888 nothing but Idle RPM

[johnzonh]

well I tried to post this yesterday..guess something happened.

anyway,I need some input on this. We had been running fine with our 888 ..pulling skiers..tubes,etc...now I'm running into what seems to be a fuel issue. 1st I have an awful time getting it to idle smoothly..checked timing and idle speed just to bring it up a bit...and all I still get is nothing much more than about 1000 rpm before it either doesn't go any faster or just DIES, either in gear or not. Also notice it takes a long time to get it to idle without dying after being cold. I did spray down the choke just to make sure it wasn't impeded. I do notice that after trying to nudge the throttle a bit..it wants to TRY to go faster..then goes back to a very low RPM or just DIES.

Yeah, it was loads of fun yesterday, had throttle full forward and the fastest we went was ...well..good enough for the NO WAKE zone.

need some help on this one...Im not burning oil or water, prop is in good shape.

john

 

[sea flower]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

Boy, I'm reading an awful lot about no power. I'm telling you all that the gas they're selling us is bad. I just went through my carburetor problem. the whole chasing the power issue cost me nearly $2000. Fortunately i can work on the boat myself. I've seen the bills from other with the same problem getting to $5000. Time to pull your gas line system and clean it. If you have a carburetor rebuild it to. Read other posts that say "no power"

 

[Alpheus]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

Check your fuel pressure and fuel filters. The symptoms you are describing sounds like lack of fuel...

 

[wire2]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

Does it have a shift assist switch?

 

[captk]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

You also might open up the distributor and check the advance weights to see if they are frozen.

 

[johnzonh]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

hmm ok...will check the distributor. oh no shift assist on this one. I will replace the filter as well. .

 

[Don S]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

oh no shift assist on this one. .

If you have a Mercruiser 888 (the only company that made an engine called an 888) and you have a Mercruiser 1 drive, then you have a shift interrupt system.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

The shift interrupt has no bearing on your problem....
A shift assist is generally associated with a OMC....
Anyway, I have not read anywhere in your post that you changed/checked the water separating fuel filter....
That is the first place I would look.....
If that checks OK, take the fuel line that goes from the separator to the carb off & check the screen at the fuel inlet at the carb.....
If all of that checks OK, then I would get a portable gas can with fresh gas & plumb it into the line to the separator, thus by-passing the fuel tank & see if it solves your problem...
If it does, you need to look at the tank, anti-siphon, pick-up, vent, etc.....

It would not hurt to check the distributer advance with a timing light & to inspect the cap, rotor, etc as well....
Hope this helps.....
Post back with your results.....

 

[johnzonh]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

aye I know its getting serious when the heavyweights ring in thanks for the input folks. anyway... the fuel /water sep was replaced 2 yrs ago..since then had little use (I would say we added about 5 hours to the engine)

It has two tanks..have inspected both for the vent issues. I will certainly try to narrow down where the blockage is coming from ...with your guidance. It certainly sounds to me that everyone is leading me toward something that is gonna need some searching..but thats ok. At least I know that the engine runs like a charm when its not fuel starved. BTW I did check timing and the points , cap,rotor....etc...all are in good shape.. no odd misfirings. I will keep you all posted.

john

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 888 nothing but Idle RPM

The separator gets changed at least once a year, no matter what.....