boat died out on water... distributor cap??

[aggiedave98]

I had my '88 Invader 17.5' I/0 w/ the mercruiser 3.0L I-4. Here's what happened:<br /><br />Was out on the lake for 1-2 hours. It's the 2nd time out this season. I put a new Redline Weber carb on last year and it ran great. This was the 2nd time out this year. I had a problem w/ it stalling when trying to back off the trailer. Then it would stall sometimes when I put it into neutral. I had to start it several times over a few minutes, as I was pulling a skiier that kept falling.<br /><br />Then, it wouldn't start. Got towed in and now at home, I see this:<br /><br />The distributor cap seems to maybe have melted metal from the rotor (?) on the metal terminals inside. Does it make sense that w/ the melted metal on there, I wouldn't be getting a spark and that's my problem? I didn't get a chance to try it b/c it was raining when I brought it home so I couldn't work on it that day and that was last weekend.<br /><br />I have not adjusted the timing over the past 4 years. I did have a problem before the new carb and even after it a little of the engine running a few seconds after I would turn it off, so I started running higher (93) octane at the advice of a friend.<br /><br />I ordered all new ignition components and plant to replace the coil, dist. cap, rotor, points, condensor, and wires. Then, adjust the valves, and set the timing.<br /><br />Any advice?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Check the shift interupter switch. It may be sticking.<br />If your motor keeps running after shut down it is most likely idled to high.

 

[pvisser]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Just a thought, I had similar issues last year, turned out to be the water seperator filter was full of water.<br /><br />Can't hurt to check

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

What is the shift interrupter switch? I have a SOLEC (chilton) Mercruiser manual, but didn't see it w/ a quick skim through the index. What does it do? Thanks for the help.<br /><br />BTW, I just looked again at the dist. cap and rotor and I don't see where that metal looking stuff came from b/c the rotor is a goldish metal and the "melted metal" in the distributor cap is silver looking.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

I just put on the water fuel separator last year (for some reason there wasn't one on my boat to begin with) and haven't replaced the filter yet. Somebody told me you can just dump out the water. Is that true or do you have to get a new one?

 

[Don S]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Do a full tuneup and use a new filter element. Once full of water, they don't work very well.<br />Then your boat will probably work.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Another related question... I never put Stabil in the fuel (for some dumb reason) before storing it (because I'm in Houston and can pretty much boat year-round). <br /><br />Should I syphon out all my gas or do you think it's ok to run on the old gas??

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Hi aggiedave98, welcome to i-boats!!<br /><br />If you have the type of seperator that has a bowl underneath then it is a type of filter that performs two functions. It seperates the water from the fuel and it filters out particles in the fuel. You need to check the bowl regularly and yes, dump out any water that has acumulated. <br /><br />The filter should be replaced as part of your regular maintenance schedule.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Dunaruna, Thanks!! I've got an old '89 suburban that I work on and my '88 boat (I bought both from my best friend's dad... it's the boat and suburban that I grew up on... he got them when I was 12...). I post and read all the time at 67-72chevytrucks.com and just asked them about a good boating site. <br /><br />So far, this one looks great!! Thanks to everybody for all the advice!<br /><br />I put in the separator that looks like a big GM oil filter. It screws off. Then, I think I have the filter in the fuel pump (I replaced the fuel pump last year). <br /><br />Which filter are you talking about that should be replaced?

 

[QC]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Don is talking about the standard screw on filter, without the glass bowl that it sounds like you have replaced. Looks like an oil filter It is a seperating element i.e. water from fuel. It does fill up though because it doesn't have a drain. You probably don't have the type that Dunaruna is refering to, they're very obvious and rarely even optional on our small lake boats here.<br /><br />I still don't understand the melted distributor cap/rotor thing.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Quietcat,<br /><br />Do you mean the glass type filters are "rarely an option by the dealer" or "almost always a requirement?" Sorry if I'm confused by your wording...<br /><br />For the distributor cap, see pics at:<br /><br /> http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dsd7734/album?.dir=/1222 <br /><br />or if that doesn't work, go to:<br /><br /> http://photos.yahoo.com/dsd7734 then click on "temp boat pics"<br /><br /><br />see the stuff that almost looks like melted solder??

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

I don't have my manuals here (at home) and can't remember for sure....but I think that carb has a filter in the fuel inlet, if it does...replace it. As for the "melted metal" that sounnds like corrosion on the contacts. As Don said, start at the beginning and do a full tune up. It needs to be done, and when finished, if your problem is still there it eliminates many items from the checklist.

 

[QC]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Aggie-dude. I can't recall ever seeing a $100 - $200 fuel water seperator (usually a Racor make) on a runabout. They are almost standard with a diesel. Most of those botas run above 30 ft. though. I understand the confusion about optional as possibly meaning standard, but basically I would be very surprised if any of the gasoline (petrol for Dunaruna) boaters here have one.

 

[Don S]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

I still don't understand the melted distributor cap/rotor thing.

I think he was reffering to the corrosion on the terminal ends inside the cap. The corrosion looks like metal dripping off the contacts.

 

[QC]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Roger Don.<br /><br />I just got through replacing the rotor on my 2001 6.2 Mercruiser and the correct procedure for removing the rotor includes hitting it with a torch to break down the locktite they use. What a f@#$%d-up deal that is . . . I had to get mine hot enough to catch on fire, so I was thinking of similar when he noted the melt look. I am sure aggiedave doesn't have that cluster; his probably lifts right off like any other normal rotor.<br /><br />I can't beleive that the Merc legal dept. has blessed using a torch right next to fuel lines etc. Jeeeezzz.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

From what you say it sounds like normal wear on the cap and rotor. You can clean the contacts with a nail file for temporary improvement but they need to be changed right away. While your at it go for plugs and wires. The timing should not need adjustment just from use. Timing won't just get off. You said your changing the points. Make sure to set the dwell and the gap. Then check the timing. <br />If it ran good before I wouldn't mess with the valves. Again this is something that during normal use shouldn't need any maintenance. <br />How much gas was in it and how long did it set? Smell it and look at it. If it is dark colored or smells funky then go ahead and drain it. If it is still light colored and smells good then use it up. The problem with draining the gas, what are you going to do with it after you drain it? You don't want to dump it down the drain.

 

[jlinder]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Just a note on how you can get caught with the unexpected.<br /><br />I did a tune up and replaced all the standard componants. Seemed fine. Took boat out and on the lake it died.<br /><br />Got it to start, then later it died again. After a lot of work managed to get it going. Back to dock. Could not find a problem, no matter what I tried. Worked fine every time I worked on it, died on the lake.<br /><br />Traced finaly to a defective rotor. It was new, but the link from the center to the edge was loose.<br /><br />Take your time, check it all, and don't rule out a part just because it is new.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

thanks for all the help... going out there now to replace everything... won't both adjusting the valves now. will let you know.<br /><br />btw, the water/fuel separator was full so that could be why it died in the first place.

 

[Don S]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Originally posted by aggiedave98:<br /> <br />btw, the water/fuel separator was full so that could be why it died in the first place.

You mean it was full of water???? Yea, that would cause it to stop. Plus it filled your carb full of water also and the line to the carb and the fuel pump.<br />You might want to consider pumping the water out of your fuel tank before start the engine again.<br />This can be done by removeing the fuel tank pickup tube, and using an electric fuel pump with some small diameter tubing and hose to go into the pickup hole and pump out the water from the bottom of the tank, Then clean the rest of the system also<br />PS. Lift the front of the boat so the back of the tank is lower than the front so the water all drains goes to the low spot.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: boat died out on water... distributor cap??

Well, I'm officially the world's dumbest boater...<br /><br />IT WAS A FULL WATER/FUEL SEPARATOR FILTER!!!