Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

[R.Johnson]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Kentt: The low speed jet's should'nt effect the way the engine starts. Try this since your right there at the carb's anyway. With the air intake cover off, turn the key on and hit the choke switch, the choke plates should go completely closed. Check the manual choke lever back at the engine, it should be in the middle position, if it is pushed all the way in, this will keep the electric choke from working. Make sure the warm-up position of the throttle is correct. While looking back at the engine, move the warm-up lever to it's full position, you should see the throttle linkage at the engine move. While in this position, look at the throttle linkage at the engine. The throttle cam roller should be at the second notch, or start position on the throttle cam. When trying to start the engine, make sure the carb's are completely full by using the primer bulb, hold the choke in, and hold until the engine starts. You can do this test, and make any adjustments by running on a hose. If the above conditions are correct, or have been corrected, the engine should start right up, and I'll bet it will. Let me know what you find.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

RJ:<br /><br />Today I went out to finish some painting for my appraisal and went to the outside corner of the garage where my boat is and started hearing buzzing around me. I found that in the last 24 to 48 hours a bees nest has formed where I need to build steps to my office above the garage. The damn bees won't let me near my boat or go up the ladder to the deck where the stairs need to be built. I had to close off my garage and fog it becasue of a dozen or so bees that got in there yesterday. <br /><br />Needless to say trying to start the boat is not an option at the moment. I will do exactly as you suggest when I can get to the engine. By taking off the parts that I have, the throttle linkage is no longer being held in place. The best I can do is check the choke at this point. Also remember tht I have the 59C's on one side of the carbs and the 54C's on the other. But, now that I think about that should have nothing to do with the low speed jets and starting the boat should it?<br /><br />Any bee suggestions. I will wait till after midnight when it is around 50 degrees and they are, in theory, not active and see what I can see. I do not like bees.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

I just went out to the boat as it is getting dark and the bees have settled down. As I said I can't check the throttle because the throttle cable is not secure do to removing the holding bracket to get the parts off.<br /><br />I was able to see the choke. There are three carbs as you know. The top carb does not have a butterfly in it at all. The other two open and close when I push the choke switch. I looked at the manual choke plate and it only has two directions, on and off.<br /><br />Great I just turned on the PAX channel and it is a SCI-FI flick about killer bees.<br /><br />Ken

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

If anyone needs parts for a powerhead rebuild for this engine I think I still have the crank and other parts here. I was going to list them on ebay.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

If anyone needs parts for a powerhead rebuild for this engine I think I still have the crank and other parts here. I was going to list them on ebay.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

If you want the choke plate for that upper carb, send the two numbers on the front of the carb(part and size) and I'll pull the parts off one of my spares.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

ezeke:<br /><br />Thanks for the offer. Let me ask a question first. Take a a look at the first picture that I have of my carbs. You will see that the butterfly plate is simply not there. Do I need this or is the setup that you see normal? If this is contributing to the starting problem I'll take you up on your offer. If not thanks for the offer. The carb number is 322021. Let me know if you have one lying around.<br /><br />Now everyone cringe. I have been reading about how often the water pump or impeller should be changed and I know that mine has not been changed for about 12-14 years. <br /><br />I used the boat the weekend before for 2 hours on the Resevoir and it ran and cooled fine. I will check this carefully the next time and see how it is functioning. I read the SOLEC manual today about dropping the lower end and replacing the pump. It does not look difficult. <br /><br />I have not done anything like this since I rebuilt a lower unit on a 15 horse Mercury Mark something or other 40 years ago. I think I may need some electro shock treatment to revive those dormant brain cells.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

The good news is that the JETS are in. They are a 54C as ordered. I hope to be able to get them tomorrow or the next day. I'll see how the engine runs at least on a flush system. I probabley won't be able to get it to the Resevoir until next week. <br /><br />After I get the jets in and put the engine back together I'll see how it starts. I am going to take your advice and hold the choke and not let it up to see if that is the way to start it. When I have done that before it did not fire consistantly at all.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Change that water pump impeller before you end up spending the rest of the summer picking and flushing pieces of the the impeller out of your cylinder head water channels.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

First things first. The jets are installed and I got the motor running. The lower carb on the port side was a ***** to get to. There seems to be a gas leak that I need to check on tommorow. I saw a puddle of gas under the carbs. As I said I need to look at that. <br /><br />What is the correct idle speed on a flush set up for these? I seem to be idleing at about 1000 rpm when I pull push down the warm up throttle.<br /><br />R.Johnson if you are around. Would you explain where the part you were talking about here is:<br />"The throttle cam roller should be at the second notch, or start position on the throttle cam."

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Do impellers deteriorate over time? Remember this engine does not have 100 hours total on the powerhead rebuild. I know that the impeller was changed then. The impeller may be old but it has virtually no use on it. How do I check to see that it is working before dropping the lower unit? Remember I used it for a couple of hours with no problem the third week in May. <br /><br />I do understand that the engine has been sitting outside in the mountains of Colorado for many years. That is why I am asking the question.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

It is excellent practice to change the water pump every couple of years. You can check the lower unit out at the same time. You should get the whole pump kit, not just the impeller.

The leak from the carbs is probably from a loose or broken hose clamp. With the engine off, put a little steady pressure on the primer bulb and watch the hoses.

According to Ralph's Law (which posits that Murphy was an optimist) the bad clamp will be at the center of the float bowl and therefore, the most difficult to reach.

If you want that missing choke part for the top carb, send an address to and I will mail it out tomorrow.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

This is a perfect example of Ralph's law. I went to copy your email address after writing a reply and my reply was deleted without it being posted. Ralph's law is good! See, it works.<br /><br />As for the fuel lines, I'll check them tomorrow. I've replaced a couple once already. The guy who rebuilt the engine used the type of plastic ties that you use to hold wires together as a hose clamps. I did notice that one of those still remain. I replaced all of the others with metal adjustable hose clamps.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Ralph is my kind of philosopher - never disappoints me.<br /><br />BTW - Part is in the mail.<br /><br />With all due respect to the others on this site, if you use metal clamps, make sure that they are stainless steel.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

ezeke:<br /><br />Thaks for the carb plate before it arrives. That is very good advice to use stinless steel metal clamps. <br /><br />The boat starts easily now, again it is at the extra 800 feet lower altitude so the real test will be in the Resevoir higher. I hope to test it by the beggining of the week. <br /><br />Where should I be looking to see where the water is suppose to come out of the water pump to show that it is working? I know that it is below the powerhead on the outside of the engine, but I don't know where. I don't see much when the boat is using just the flush system.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Wondering if your jets worked? <br /><br />If the thermostat is functional, the flow from the two relief ports just under the cowl is irregular as the thermostat kicks in and out, otherwise the flow will be fairly steady. When running on the lake, you should observe a steady flow from the ports.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Not to butt-in here guys, but I see mention of "Not advancing the timing". This is incorrect info for proper running.<br />For your vintage, 1 deg advance per 3 thousand feet in elevation was and is recommended for ignition systems prior to the OIS systems.<br />we spent almost 30 yrs working with OMC in the Denver area, and tested some models up at Dillon (9000ft).<br />Also, I would be very careful using 3 new jets and 3 old, or used jets because over time, the atmospheric dust enlarges the orfices causing a richer mixer and a tough time fine-tuning.<br />Good luck.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

walleyhead:<br /><br />That is interesting. So if I am at about 8000 I should be about 2.67 degrees advanced, correct? <br /><br />I know where Dillon Resevoir is. It is just after you get through the Eisnhower Tunnel comming up from Denver. I have to drive past every time I go to Denver, which is not often.<br /><br />I was even thinking of taking this boat over there after I get the bugs out of it. I am also thinking of going to Blue Mesa where it is about the same altitude. That is over by Gunnison. You remember Gunnison don't you. Every time you look for the coldest spot in the state/country in the winter that is the town that pops up.<br /><br />As for the three new and old jets. The old jets are new in that I never installed them. They were in an envelope in my garage. I didn't want to run an engine with mixed jet sizes. Now they are all the same size and the jets are new.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

Finally a test... Disaster..<br /><br />I took the boat up today. It took the usual 1/2 hour to get it started. I am glad that I charged the battery. When I took the boat out with the new jets it was a disaster. Only once did it get up to full throttle and hit 5000 rpm. It ran fine, than the same problem only worse. It stalled at least 25-30 times. I had to limp it back into the dock after being stuck with a lightning storm coming in the middle of the Resevoir. It stalled whenever I tried to accelerate. I finally just loaded the boat back up and went home. I am a bit disgusted at the moment.<br /><br />I am thinking that there is something wrong in the fuel system. I may have to check the pump, and rebuild the carbs. I have a new fuel line on now. How do I check to see if the pump is working? It does not seem to make sense that it accelerates and runs better with the older low altitude jets. I am wondering if there is dirt in the carbs. I put some fuel cleaner in the tank after all the stalling.

 

[kntutt]

Re: Altitude Tuning/ Jet Size

ezeke:<br /><br />Thanks for the carb plate.