: 140 mercruiser wont start

i really dont know but i dont think it can be that bad the engine only has 420 something hours. and my friend who i bought it off said it started right up last time he tried to start it.

 

[dyarumian]

Re: 140 mercruiser wont start

ohh and i pulled the plugs and they look new

 

[Don S]

Re: 140 mercruiser wont start

You need a carb rebuild for one thing. There was probably gas in it when it was shut down, and it has now (past 7 years) turned to something that doesn't need to be in a carb.
You really should have primed the oil system to put some oil on those very dry bearings before cranking, but that's too late, and if you keep using starting fluid you aren't going to have an engine to repair.
Get the carb rebuilt, check the fuel pump pressure, you have new ignition, but set the dwell while cranking and after the carb is fixed it should start and run. Then after you run it and get the lifters built up again and oil in the system. Then try a compression test to see if you have anything to work with.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: 140 mercruiser wont start

Yeah, the coil might get warm... when you crank the system gives it a full 12V from the key switch.
Double check the firing order of the plug wires.What everyone else is saying: comp test and new plugs.