Engine wont run right

[surfer23505]

Have an Egg Harbor with twin 350 Crusaders I'm working on and am having problems with the port engine. At first thought it was the fuel filters because they were very clogged but after replacing them it still wont work. When you start it as long as you are holding the starter button it sounds fine but as soon as you let it go it dies. Had it running a bit a week ago and then for a few min today at 1200 rpm but slowly dropped back to 900 before dieing and haven't been able to get it to run at all at all since then. There was a bit of water in the different filters that we changed and we have added a water absorber additive to the gas but could there still be water in the carburetor causing this? Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated as it needs to be fixed so that we can sell it. Thanks for anything you can think of.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine wont run right

At first thought it was the fuel filters because they were very clogged

That right there tells Me that the Carb. is Probably Just as Full of Crap............

You might get by with a Rebuild Kit,...... If it's not Too Corroded......

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine wont run right

Here is a link on how to test the boats fuel system.

http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=24;gtid=1107009

A quick test would be to hook up an ouboard tank to the fuel pump and see how it runs.
If it won't run then, check the fuel pump pressure to the carb. As Bondo mentioned, if the filter was clogged (and I have no idea which filter you were referring to) you carb probably is too.
What was the filter clogged with? Water, dirt, rust, gel? ? ? ? ?

 

[surfer23505]

Re: Engine wont run right

actually i was referring to all of the filers. There are two filters on the line be fore it gets to the carb and then the one at the carb was also clogged. Also it was clogged with alot of some sort of dirt particles(not sure what as im not the one that changed it) in the one at the carb and there was also some sort of kinda white colored gunk and it was dug out of the carb side after the filter was removed. The other two had a mixture of just some sort of nasty brown trash, a bit of rust and a significant amount of water was in with them too. By why would it sound like it is running pretty good as long as the starter is still engaged but then immediately die when you release it?

 

[xtraham]

Re: Engine wont run right

check for voltage at the + side of the coil with the ignition in the run position, may be a bad ballast resistor or resistor wire, as the starter solenoid provides voltage only while cranking.

 

[surfer23505]

Re: Engine wont run right

ok can someone tell me what a ballast resistor is and where i would find it on a crusader 350? and when you say check it do you mean check the + wire going into it or on the top where it goes to the distributer?

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine wont run right

Who knows! We have no idea what year, make, model, carbed, EFI,electronic ignition, points ignition model numbers or anything about your engines. You may not even have them.

 

[surfer23505]

Re: Engine wont run right

ok found the ballast resistor and want to replace it but everywhere I look carries the one made by sierra but that once does not look the same as far as how it mounts but I have found this one http://www.jerrysmarine.com/cgi-local/show_page.cgi?page=987 (the bottom right item) that looks exactly like the one on there now but this place has none and have found no where else that sells it. Any suggestions?

 

[xtraham]

Re: Engine wont run right

napa,

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Engine wont run right

Did you check it, or just replacing it?

 

[tie_one_on]

Re: Engine wont run right

Hey surfer, you could just connect the wires on the resistor for a quick test. If it works probably any old style Mopar resister can be used. You can get those at any auto parts store. Look for one on a 1972 Dodge Dart.

 

[surfer23505]

Re: Engine wont run right

we didn't test it we don't have a voltmeter so we are just going with the its not very expensive so what the heck just replace them. And my problem with a new resistor is the way it mounts. all that i can find for sale are a whole going through the ceramic part whereas the one on it has a metal tab that the bold goes through so i don't know if the other kind will work.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Engine wont run right

You can by-pass it temporarily to see if the problem is resolved. Don't leave it by-passed permanently as it will cause points to burn and possible coil damage. But to prove a point...........

 

[Boatist]

Re: Engine wont run right

As others have said you will get better and more help if you tell us what Year, Make, Model, HP you have.

Merc's, Vovo, OMC are not the same and a 1972 is not the same as a 2007.

Different models may want different size balast resisters.

As other said you can short across the balast resister with a jumper wire for a short time to see if that is the problem. Long term it would cause the coil to over heat and go bad. So jumper acrossed the Balast with a jumper wire. If it runs normal then get the correct size resistor. How it mounts not really inportant but the resistance in OHMs is.

If you supply the information people need you will get more and better help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine wont run right

Ayuh,.......
Have you got the Carb rebuilt yet,..??..??....

I ask because, I'd think that you'd resolve a Known Issue,....
Before you go just Changing,... Whatever,... Without Testing,....
And causing possibly More Unknown Issues.......

It's entirely Possible that the Carb is Soo Plugged with Crap, that No amount of Fixing the Ignition is going to Help.....

we didn't test it we don't have a voltmeter

And,........
Get yourself some Tools,...........
A Simple Test Light would tell you if Power is Present........

 

[surfer23505]

Re: Engine wont run right

Well got down there today and was able to replace the resistor on the port engine and now it works fine so thanks fro all of your help i never would have thought of that one on my own.