1988 120HP Ford OMC 2.3L 4cyl I/O - Bad Carb?

sph130

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
43
OK so ill start by saying naive about engines..

Had a neighbor help with some troubleshooting since I want to get out for tomorrow. I have a 1988 18' bayliner capri br with the 1988 120HP Ford OMC 2.3L 4cyl I/O. just bought it in August had it out three time Started rough but got that working with new gas. 2 yo gas was in there but since have cycled through at least 1 new tanks worth (20 or so gallons).

Had taken it out 3 times prior with just 2 people. It was working beatifully. WOT was getting 5500 rpms going up to 36mph. Started up every time first turn. So decided to take out 6 adults. Obviously a little more sluggish but got it on plane maybe about 30mph.

>> 2 times going to WOT with 6 passangers it hesitated then went fine.
We were no waking it around near a campground then i opened it up to go across the lake. And thud thud poof.. no more. The engine quit with what sounded like two thuds/pops thought it was a belt for a minute.

Troubleshooting done: Getting spark to all found plugs and strong spark after changing the coil. I feel compression (not sure how much) but we can't hold our finger over a spark plug hole. There is fuel being primed into the carb. Also sprayed starter fluid down there. The exhaust is getting hot but there is no catching. It just cranks while i hold the key turned for a few seconds. We feel suction into the oil cap, but it doesn't seem to be sucking to hard down the carborator. We smell some exhaust when we crank it and again heat on the exhaust manifold.

We also checked the timing which seemed to line up with all the marks. ANd we used a booster pack on the battery.

We did notice taking a plug out after trying to start it that it wasn't wet, my neighbor told me it was supposed to be soaked if it was getting gas. (we even poured a little gass down the card - probably like 1/8 cup and still nothing..

ANy thoughts. Im bought ready to take it to the marina - it does need a good tune up anyway but at least before it started and ran. Would the load (# of people) do anything to stress the engine. Would a bad carb just die out on going to WOT? Would a bad carb keep it from starting at all, not even a cough?

THanks!
Sean
 

jtybt

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
730
Re: 1988 120HP Ford OMC 2.3L 4cyl I/O - Bad Carb?

This is something you should have asked about BEFORE buying.

The 2.3 exhaust manifold is No Longer Available anywhere new and I wouldn't trust any used. We had 3 people checking different sites and supply houses to no avail.

Finally swapping a 4.3 for the 2.3!!
 

Vinkress

Cadet
Joined
Feb 9, 2009
Messages
7
Re: 1988 120HP Ford OMC 2.3L 4cyl I/O - Bad Carb?

I had a problem earlier in the summer, caused me to miss getting the boat out for 4 July. Carburator float must have stuck, causing no fuel.

If yer fuel pump is good and is charging the carb with fuel pressure, simply operating the throttle out to cause some fuel to squirt into the chamber. If you take off the flame arrester, open the butterfly and then operate the throttle, observe if you see a squirt of fuel. If not, crank engine for a sec or two, then try to loosen the fuel line to carb to see if the fuel line is pressurized. If fuel line is pressurized but no fuel is let out when moving the throttle, then may be a stuck float and carb rebuild ought to sort it out. I was fortunate, I had a spare carb that allowed me to troubleshoot this issue.
 

sph130

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
43
Re: 1988 120HP Ford OMC 2.3L 4cyl I/O - Bad Carb?

When i throttle forward i get the prime fuel to squirt, but it seems like its not sucking more down after the prime?
 
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