Boat will not Idle.

[XWIND11]

Hello All,

First new boater, I do not know the exact engine but is a 6 cyl. GM with a 2 barrel carb. and alpha one outdrive. The problem I have is that when I go to start the boat on the muffs I have to go full throttle to start it then I can back it off a little but when I put the handle all the way up the engine cuts off I think it should be idle. I just bought the boat and never had it in the water, just want to make sure all is good before I take it out.Sorry the question is so bland but just let me know what else you need to answer the question and I will try my best to get it.

Thank you in advance....

 

[jtybt]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

Ayuh! You're just gonna have to learn about boats...or be a very good swimmer. Get a service manual. There's a lot to learn.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

The problem I have is that when I go to start the boat on the muffs I have to go full throttle to start it then I can back it off a little but when I put the handle all the way up the engine cuts off I think it should be idle.

Ayuh,... It Should idle.... I'd guess you probably have a Carb issue,....

 

[Don S]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

Ayuh! You're just gonna have to learn about boats...or be a very good swimmer. Get a service manual. There's a lot to learn.

Are you planning on repeating what every one else says around here to gain post count or what?????

A bunch of "I agrees" and "what he said" and "Exactly" is also not necessary.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jtybt
Ayuh! You're just gonna have to learn about boats...or be a very good swimmer. Get a service manual. There's a lot to learn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you planning on repeating what every one else says around here to gain post count or what?????

A bunch of "I agrees" and "what he said" and "Exactly" is also not necessary.

'ell Don,.... That's how I've gotten to 23,261,...

Don,.... Meet My ole friend Charlie,....
Charlie has been like furniture over at boatered since Way before you or I found this place,...
I posted there when I first found forums,... Charlie helped me learn the ropes of posting,+ covered my butt a few times,....(Much like you have done/ still do)
Once I found iboats,... I stayed here, occasionally wandering over there, but of course,....
iboats is Home for me...

Anyways,....
As I told Charlie the other day,...
Sometimes I have to scrach my head after reading some of his posts,....
But that don't make 'em all Wrong either.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

OK, I can deal with that, sorry Charlie! Didn't (still don't) know who you are, but if bondo says you're ok, you're ok with me.
Never posted at boatered, but did become a member there in May 2004.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

You most likely have carburetor issues. Does your carb have one or 2 idle screws? A quick (but not always working) check would be to turn the idle screw(s) in all the way GENTLY do not force steel screws in to base metal carb.
Then re set at 1 1/2 - 2 turns out. See if this helps idle.

Does it bog or die if you try to rev it up? How low can you get it to stay running?

Other thing could be points. If they are closed up it takes a some RPMs to keep them "bouncing" to run.

But as posted above You NEED the correct factory manual, some engine savvy and/or a friend who can help.

Please be aware that sometimes (if you have little or no experience) it is best to seek a good marine mechanic to start out.

 

[XWIND11]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

You most likely have carburetor issues. Does your carb have one or 2 idle screws? A quick (but not always working) check would be to turn the idle screw(s) in all the way GENTLY do not force steel screws in to base metal carb.
Then re set at 1 1/2 - 2 turns out. See if this helps idle.

Does it bog or die if you try to rev it up? How low can you get it to stay running?

Other thing could be points. If they are closed up it takes a some RPMs to keep them "bouncing" to run.

But as posted above You NEED the correct factory manual, some engine savvy and/or a friend who can help.

Please be aware that sometimes (if you have little or no experience) it is best to seek a good marine mechanic to start out.

Im no sure about screws ill check tomm. but it starts strong at full throttle when I move the throttle it adjust perfectly fine until I get about 1/3 from the handle being straight up then it just shuts off but if I put the throttle back down alittle before the engine stops completely it will keep running. ill check Rpms tomm.

 

[XWIND11]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

I will change the filters tomm an let you know what happens.

Thank you

 

[proxyx]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

most likely you need to open and clean the carb. You may try removing idle screw and blowing some wd40 into it. Careful with spilling gas. If no help, crack the carb open.

 

[jtybt]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

Sorry Don,
Maybe I was just kissin' some butt, tryin' to agree. I don't seem to have a whole lot of credibility around here.

If you've read any of my answers, most try to explain the process a little more than just a yes/no answer. You have some guys here that try to explain in detail, too. That's informative to more than just the one asking a question or looking for answers. Sometimes just agreeing with a good answer to a question or problem makes the reader feel like he got a good solution to a problem.

I think bill started posting on the other site about 2002 and we hit it off right away. We thought alike.


So...enuff brown nosing for tonite.

 

[XWIND11]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

well everyone thanks for the help but I desided to just let the proffesional do what they are paid to do since im going to have my family out on this thing I want everything done right im also going to get all the bellows changed and the impeller done.

xwind

 

[EricKit]

Re: Boat will not Idle.

I just had your exact problem and fixed it today. I thought it was my carb, but after cleaning it out a bit and running some cleaner through it (which probably helped some), it still did the same thing. I ended up cleaning the contacts which make the spark plug spark and it worked! They were not making good contact so I guess the spark wasn't strong enough for that little amount of gas in it. I took a nail file to them to clean them. Other than that, cleaning the carb isn't too bad. A good first step is to remove the air filter (one bolt), run the engine and spray some carb cleaner into the intakes.