3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

Why would someone buy an old carb on ebay for just the choke cover and not even know if it has a good choke cover or not? :facepalm:
Here is the cover from right here at iboats for less than 75 bux. It shows out of stock, but call and find out if it's been restocked or they have a sub from another company.

http://www.iboats.com/18-7665-Choke...2631415--session_id.152138369--view_id.709106

You make a good point. There is a big difference between 75 and 120 bucks. I need to verify that is in fact brken before I buy anything though. So I will start there.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

'cuz it's probably ok, and worst case, you get a spare carb. Which is very nice to have.

I have had a lot of boats, and worked on a lot of boats over the years, and having a spare carb was never a big deal nor needed. Probably because I had a good water separating fuel filter, changed it often and checked it for any signs of water when I took it off.
I had to rebuild one of my carbs once because the old accelerator pump wouldn't pump, but there was no water, no corrosion nothing wrong inside to need a new carb.
If you don't have a water separating fuel filter then yeah, you might want to stock pile some carbs. But for $30 for a filter kit, why?

'cuz it's probably ok

So you would spend 80 bux on a used carb in unknown condition instead of a new part for the same price that you knew was good and fix your problem ???????????

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

I have had a lot of boats, and worked on a lot of boats over the years, and having a spare carb was never a big deal nor needed. Probably because I had a good water separating fuel filter, changed it often and checked it for any signs of water when I took it off.
I had to rebuild one of my carbs once because the old accelerator pump wouldn't pump, but there was no water, no corrosion nothing wrong inside to need a new carb.
If you don't have a water separating fuel filter then yeah, you might want to stock pile some carbs. But for $30 for a filter kit, why?



So you would spend 80 bux on a used carb in unknown condition instead of a new part for the same price that you knew was good and fix your problem ???????????

So the prupose of the water fuel seperator kit is to keep corrosion down in carb? Who ever had the boat remove it and I am not running one. So this is a "must have"?

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

The 3.0L and 3.7L engines didn't come with them from the factory. Made 'em cost too much :facepalm:
With all the problems with ethanol, yes, the filters are mandatory (or should be).
Install one and change it yearly and ALWAYS check the contents of the old filter for water. How else are you going to know you have a problem starting?

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

So the prupose of the water fuel seperator kit is to keep corrosion down in carb? Who ever had the boat remove it and I am not running one. So this is a "must have"?

I am a boat "dummy" and learning as I go. I had a 1986 Bluewater and couldn't fix anything but had very little problems. This one is takinga little work getting up and running. I sure appreciate your help.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

I am a boat "dummy" and learning as I go. I had a 1986 Bluewater and couldn't fix anything but had very little problems. This one is takinga little work getting up and running. I sure appreciate your help.

The 3.7 is probably not the best engine for a "boat dummy" (sorry, your term) to have.
Might have a glance at this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=566372 so you know what some of the known problems are with that engine.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

The 3.7 is probably not the best engine for a "boat dummy" (sorry, your term) to have.
Might have a glance at this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=566372 so you know what some of the known problems are with that engine.

I have done a lot of reading on it up to this point and it sounds like it can be a stinker some rimes. It does charge well, hold temp well adn as far as I can tell seems to have not a lot of wear up to this point. I am sort of commited with it at this point and I guess it's an ooprtunity to learn more. I had a 5.7 Liter in the 1986 and besides the absolutely horrendous fuel economy it had reality no problems. I guess I will have to wait and see. There are some things at least in theory I do like. The closed coooling system for 1.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

As long as you are aware of it's short comings, and keep up with the basic PM maintenance it needs, the engine is fine and will serve you well. If you bought it thinking it was going to be a trouble free engine, well, that would have been a problem.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

As long as you are aware of it's short comings, and keep up with the basic PM maintenance it needs, the engine is fine and will serve you well. If you bought it thinking it was going to be a trouble free engine, well, that would have been a problem.

I paid 600 bucks for boat (cuddy cabin) and shorelander tandem axle trailer that had been in a barn for 7 years with bird poop that was an inch thick all over the boat. I knew there have been some big risks with this prchase and expected trouble. So far I have been able to overcome all of them. Hopefully that continues to be the case.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

Wait a minute here, I can not believe that you can not repair a broken off contact for more than a couple of bucks. C'mon folks a little ingenuity is needed here. Drill out the rivet holding the contact and solder in a wire and add a new connector. Learn how to FIX things!

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

Wait a minute here, I can not believe that you can not repair a broken off contact for more than a couple of bucks. C'mon folks a little ingenuity is needed here. Drill out the rivet holding the contact and solder in a wire and add a new connector. Learn how to FIX things!

Well it is as expected. The terminal is broekn off. I do not think this is something that can be repaired. It is a sealed unit. If it can, it is way above my skill set and I know enough to know it can't be fixed by me. So I need to look for another one. I have a freind that has 2 Mercruisers with cracked blocks. I hope he has this part on one of them.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

Here is the cover from right here at iboats for less than 75 bux. It shows out of stock, but call and find out if it's been restocked or they have a sub from another company.

http://www.iboats.com/18-7665-Choke...2631415--session_id.152138369--view_id.709106

Amazon has this for $65 bucks... Only one left in stock... (the sierra number is the same, but the picture looks different...)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=18-7665

Plug the number in a google search.... lots of options.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

Amazon has this for $65 bucks... Only one left in stock... (the sierra number is the same, but the picture looks different...)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=18-7665

Plug the number in a google search.... lots of options.

That looks completely different. Does anyone know if there is a cross reference to GM part #'s? it is stamped GM and I would bet that I cn the equivelant at auto parts store.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

That looks completely different. Does anyone know if there is a cross reference to GM part #'s? it is stamped GM and I would bet that I cn the equivelant at auto parts store.

Did you try the google search?

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

Did you try the google search?

I am woring on it. I am trying to avoid re-inventing the wheel. Perhaps someone else has ran into this.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

It's the wrong one, some actually work the opposite direction. When you get the right parts, things work together much better and you usually don't have to buy them twice.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

It's the wrong one, some actually work the opposite direction. When you get the right parts, things work together much better and you usually don't have to buy them twice.

Yeah I guess trying to save a few bucks isn't always the best path. You sometimes end up spending more.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

I am woring on it. I am trying to avoid re-inventing the wheel. Perhaps someone else has ran into this.

I have had a lot of boats, and worked on a lot of boats over the years, and having a spare carb was never a big deal nor needed. Probably because I had a good water separating fuel filter, changed it often and checked it for any signs of water when I took it off.

I really agree with Don on this. My last engine was over 20 years old. I thought the carb was the "problem" and needed rebuilding so I rebuilt it.
The only thing wrong with it was I destroyed the gaskets getting it apart. After 20+ years, it was absolutely "pristine" clean inside.


One thing you might try is adjusting the automatic choke "out of the picture" (fully and permanently OPEN) and then run the boat.

It will be a little harder to start when cold, but if your accelerator pump is working ok, you should still be able to get it started and once warmed up you won't need the choke at all.

Also, if you boat only in warm weather, you might not need it at all. (although you might have to increase the throttle a little in neutral while you warm up....)

I have operated my closed cooled 454/Bravo with the automatic choke adjusted full open and completely disconnected for 6 years now. I only use the boat in warm weather and other than having to pump it a few times during initial start-up, it's fine once it's warmed up.

If I was going to use the boat in cold enough weather to need the choke, I would probably re-connect it............



Cheers,


Rick

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

I really agree with Don on this. My last engine was over 20 years old. I thought the carb was the "problem" and needed rebuilding so I rebuilt it.
The only thing wrong with it was I destroyed the gaskets getting it apart. After 20+ years, it was absolutely "pristine" clean inside.


One thing you might try is adjusting the automatic choke "out of the picture" (fully and permanently OPEN) and then run the boat.

It will be a little harder to start when cold, but if your accelerator pump is working ok, you should still be able to get it started and once warmed up you won't need the choke at all.

Also, if you boat only in warm weather, you might not need it at all. (although you might have to increase the throttle a little in neutral while you warm up....)

I have operated my closed cooled 454/Bravo with the automatic choke adjusted full open and completely disconnected for 6 years now. I only use the boat in warm weather and other than having to pump it a few times during initial start-up, it's fine once it's warmed up.

If I was going to use the boat in cold enough weather to need the choke, I would probably re-connect it............



Cheers,


Rick

How do I go about trying this? It might be a good temporary fix.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 3.7 Black Smoke - Exhaust issue (I think) - Boat Ramp Hell

How do I go about trying this? It might be a good temporary fix.

Most all electric automatic chokes have a simple adjustment. You rotate the bimetallic heater coil housing CW or CCW to get the desired adjustment.

rotating too far in either direction will either make the choke operate all the time or not at all.

Here's an example with a picture of an electric automatic choke similar to yours. http://allcarbs.com/tech.php

The carb might not be the same or similar but the choke adjustment is the same.

If you do adjust the choke "out of the picture" ensure that you insulate the choke heater wire so it cannot touch anything.

It's powered all the time and will have 12v on it. tape it over or put some heat shrink tubing over the connector etc, to insulate it.