Bakeys
Seaman
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2012
- Messages
- 63
Well, I can't imagine I'm the Lone Ranger on this issue, so I figured I'd better ask the experts.
New to me '92 Glastron w/ 3.0 Mercruiser.
The shakedown cruise:
Took it up the NY State Barge Canal (Erie Canal) for about a 12-mile run. It ran well, seemed pretty smooth. Every so often I'd get a slight hiccup (sputter, cough, hesitation) and then it'd smooth out immediately. I attributed this to last year's gas and the prior owner's reluctance to use the high octane, ethanol-free fuel.
Got to Lyons, NY (12 miles) and turned around. This is when the issue reared it's ugly head. Started running rough. REAL rough. Coughing and sputtering and overall running ragged. Being 12-miles from the dock, I figured I'd better do what I can to get it home. 3/4 to full throttle down the canal. It would run up to 3,000 RPMs and run ragged, sputtering, skipping, and coughing. Every so often it would "catch" like it picked up a missing cylinder, smooth out and pick up to 4,000RPMs. Within a few seconds of smoothing out, it'd cough, sputter, and "drop" the 4th cylinder. (Only way I can describe it. I'm not suggesting it was missing a cylinder, but just acted like a cylinder was suddenly no longer firing.) It would drop back down to a rough 3,000RPMs and run raggedy for a while, catch and smooth out for a few seconds, then sputter, cough and drop back down to 3,000.
After I got it home and put it to bed for the night, I went out the next day and started digging in. Changed the plugs - which were all hand tight, by the way, and #4 cylinder wire was not firmly attached, the rubber was on the plug, but not pressed firmly over the plug metal cap.
Perhaps I was optimistic, but I thought this had "solved" my issue.
This past Sunday, I took it back to the water. Parked it at the dock and fired it up. It started right up and ran smooth. For about 30 seconds. Sputter, cough, and died. It would only restart at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. Run crappy and then, like before, it would "pick up the fourth cylinder" and smooth right out. Run for 5 to 10 seconds and then start the rough run again. Repeated this process four or five times and then put it back on the trailer.
So that's where I'm at.
Fuel related? Ignition related?
If fuel related, WHY is it recovering and running fine for a few seconds and then sputtering out?
Thanks in advance for all for the support and wisdom.
New to me '92 Glastron w/ 3.0 Mercruiser.
The shakedown cruise:
Took it up the NY State Barge Canal (Erie Canal) for about a 12-mile run. It ran well, seemed pretty smooth. Every so often I'd get a slight hiccup (sputter, cough, hesitation) and then it'd smooth out immediately. I attributed this to last year's gas and the prior owner's reluctance to use the high octane, ethanol-free fuel.
Got to Lyons, NY (12 miles) and turned around. This is when the issue reared it's ugly head. Started running rough. REAL rough. Coughing and sputtering and overall running ragged. Being 12-miles from the dock, I figured I'd better do what I can to get it home. 3/4 to full throttle down the canal. It would run up to 3,000 RPMs and run ragged, sputtering, skipping, and coughing. Every so often it would "catch" like it picked up a missing cylinder, smooth out and pick up to 4,000RPMs. Within a few seconds of smoothing out, it'd cough, sputter, and "drop" the 4th cylinder. (Only way I can describe it. I'm not suggesting it was missing a cylinder, but just acted like a cylinder was suddenly no longer firing.) It would drop back down to a rough 3,000RPMs and run raggedy for a while, catch and smooth out for a few seconds, then sputter, cough and drop back down to 3,000.
After I got it home and put it to bed for the night, I went out the next day and started digging in. Changed the plugs - which were all hand tight, by the way, and #4 cylinder wire was not firmly attached, the rubber was on the plug, but not pressed firmly over the plug metal cap.
Perhaps I was optimistic, but I thought this had "solved" my issue.
This past Sunday, I took it back to the water. Parked it at the dock and fired it up. It started right up and ran smooth. For about 30 seconds. Sputter, cough, and died. It would only restart at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. Run crappy and then, like before, it would "pick up the fourth cylinder" and smooth right out. Run for 5 to 10 seconds and then start the rough run again. Repeated this process four or five times and then put it back on the trailer.
So that's where I'm at.
Fuel related? Ignition related?
If fuel related, WHY is it recovering and running fine for a few seconds and then sputtering out?
Thanks in advance for all for the support and wisdom.
