Was told I hi-jacked someone else's thread so am starting my own... If you don't like reading the history you can skip down to the problem area.
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HISTORY
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Here's my story - I purchased a 1983 Lund XRF 4.9 Super Pike with the 75HP on on 02-MAY-2009 for $3200. I thought it was a pretty good deal since the guy that sold it to me had reciepts totaling $1200 for work performed on the motor on 15-APR-2009. That work included a new Tilt/Trim System, 3 carb kits, lower unit seals, and new plugs. The work was done by SJ Hansen in Northfield, MN. I called them before purchasing the boat to make sure the receipt was legit. Trusting the scenario I had him start the motor on muffs and it sounded fine and idled fine. I did not take the boat out on a lake like I should have.
When I got it home I took it out on the Mississippi River (I live in Davenport, IA) and didn't think it ran that great. Top speed of 25MPH and engine sounded like it was boging down at WOT. Took it out again on a ver windy, choppy day and for a little while (about 15min) it opened up and ran freaking awesome! 37MPH but we were hitting some pretty good chop and the bouncing around must of of somehow caused the top starter bolt to break. Luckily I had a pull rope under the cowl. Got it back to the dock and I took it to Davenport Boat and Marine who was recommended to me by a friend.
They fixed the starter bolt and checked the motor out. They called to tell me that the power head was loose and that two of the bolts that hold it to the mid section were broken. So i had them pull the power head, put in new adapter plate gaskets and to make sure the motor was good to go. I did tell them about the bogging down issue but they said they didn't find anything wrong with it. So... $676 dollars later I thought I was good to go for the season and hopefully next. Wrong...
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PROBLEM
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I should note that the engine starts and idles around great! A friend and I took it out last night and he agreed that it was definitely bogging down at WOT. We were only able to advance the throttle about 60% before she would start to break up. Took the cowl off, looked very closely and there was fuel on the bottom of the engine pan/surround directly below the carbs and the gaskets between the silencer box and the the carbs and silencer box appeared to be soaked/wet. During this trip we ended up draining a tank and when this happened the motor really opened up and ran well (about 30 seconds or so) before quitting. Switched to the new tank with Shell V-Power and same bogging down behavior resumed. Additionally we went through 3 gallons of gas just testing this thing for about 45min. Is it possible that it's getting too much fuel? If so how? Fuel pump?
When we got home I pulled the plugs and I checked all three cylinders for spark and all three cylinders have spark when cranking the motor. Im not sure how you would check this when running the motor wide open. Anyhoo it concerns me that if 3 carb kits were installed back in April before I bought why should I be looking at the carbs as a possible problem? Not sure what to go after or in what order but I will faithfully post the results of my issue if I get some good ideas. Im also not going back to the dealer as Im sure they will say "we didn't do anything to the carbs and it seemed to run fine here. Give us more money... we're $80/hr."
Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge!
**********
HISTORY
**********
Here's my story - I purchased a 1983 Lund XRF 4.9 Super Pike with the 75HP on on 02-MAY-2009 for $3200. I thought it was a pretty good deal since the guy that sold it to me had reciepts totaling $1200 for work performed on the motor on 15-APR-2009. That work included a new Tilt/Trim System, 3 carb kits, lower unit seals, and new plugs. The work was done by SJ Hansen in Northfield, MN. I called them before purchasing the boat to make sure the receipt was legit. Trusting the scenario I had him start the motor on muffs and it sounded fine and idled fine. I did not take the boat out on a lake like I should have.
When I got it home I took it out on the Mississippi River (I live in Davenport, IA) and didn't think it ran that great. Top speed of 25MPH and engine sounded like it was boging down at WOT. Took it out again on a ver windy, choppy day and for a little while (about 15min) it opened up and ran freaking awesome! 37MPH but we were hitting some pretty good chop and the bouncing around must of of somehow caused the top starter bolt to break. Luckily I had a pull rope under the cowl. Got it back to the dock and I took it to Davenport Boat and Marine who was recommended to me by a friend.
They fixed the starter bolt and checked the motor out. They called to tell me that the power head was loose and that two of the bolts that hold it to the mid section were broken. So i had them pull the power head, put in new adapter plate gaskets and to make sure the motor was good to go. I did tell them about the bogging down issue but they said they didn't find anything wrong with it. So... $676 dollars later I thought I was good to go for the season and hopefully next. Wrong...
**********
PROBLEM
**********
I should note that the engine starts and idles around great! A friend and I took it out last night and he agreed that it was definitely bogging down at WOT. We were only able to advance the throttle about 60% before she would start to break up. Took the cowl off, looked very closely and there was fuel on the bottom of the engine pan/surround directly below the carbs and the gaskets between the silencer box and the the carbs and silencer box appeared to be soaked/wet. During this trip we ended up draining a tank and when this happened the motor really opened up and ran well (about 30 seconds or so) before quitting. Switched to the new tank with Shell V-Power and same bogging down behavior resumed. Additionally we went through 3 gallons of gas just testing this thing for about 45min. Is it possible that it's getting too much fuel? If so how? Fuel pump?
When we got home I pulled the plugs and I checked all three cylinders for spark and all three cylinders have spark when cranking the motor. Im not sure how you would check this when running the motor wide open. Anyhoo it concerns me that if 3 carb kits were installed back in April before I bought why should I be looking at the carbs as a possible problem? Not sure what to go after or in what order but I will faithfully post the results of my issue if I get some good ideas. Im also not going back to the dealer as Im sure they will say "we didn't do anything to the carbs and it seemed to run fine here. Give us more money... we're $80/hr."
Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge!