Intermittent spark at idle.

[andy6374]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

However, I guess the next question is... Studly, do you have a flywheel puller?

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

When you draw it out don't switch the coil wires at the coil end, you are switching them at the switchbox end. Same thing on the stator leads switch them at the box end.
Hopefully that will show what happens,,, But it is still tricky:^:^

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Guys, I just realized I messed up!.

In my head and on paper, I keep switching the coil leads at the box and the coils which makes my above comment about the stator incorrect (which I changed in my post)...

If we leave the coil connections alone and switch the coil wires only at the switchbox, and there is a bad stator, the weak or no spark condition would "not" move if both boxes are good....

It would move however if there was a bad switchbox.

So Andy, you were right! My apologies....

He must have a bad switchbox, if he actually switched all the wires...

 

[andy6374]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Thank god you agree KCLOST! Not that I feel vindicated....I just feel like I am NOT losing my mind.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Got sidetracked this week, but my new stator just arrived, so I'll be installing it tonight. If it's not the problem, a fellow iboater who lives near has a set of switchboxes that are known to be good. I'll let you guys know what I wind up with. I'm going to Bimini in a couple of weeks, so I guess I'll be going with some new parts onboard. Just got the Navman GPS with a fuel-flow meter that I'll be installing right away as well.

 

[andy6374]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

if the fellow iboater is willing to let you borrow the switchboxes, then do it now. If it is the switchbox...then swapping the boxes beats the hell out of having to pop the flywheel if you don't have to and retorqueing

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Took the stator readings with a DVA. They are skewed from what the manual states. So I began the task of stator replacement. Took off the cover, removed the center nut and washer, put the puller in place and began to tighten; the flywheel wouldn't budge. I sprayed some PB blaster inside, went back to tightening, no luck still. Tapped the shaft of the puller, no movement. The PB Blaster, and now WD 40 mix have been on there for hours. No movement.

Finally I put some heat to it with the oxycetelyne, gave it a tap, and it popped loose.

Replaced the stator with the new one, torqued everything back to where it is supposed to be, and hooked up the water. I then turned on the key, gave the enricher valve a bump, cranked it, and she fired right up!

I have a good strong spark on all 6! It runs like it is supposed to again! I'm about to head to the bay to give her a good wringing out to make sure all is well, plus I'll get to try out the new GPS!!!

Thanks for the suggestions, direction, and the healthy debates!!

 

[andy6374]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Glad to hear it!

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Hmmmmmmm????

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Ran perfectly all day long Sunday! Paid 103.00 for the new in box stator, so I think I came out well there.

Thanks again for the help, support, and debate! This forum is great. KC you've been a great help before this incident as well. I'm getting to know the V-6 pretty well, hopefully I'll have the opportunity to help others with what I have learned.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!
The motor has been running perfectly since the replacement of the stator. I haven't been out in a little over a week; today I went out and the boat wouldn't get on plane. I pulled all of the plug wires (new a few weeks ago) and they all looked good. I pumped the bulb and it was firm (new bulb a few weeks ago also) got the boat to plane out finally, but it certainly wasn't running as strong as usual. On the way back home, any time the throttle was pushed up to try and get over 1600-1800 RPM, it would stall and die. Pumping the bulb had NO effect. Couldn't get over 7 MPH all the way home. This motor was running perfectly on the last few runs; any ideas as to what happened???

Help!!

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

Whew! Tested spark, good on 5 cylinders, no spark on #4 (middle plug on port side). Changed wire from switchbox going to another coil and coil fired fine. Ran a new wire from the switchbox and fire returned to the coil. The old wire looked fine, but wasn't delivering the signal. Put her back in the water and she ran strong as usual.

Wish I could have fixed this while I was in the water today; did a 7 mile return trip at 7 MPH!

 

[andy6374]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

With a V6?


I lost spark on one cylinder last year and didn't realize it until I noticed that my WOT RPMs was 4400 instead of 5500 RPMs.

I wouldn't think that loss of spark on one cylinder would cause you not to get up on plane

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Intermittent spark at idle.

That's what I thought too. However, after replacing the wire it seems to be running fine. I went back to the boat ramp (it's only 4 blocks from my house) put it in the water and ran out into the bay. It jumped up on plane immediately and ran up to WOT as usual.

Earlier today, I couldn't get over 7 MPH and trying to throttle past 1800 RPM, the motor would just die. I actually tried to test spark while I was on the water today but it was just too bright, and the boat rocking wasn't making it any easier!

I am leary of the situation now myself, I agree with dropping 1 cylinder not being enough to cause the symptoms I was experiencing. But it is running well as of right now. The strange thing is, the last time I was out in the boat, it was running perfectly, I didn't change anything, and it was running crappy right out of the gate today.