'78 OMC 2.5 wont run.........HELP

[poppasmurff]

Ok heres the scoop. I recently bought a '78 cobia w/120 GMC and a 400 OMC outdrive. I purchased this boat from an elrly gentelman who would only go out once in a while to tool around to his fishing spots on the river behind his house. He had pulled the originale fuel tank and replaced it with a 5gal john-boat tank, it seamed to work but 5 gal was kinda small for me so I replaced it with an 18 gal fuel tank. I have since found out that my distributer shaft has lateral play and to try and adjust the points is immpossible . When I got the boat it started on the first try and ran ok but seemed to be lacking in RPM at WOT.(3600-3800), and now the boat won't even start...it will fire but run rough and stalls right away. Is this consistant with the points/distributor issue? We were out on the boat a week ago and were enjoying the day when it seemed to run outta fuel. I checked and fuel tank not empty but boat would not re-start.....killed the starter. this issue is plaging me now. HELP!!!

 

[chiefalen]

Re: '78 OMC 2.5 wont run.........HELP

This new fuel i heard messed up alot of old tanks.Thye were filber glassed lined or whatever.

Yes you need a new dist. or a good used one. I see them on e-bay all the time. Just saw one yesterday do a search omc dist.

I'm surprised it ran to 3800.

Maybe someone will come bye that has one

Good luck

 

[chiefalen]

Re: '78 OMC 2.5 wont run.........HELP

Heres one thats on e-bay a real bargain does it fit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Part...diZ2823QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p4506.m20.l1116

 

[poppasmurff]

Re: '78 OMC 2.5 wont run.........HELP

Well am looking into the distributor problem also rebuilt the carb,replaced the plugs and am waiting on some plug wires a cap and rotor. After the carb rebuild, motor ran great for about 20 sec.....I think The ignition is weak....and loss of spark is what my issue is.