1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start.

[Ursula]

1993 Yamaha 3.0 L4 will not start but will turn over slowly....So far we have done the following:
Brand new battery, brand new platinum plugs, starter bench tested twice, spark at all plugs, rotor & solenoid, fuel / air mixture good, timing good, compression: Cylinder 1-0, 2-0, 3-25, 4-35.
Ran perfect after oil change the week prior for 10 mins. in the driveway and hooked to water hose then the next week will not start. Any advice or suggestions would greatly appreciated.

 

[mkast]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

If those numbers are in fact, actual compression numbers, don't bother trying to start the engine.
Repair or replace.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Dude, you need a new or rebuilt engine! And it did not run perfect with no compression on 2 cylinders, and 25&35 on the other two!

 

[Hansolo99]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

compression: Cylinder 1-0, 2-0, 3-25, 4-35.

I found the problem is there a prize?!?!?!?

 

[Philster]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Can you even have 0 compression!? Wouldn't an entire piston need to be missing?

They can't be leakdown test numbers, can they? I wouldn't expect 0% leakdown in any cylinder either.

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Dude, you need a new or rebuilt engine! And it did not run perfect with no compression on 2 cylinders, and 25&35 on the other two![/QUOTE]


We have been searching for a rebuilt but it looks like it doesn't exist. Any suggestions on a rebuilt replacement? It ran perfect the weekend before. That's why I am not sure I understand what happened. Should I test the compression on the cylinders again? We actually had someone do it for us.

 

[no704]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Recheck compression, and check valve timing.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Am I the only one who was expecting a story about some $70,000 brand new boat not starting?

To the OP, you're not a new boat owner. Sorry for your troubles.

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Recheck compression, and check valve timing.

Ok will do. I guess we are going to tear it down this weekend and maybe find something out. Thanks for your help. I need all I can get!!!

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Do you think a rebuilt GM L4 181 cu. ft. would fit?

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

airdvr1227- My bad you are correct. Sorry!!!

 

[Brewman61]

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: New boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

I guess we are going to tear it down this weekend and maybe find something out.

Please do post your findings. If your compression readings are correct I'm dying to know what would cause zero compression- huge holes in the pistons, maybe.

 

[sethjon]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

1993 Yamaha 3.0 L4 will not start but will turn over slowly....So far we have done the following:
Brand new battery, brand new platinum plugs, starter bench tested twice, spark at all plugs, rotor & solenoid, fuel / air mixture good, timing good, compression: Cylinder 1-0, 2-0, 3-25, 4-35.
Ran perfect after oil change the week prior for 10 mins. in the driveway and hooked to water hose then the next week will not start. Any advice or suggestions would greatly appreciated.

If those numbes are correct the engine is shot and I don't understand how it started last week. Recheck the compression figures.

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Breman61- Sure I will be glad too. Oh, don't say that. And what would cause that to happen?

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

sethjon I am having a hard time finding a rebuilt and suggestions?

 

[Don S]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Before you take the engine out, and start replacing things, you might want to do another compression test. And find a guage that works. Engines don't run perfect and the next week have 0 compression on 2 cylinders and way low compression on 2.
Either the gauge failed or when you say the engine cranks over slow it may not be fast enough to cause compression.The first thing you need to do is pull the spark plugs, and crank the engine. Any water out any cylinders, does it crank over normal speed?

I really think you are wanting to replace an engine without knowing WHY, probably due to lack of experience. That can get VERY expensive, especially if all your problems are a loose battery cable.

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Before you take the engine out, and start replacing things, you might want to do another compression test. And find a guage that works. Engines don't run perfect and the next week have 0 compression on 2 cylinders and way low compression on 2.
Either the gauge failed or when you say the engine cranks over slow it may not be fast enough to cause compression.The first thing you need to do is pull the spark plugs, and crank the engine. Any water out any cylinders, does it crank over normal speed?

I really think you are wanting to replace an engine without knowing WHY, probably due to lack of experience. That can get VERY expensive, especially if all your problems are a loose battery cable.

Thanks Don. I agree with you. I will do another compression test and use a different guage. The last weekend we were in the boat the entire weekend without any problems, ran perfect. The next weekend we changed the oil and let it run for at least 10 mins. Went to take it out this past weekend and it wouldn't start. When I say it turns over, it does but it doesn't seem to have enough fire to turn it all the way over. (kinda like the battery is weak that's why we bought a new battery 875 cranking amps) We have pulled the plugs turned the engine over and all the plugs had fire. Saw no water in the cylinders. Took boat to someone to test timing and it was find. He also tested the compression on the cylinders which he said he got the boat started with diesel but I have tried and still can't get it to start. He said it needs rod bearings and rods but I am not sure that's why I am asking. I don't want to replace the engine if I don't have to. I'll keep you posted on the new compression readings. Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Here is a service bulletin on doing the compression test.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/97/97_25.pdf

MAKE SURE the engine is turning over at the proper speed. Or your readings will be meaningless. If it's turning over slow, it may be because the starter is going bad, or loose corroded battery cables (wing nuts finger tight are not how it's done).
I'm sorry, call me crazy, but if you shut it off after running for 10 minutes and it sounded fine then. I find it very hard to understand how rods and rod bearings are going to break. Rod bearings will cause low oil pressure, but have nothing to do with compression. May want to avoid that mechanic that said that.

 

[Ursula]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Here is a service bulletin on doing the compression test.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/97/97_25.pdf

MAKE SURE the engine is turning over at the proper speed. Or your readings will be meaningless. If it's turning over slow, it may be because the starter is going bad, or loose corroded battery cables (wing nuts finger tight are not how it's done).
I'm sorry, call me crazy, but if you shut it off after running for 10 minutes and it sounded fine then. I find it very hard to understand how rods and rod bearings are going to break. Rod bearings will cause low oil pressure, but have nothing to do with compression. May want to avoid that mechanic that said that.

Thanks Don. I am going to test the compression tomorrow and I'll let you know. Thanks for the attachment. Starter has been benched tested twice.

 

[sea flower]

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Re: 1st time boat owner for 6 weeks and it will NOT start. HELP!!!!

Just because I read all the suggestions...... What type of oil did you put in that motor?? Just a thought !!