1992 190 Horizon stalls on idle

[cdris7319]

I'm a boating novice (2 seasons) with a used 1992 Four Winns 190 Horizon. We brought it out for the summer last weekend and had trouble starting it. My brother-in-law looked at it. He checked the plugs to ensure spark and they were fine. Then he loosened the connection in the fuel line to make sure gas was coming from the pump and it was. He hooked it back up and suddenly the boat started. So - he assumed it was a vapor lock and that was all.

When we put it on the water it ran very sluggish - very slow to come to speed and plane. No giddyup. Once at higher speed though - it seemed OK. I thought we just had too much weight in the boat (8 people). Then when we slowed to stroll the lake it stalled. After 10 minutes of trying it started again with a big puff of black smoke. We made it home - but it stalled all the way back in.

When we opened up the engine cover we saw that he had left the wire to the first cylinder on the right side disconnected. He reconnected it, told me I probably had bad gas, should get an additive and "run the crap out of it". We did, but it still is almost impossible to start. It still sends clouds of black smoke up when it does start, we have to idle it fast to keep it running and as soon as it warms up - if we pull the idle down, it stalls.

Could this have anything to do with the cylinder being left disconnected? How bad does this sound?

 

[Skipper101]

Re: 1992 190 Horizon stalls on idle

Reads like something is burning in there,thus puffs of black smoke> I wonder if you are dumping too much gas in there. If carburated which it seems it is check choke plate and adjustment.
I think your brother in law should be off the hook for any damage claims of leaving a wire off. I believe he falls under good In law samaritan laws in most states so don't go there. Used boats have flaws usually as do new ones as do all boats welcome to the world of power boating. If you choose to continue remember what happened on your first outing is just a tease.

 

[Skipper101]

Re: 1992 190 Horizon stalls on idle

I just re-read your trouble and noticed that you didn't just buy the boat. It sounds like you brought it out for the summer and it had been stored all winter. I would check for stale gas first of all. Todays gas seems to go bad faster. I have a 78 VW that always started right up untill it sat for 3-4 months and now it wont start. Good spark no sputter. If it worked before, and now doesn't work well, check the fuel first. Also be sure plug wires are on proper cylinder sequence. It could be reversed somewhere and still run. Check that float in carb is clean. You may need to pop the top off or have a mechanic/brother -in -law do it to clean it out. First put fresh fuel in it after getting the old out. When you do that replace the fuel seperator filter if equipped.