Hello,
New with 1st boat and troubleshot some previous starting problems by giving a tune up with new plugs. Now the boat fires up and purrs at idle, and we ran it for several hours pulling skiiers, no problems, until we decided to head in and it began a loud rattle. I pulled back the cover and saw a slight amount of smoke out of the smog valve coming from the flame arrestor.
Thinking it was not getting enough spark and running rich, I changed the distributor cap today and cleaned all the spark plugs (#1 and #4 were oily), and same continuous knocking sound. Sound is louder on the plug side, central and upper (a knocking valve?)
The merc service manual (don't have the volvo yet) troubleshooting guide for dry sooty and oily deposits on the plugs recommends to clean flame arrestor (did that) change the plugs, change the cap (did those) change the plug wires (called around, have to order)
Pulled each wire from the dist. while running at around 1500 rpm to isolate a cylinder, and same results for all 4, slowed rpm and rough running. From this I think all cylinders and getting a good spark. Sound is noticeable through the engine cover starting past idle throttle around 1000 rpm and continuing on through 3000 rpm. Water tested and didn't feel like proper top end or power.
I need advice on where to continue, my next thought (besides getting a knowledgable mechanic to actually SHOW up to my boat in the lift) is to get a timing light to determine engine speed or half speed.
Thanks.
New with 1st boat and troubleshot some previous starting problems by giving a tune up with new plugs. Now the boat fires up and purrs at idle, and we ran it for several hours pulling skiiers, no problems, until we decided to head in and it began a loud rattle. I pulled back the cover and saw a slight amount of smoke out of the smog valve coming from the flame arrestor.
Thinking it was not getting enough spark and running rich, I changed the distributor cap today and cleaned all the spark plugs (#1 and #4 were oily), and same continuous knocking sound. Sound is louder on the plug side, central and upper (a knocking valve?)
The merc service manual (don't have the volvo yet) troubleshooting guide for dry sooty and oily deposits on the plugs recommends to clean flame arrestor (did that) change the plugs, change the cap (did those) change the plug wires (called around, have to order)
Pulled each wire from the dist. while running at around 1500 rpm to isolate a cylinder, and same results for all 4, slowed rpm and rough running. From this I think all cylinders and getting a good spark. Sound is noticeable through the engine cover starting past idle throttle around 1000 rpm and continuing on through 3000 rpm. Water tested and didn't feel like proper top end or power.
I need advice on where to continue, my next thought (besides getting a knowledgable mechanic to actually SHOW up to my boat in the lift) is to get a timing light to determine engine speed or half speed.
Thanks.
