'88 3.0 crank, spark, fuel, timing, but no start

[Nick Bain]

I have spent hours and days on this and have been through every manual and test I can find, and I cant get it to start. points, timing, condensor, ignition switch, safety switch, coil, spark, carburator, fuel pump, float, fuses, correct wiring. Using a fluke 179 and I work professionally on packaging machinery. The last thing I checked was the wires to the alternator, the ballast wire is good. There was no marking on the alternator so I just swapped the two purple and purple/red wires and went to start but batt was low, Put on the charger. Finger crossed for tomorrow. But just wanted to get this out now, heres to wishfull thinking, as I bought this boat for $1600 and its a 88 19' bayliner capri cuddy. That came with everything, including a running kicker and decent trailer, so hopefully It wont be a total loss, if I decide to give up as I am at the last things to check.

Everything is in good shape so Im thinking its gotta be something easy, but then again its an 88 that has not ran for a couple years, so maybe theres a deeper issue, but most things have checked out.

 

[Bondo]

and I cant get it to start. points, timing, condensor, ignition switch, safety switch, coil, spark, carburator, fuel pump, float, fuses, correct wiring.

Ayuh,..... Fuel, Fire, Compression, All at the Right Time is what it takes,......

Do the spark plugs tell you yer gettin' all 4 things,..??

 

[Nick Bain]

I have a spark indicator that is lighting up and have timed it to #1 tdc with rotor at #1 plug. the only other thing is that I put a new condenser on it but kept the points, I just read last night the SELOC manual says the rules are to replace both as they are a matched set.

 

[Bondo]

I have a spark indicator that is lighting up

Ayuh,..... If you pull the spark plugs after tryin' to start it,....
They'll be wet with gas, or dry as a popcorn fart,.....

If they're Dry,..... Figure out why it ain't gettin' fuel,.....
If they're Wet,.... It ain't firin', or is way outa time,......
Or,.....
The motor don't have any compression,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

as I bought this boat for $1600 and its a 88 19' bayliner capri cuddy. That came with everything, including a running kicker and decent trailer, so hopefully It wont be a total loss, if I decide to give up as I am at the last things to check.

Everything is in good shape so Im thinking its gotta be something easy, but then again its an 88 that has not ran for a couple years, so maybe theres a deeper issue, but most things have checked out.

first, its a 31 year old bayliner, check the hull for rot

next, being a 89 3.0, verify your points are serviced. file them, gap them, verify dwell between 28 and 32 degrees, and verify timing.

 

[Nick Bain]

still no start, checked the rotor position and it wont come off, its stuck on there, wonder if someone screwed it up before me.

 

[Scott Danforth]

no, the old mercruiser recommendation was to glue the rotors on. squeeze it with pliers to crack it, it will come off.

 

[Nick Bain]

ok hey yall so Im just gonna buy a tune up kit and a coil. an old timer I talked to said its probably the coil, even though it tested good with a meter. Does any one have a good source for these parts can I buy merc parts since it supposedly the same 3.0? Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

I have a spark indicator that is lighting up and have timed it to #1 tdc with rotor at #1 plug. the only other thing is that I put a new condenser on it but kept the points,

Ayuh,..... You said it has spark,....... how could the coil be bad,..??..??