Changed Plug wires and distro cap - now boat will not start

[alldodge]

Re: Changed Plug wires and distro cap - now boat will not start

DSWI, I haven't set idle speed and actually didn't know I needed to. I will look in the stickies to see if there is a procedure there. Any guidance would be appreciated.

We did check for spark when at the pier the day the problem occurred and my buddy said that he saw nothing. I did not recheck when I got the boat back home. I just reversed the plug wires from plug to distribution cap and tried to restart. At that point engine ran fine again. Is there anything obvious that I am missing that would allow an engine to run on the. Jeff's just fine but not allow the engine to start sitting pierside?

Sounding like there is a loose connection somewhere. Moving plug wires around should do noting except make it run bad if they become out of order. So I take it the engine is now running but may need to set idle?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Changed Plug wires and distro cap - now boat will not start

So, does it run on muffs, but not when in the water?

 

[halcrimm]

Re: Changed Plug wires and distro cap - now boat will not start

Correct, the boat runs on the muffs fine but would not start when I had it in the water last week. The first two times I put it in the water it started fine. The only time it stalled and gave me any trouble was when I had to slow for a no wake zone and when I had to slow to enter the boat launch. I will look in the manual again for setting the idle. My neighbor, (mechanic), played with the carberator adjustment screws the day before I tried putting it in the water. I don't know if the carb is just not adjusted correctly.

Are the tools needed to set timing usually available for rent?

 

[dswi]

Re: Changed Plug wires and distro cap - now boat will not start

To set timing you need a timing light (obviously)...you can probably buy one for pretty cheap. I would set the dwell (point gap)(if you have points) before you set timing. (Dwell can be set with feeler gages and checked with a dwell meter). You will also need a 9/16" (I believe) to loosen the distributor so you can turn it. I have read that to set the fuel mixture you just adjust the screw until you get bad running one way then go through good running to bad running the other way (counting the number of turns) and split the difference of turns. Read the FSM to make sure though, on your particular model of engine.
You need to set dwell, timing, idle mix, and idle speed. If your neighbor is a mechanic, he should (should) have a dwell meter and timing light that you can use. It would be a good investment for you though since, I assume you plan to have the boat for some time...your financial decision though.