Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

[RWilson2526]

1987 Wellcraft 18' - 3.0 liter alpha 1 drive.
Have had boat about 6 weeks. put about 20 hours total on it. Supposedly rebuilt engine in 2001.


Had been running and starting very well since I've owned it. noticed a slight change in sound as cruising along at 3000 rpm and a drop in of 1 or 2 mph. It was a subtle change and I actually thought to myself that the engine actually sounded better.......as I'm thinking this the power drops off, I throttle down and the engine sputters and coughs. I bring it to idle as it coughs some more. Fortunately after being as far as 25 miles away from where we were camping we are only less than a mile from the ramp. I cough and sputter back to the ramp at idle speed where it stalls literally with just enough forward motion to gentlly bring me up to the dock.

After getting the trailer just for the heck of it I try to start the engine where I get kind of screeching belt sound you might hear on an old car starting. so I abandon trying to start it.


So then as cranking it up the winch strap lets go at the hook......

So now I'm so beside myself that I start to pull the boat out with the drive still down. no damage

Any way...... I cant put any more big money into this boat as it is pretty old and I have spent a fair share on some general maintenance (bellows, gimbal bearing,) and some cosmetic stuff.

We just got back tonight so the only thing I had anytime to do was pull the dipstick and see that the oil still looked brand new.

Looking for a game plan to diagnose the situation. Unlike most other posters I dont know anything about car engines or boat engines but I do have resources for most tools required. If you could be gentle with your suggestions ....dont assume I know a darn thing.

I'm assuming the first step is going to be to pull the spark plugs and look for water?

thanks in advance for everyones help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Ayuh,.......
I guess I'd start with the Fuel Filters,.......
And,...... If No Joy,..........
Then on to the rest of the Fuel Delivery System.....

 

[qaztwo]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

At least you made it back to the dock.

 

[wire2]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

That's an easy 1st step, But if oil is good, I expect plugs are clean too.

You may have a blocked fuel tank vent. If you run it again and it starts to cough, undo the filler cap momentarily. Cured?

Next, I'd try to determine if you have fuel coming to the carb.

If you temporarily remove the wire(s) from the + terminal of the coil, you'll have no sparks.
Then remove the line into the carb, slide a piece of hose over the line & into a plastic bottle. Hit the start for 2 seconds, there should be several ounces of gas in the bottle.

If not, the fuel filter is a quick guess, or varnish in the tank, then fuel pump.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Well this soundsl like a glimmer of hope!! I'll try those things and get back to you guys. Thanks

 

[MikDee]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Why was it screeching, when you tried to start it? Is your fanbelt loose? did you notice if it was charging? or if it was overheating? either one of these will shut your motor down quick.

 

[BRG25]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

You need fuel, spark and compression. Which one is missing?

 

[thrasher]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

BRG, Don't forget you also need Money!! Lot's of it..

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Why was it screeching, when you tried to start it? Is your fanbelt loose? did you notice if it was charging? or if it was overheating? either one of these will shut your motor down quick.

Yea, the screeching belt on the last time I tried to restart it kind of took me by surprise. Things happened kind and I didnt have the presence of mind at the time to check voltage or temp as things went down. (water temp gauge is actually broken and havent had a chance to get to that item yet) I have on previous outings brought a laser temp gun with me and all seemed well in the recent past temp wise. Also when I took the cover off I did not get a sense the engine was radiating any serious level of heat.

I also put in a new alternator a few weeks ago so I had been keeping my eye on voltage recently and all seemed well there.

Going to go home tonight and put on the muffs and see what I can figure out.

 

[Pulse121]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Dunno about boats but I've seen accessory, belt driven, parts on cars lock up (A/C pump, power steering pump, alternators, etc) and stall out the engine.

The engine is trying to drive a belt around a shaft instead of a pully, so it ends up stalling.

Might want to check and make sure everything turns freely (I'd take the belts off to check).

Other then that I'm way to green to be of use.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Ok - got home kind of late but had a little time. Engine actually started on the first try....still sounds rough but did start right up. Attached is a video to get an idea of what it sounds like. ( sorry for the quality but I guess it is the sound thats important)

Second thing I noticed is that I dont have a fuel filter? see attached pic.

I did remove the gas cap and got no difference so I guess the vent line is clear.

BTW I do have a flame arrestor I had just taken it off to get a look at carb, not that I know what I'm looking at.

going to try pulling fuel line off at carb and see what I get out when turning over as suggested.

Will also try to pull fuel pick up out of tank and get a look at that.

If everyone is in agreement I will keep focused on the fuel system.


http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc48/Rwilson2526/?action=view&current=MOV04899.flv

 

[cbear34]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

I am an auto mechanic by trade. Just started to work on my own boat. I could not tell by the video but your fuel filter might be at the inlet of the carb. On auto engines the fuel filter is inserted in the carburetor. Check that or post a pic of your carb setup.

 

[wire2]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

All that variation in rpm was by itself? You didn't adjust the throttle?

After hearing that, I'm inclined to suggest you pull the distributor cap off and look at the inside surface under a good light. You may see a crack or some carbon tracking in there.
Inspect the rotor too.

If all looks good, spray some plain water on the top of the coil to see if it falters when running.

If there isn't one hidden somewhere, you should add a water separating fuel filter between the tank and pump.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

no that was me throttling up and down a few times. just trying to show that it was consistent throughout the range of rpms

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

cbear - pic attached of carb...just pulled out my manual (no not the real one) and saw that the filter is in the carburator....I was loooking for one of those canister types between the tank and the fuel pump. Will pull that out and take a look.

 

[cbear34]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

The filter should be where the metal line attaches to the carb. The big fitting will inscrew from the carb. Also there might be a spring in the carb pushing the filter, so look for that. Looks like someone stripped the fitting. The filter is probably a brass or paper filter. Either way just replace it. When reassembling make sure the fitting does not leak after you start it up. If you need you can install a new metal line with a new fitting. good luck!

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Ok seems fuel system is ok, ignition coil is now dead. While checking fuel system over last couple of days things degraded to where there was no starting at all . Bought a spark plug tester and got no spark from coil at all.

Used Clymers manual and trouble shot coil.

I'm a little unclear so I want to run test past you guys.

With ignition on, got 12 volts with leads on negative terminal of coil and ground.(negative side of coil is the one with wire going to distibutor?)

In a previous thread you guys helped with new alternator when I fried it accidently hooking up batter backwards in the dark one night. This is a fallout from that incident?

Additionally is an ignition coil a marine component or can I get an automotive version? Any other components I can check . did the other test and seems distributor is ok.

 

[Don S]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Used Clymers manual and trouble shot coil.

Well, that explains why you are still asking questions.

Have you actually done a full tuneup in the last couple of years? Points, condenser, cap, rotor, sparkplugs, actually setting the dwell and timing.

BTW you need Mercruiser Service manual #10 if you want to get it right.\
Here is a link to download the manual free.

http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/sisdata/srvcovr.pdf

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

I'm grinnin' ear to ear....I finally got smacked down by Don S!! Thanks for the manual number ....I had been trying to figure out which one it was from your previous posts to others. when I typed it I actually tried to get the "clymers" to come out in small diminutive letters knowing how you feel about them but it didnt work. WOOOHOOOO

 

[Don S]

Re: Hoping for the best - expecting the worst

Glad I could make your day.........
But, Have you actually done a full tuneup in the last couple of years? Points, condenser, cap, rotor, sparkplugs, actually setting the dwell and timing.