Loss of power after changing spark plugs

[sidechoke67]

I have a 2001 Glastron 175 with a 4 cylinder Penta 3.0 GSM-A.

Last week I changed the plugs on my boat. Since then, I haven't had near the power that I had before changing the plugs....I assume that I either got bad plugs, or messed up a ignition cable in the process of changing them. Now, the boat starts fine, and sounds OK at idle....but as soon as I try to take off, it has
noticeably less power. Engine sounds fine...

The newplugs are the recommended AC plugs for my boat (changed from Champion). I got the plugs on-line from the cheapest place I could find. The ignition cables are about 2 years old - when I pulled the last cable off tonight, the metal thing inside the cable stayed on the plug - so I pulled it out from the cable. I don't know if it was disconnected before...

Basically the boat was fine before I changed the plugs, and now it has a lot less power....Easiest thing to do
is to replace both the cables and plugs - but, before I do, I thought I would check to see if any of the smart
people on this board have any other ideas.

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[Gettinther]

Re: Loss of power after changing spark plugs

I have a 2001 Glastron 175 with a 4 cylinder Penta 3.0 GSM-A.

Last week I changed the plugs on my boat. Since then, I haven't had near the power that I had before changing the plugs....I assume that I either got bad plugs, or messed up a ignition cable in the process of changing them. Now, the boat starts fine, and sounds OK at idle....but as soon as I try to take off, it has
noticeably less power. Engine sounds fine...

The newplugs are the recommended AC plugs for my boat (changed from Champion). I got the plugs on-line from the cheapest place I could find. The ignition cables are about 2 years old - when I pulled the last cable off tonight, the metal thing inside the cable stayed on the plug - so I pulled it out from the cable. I don't know if it was disconnected before...

Basically the boat was fine before I changed the plugs, and now it has a lot less power....Easiest thing to do
is to replace both the cables and plugs - but, before I do, I thought I would check to see if any of the smart
people on this board have any other ideas.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Reinstall the end that pulled off then recheck the firing order (proper wire on proper plug)

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: Loss of power after changing spark plugs

I dont know how much this applies to you, but I have an older penta 4 cylinder and the plug gap is CRITICAL!, and its pretty small.

Just as an aside....You can drop plugs into most cars these days right out of the pack and drive away but I remember with the early saabs that had electronic ignition alot of do it yourselfers would put some new plugs in and their cars wouldnt even start.

So get the gap spec and make it correct, that can only help. And if my wire came apart like that, I would replace it, unless it is the sort where you can actually re crimp it correctly.

 

[Don S]

Re: Loss of power after changing spark plugs

You may have the wrong plugs too. Just saying you have the correct AC plugs doesn't mean much if you were looking at the wrong info.
When that metal part of the plug wire stayed on the plug, you destroyed that plug wire. Get some plug wires.