I'm venting!

[magster65]

I tuned up my boat... new plugs, cap, rotor, wires, oil, fuel and oil filters. To reward me a few weeks later it starts to run like a bag of dung. I went over everything I did with a fine tooth comb but it's getting worse and worse... in utter frustration I do a compression test and they're all between 125 and 130, just what it's suppose to be (7.4 Merc.). I put it back together and then it won't start. I go through the checks and it looks like the pick-up isn't working (magnet's weak), so I replace that. Vroom, it flashes right up but now there's a strange noise coming from the distributer, like a vibration, that only happens at 1600 rpm. I take the distributer out, take it apart, inspect all the bushings, cam gear, oil pump drive and clearences... nothing wrong! I put it back together checking that the cap isn't touching the rotor or something. It's ok. I flash it up, runs but still has the same noise and now the carb's flooding. What a bummer We're suppose to go with a few other boats for a cruise this weekend. I hope I can fix all this stuff in time.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I'm venting!

Hi Magster,<br /><br />Was it running okay before all that work?<br /><br />I have a saying, "If it is okay, leave it alone!"<br /><br />I once was sold on the idea of Preventive maintenance. Sometimes it is good to look over the obivious things. At work we had a company come in and do PM on some of our equipment. After they would leave, the next day I would be in having to re-adjust and calibrate what they worked on. $450 for each unit and there is two units in each store. $900 to just make sure the unit is not going to break down. Then it breaks down and doesn't work afterwards. Then when you call them back to fix a problem that they generated, they want their $200 for coming back!<br /><br />The operations manager now agrees with me. Let it break and go down. It is usually quicker to fix what is broke and get the equipment back up than having the equip down for 5 hours for the PM.<br /><br />Good Luck, I hope you get it running perfect. Too much bad luck going on this Spring, It has got to change to the better........SS

 

[magster65]

Re: I'm venting!

I bought it a few months back and only got a little of the maintenance history. I really enjoy working on this stuff, and have for many years, so a little tune up or oil change is no big deal. It's like the boat demon has made his home in my boat . Like I said, I'm just venting. The problems could be much worse. I'm going to run down to West Marine and get a large can of Demon-be-gone.<br />I'll do the carb today and try and figure out the distributer tomorrow. That noise is truly strange...

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: I'm venting!

The boat Gods are testing you Magster.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: I'm venting!

Hey Magster while you are picking up the demon-be-gone grab me a magic wand will ya. I could use it at work lately You will get it right it takes time to work the bugs out is all.

 

[Homerr]

Re: I'm venting!

Well,<br /><br />Better you find this stuff out now than on the water in front of the friends!<br /><br />Maybe they are good demons? Letting you know what's wrong now instead of on the water in the middle of B.F.E. ?<br /><br />H.

 

[OBJ]

Re: I'm venting!

I dunno Homerr....good Demons??? Ain't seen one in a boat yet.<br /><br />Hey magster....did ya' try harsh language on the darn thing?? Sometimes it helps.....well.....at least it lets ya' vent.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: I'm venting!

homer - thanx. i thought i wuz the only one who understood wat BFE meant- so it aint jes a southern thing- lol

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I'm venting!

I'm with OBJim... Harsh language always works for me... You might also have too resort to throwing someting...(as a last resort, let it fly! )<br /><br />Why just today I put the harsh language to work... Had to change out three antennas on the flybridge of a Hatteras 55' for Captain SLOB... Capt. had more crap stowed in the forward compartment than I've ever had in all my boats combined... 6 Lawn chairs, box of toys, life raft, um-teen gazillion lifejackets and cushions, dive stuff, box of rope, boogie boards, bouy, and more, all WET!... Talk about STINK!!! PEEE-UUUU! Took me an hour just to make enuff room so I get in there to get at everything.. Was starting to wonder if I could get it all back in there after I was done.. <br /><br /> A little harsh language both before and during the operation and everything went smooth as sandpaper... Only cut myself twice on sharp fiberglass and exposed screws, so it was a good day... <br /><br />Uh-oh.. Looks like I'm venting now! <br /><br />Oh yeah... I've been to B.F.E. a time or two... Got stuck there once for a few hours before the sun came up...

 

[OBJ]

Re: I'm venting!

THROWING THINGS!!!!!! Good Good.....Got to try that. Got to try that!!

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I'm venting!

If yer gonna let'r fly, Watch out for GLASS.... <br /><br />don't ask...

 

[Homerr]

Re: I'm venting!

How about a LARGE caliber weapon? <br /><br />H.

 

[magster65]

Re: I'm venting!

Hey thanks guys I needed a smile.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I'm venting!

I sure vented Monday. Wife got home from work, car over heating, she missed one class at college, weather chilly and raining. So sick of rain and cold. Have been heating since the first week in October, and still using heat . Forecast is rain for next 5 days!<br /><br />I did some thing that I never do, but it worked. I looked up at the sky and said "GOD ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, NO MORE RAIN AND COLD! JUST STOP IT! WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH! <br /><br />I couldn't believe it and neither could my wife. It got warm and no rain until last night . So I guess God does listen..... <br /><br />Still got about 2 weeks worth of warm weather work to the boat til launch. Last year, I did more extensive work and had it in by May 5th. My problem is not boat demons, but weather demons <br /><br />Ya see it happens to all of us....Hang in there Magster........SS

 

[OBJ]

Re: I'm venting!

Ditto on being sick of rain and cool weather SS. Have only had a couple days so far that we could set out with friends on the patio and be neighborly. Have only been on the river once this year. Right now the Mighty Muddy Ohio is running high. You could go out but you would be playing "Dodge the Log". Not fun.<br /><br />Just where the heck is summer anyways?? Has it been canceled???

 

[magster65]

Re: I'm venting!

Got the carb. kit in, no more flooding . I tried another distributer and it made the same noise. I pulled it out again and put a priming tool on the oil pump and it seems smooth... the gear on the distributer is good so I don't think it's coming from the cam. I'm a mechanic by hobby and I've had 2 freinds that are mechanics by trade listen to it and we're stumped. We agree that the noise is coming from the distributer though... here's the info:<br /><br />* 7.4 merc (454 chev.)<br />* distributer noise at 1600 rpm only<br />* timing is right on<br />* sounds like rotor nicking the cap<br />* cap shows no signs of contact<br />* quiet until about 100 degrees<br />* tried 3 distributers in good shape = same noise<br />* oil pump seems smooth (tried by priming tool and turned by hand) and has good pressure<br />* no valve train noise<br />* cam gear is perfect<br />* distributer fit in the block is good<br />* it's of an obvious noise level that you can easily hear it with the flame arrester cover off and the engine hatch open but not noticeable when everythings together and closed<br /><br />the next thing I'm going to test is timing chain (harmonics travelling down the cam maybe?), I didn't have a big enough socket last time I was there. Does anyone have a guess? I'm running out of ideas...

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I'm venting!

Does that model dist have centrifugal advance?<br /><br />Have you tried a different dist cap?<br /><br />Maybe put the dist in a vice and turn it with a drill to see if you can duplicate the same noise?<br /><br />Could it be a backlash on the dist gear? Spray a little paint on the teeth of the gear, run it, then pull the dist out to see if there is paint on only one side or both, if it is both sides it could be a backlash. Just a thought.......SS

 

[magster65]

Re: I'm venting!

It's electronic and no I haven't tried a different cap but I'll try that too, why not . I like your idea of the distributer in the vice and I'll try it but I've measured everything in there a few times now. The gear looks normal and the minimal wear it has is in the center of the contact surface. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[akriverrat]

Re: I'm venting!

seems to be some how heat related. coil or other other component leaking high voltage under heat stress. noise coming from water jacket when tstat opens. lifter collapsing when oil gets warm. oil pump pressure relief valve chattering. all wags.

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: I'm venting!

Could it be the sound of an extra arc? I would try shorting out cylinders and see if it goes away. Let us know what you find out.<br />Craig