Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

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Trunks

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hey guys im really Stuck with my own boat.
My boat is a 18 foot deep v boat with a mercruiser 470 that is freshly rebuilt.
Ater the rebuild the engine would rev up to 5000 rpm no problem, then one day i took it on the lake and tried wot and it would go to 4200 rpm and stay there and just make alot of noise but not go anywhere. That last bit of throttle i backed off and the intake noise would be less loud, so the last quarter throttle would just go up to 4200 rpm and just make noise after that. Then i decided to upgrade all the ignition parts to better wires, electronic points system, flame thrower coil. Ok now for a test drive .... same thing max rpm 4200 and no one home for that last quarter of the throttle. I then checked my fuel system and replace the fuel pump and changed all the lines, removed the check vave from the tank to the filter, changed fuel filter. Test drive time....... grrrrrr same thing. OK time for more upgrades since im at it, 4bbl intake manifold with carb from a 3.7 190 hp engine, rollerized rockers changed the camshaft, changed to a new distributor, and now i have a super new engine with alot of upgraded parts..... TEST DRIVE TIME! SAME thing but if i leave it at wot for maybe 30 seconds then i see the rpm creep from 4200 to 4300rpm then all of a sudden after 4300 rpm it takes off like a rocket and revs up to 5200 with so much top end power due to the upgrades and i was like holly smokes.... backed the throttle off a bit and rpms dropped below 4200 and same thing ... wont rev past 4200rpm unless i keep it full throttle for more then 30 secs... sometimes it wont even rev past 4200 rpm ... IAM STUMPED .... if any one could help me with this that would BE great... oh yeah one more thing i have removed the exhaust to see if the shutter got launched in the exhaust system ... it was all there no exhaust restrictions .....
 

scv76

Seaman Apprentice
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Jun 17, 2011
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

I don't know anything, but if I were to guess, I would go with a fuel supply problem. You changed over to a different carb, so I'm guessing fuel filter is out of the question. but what about the fuel pump? Check your butterfly fully open at WOT when you are limited to 4200 rpm If that's even possible. Check fuel feed line for any cracks, maybe sucking air and then the crack closes and you get for fuel?
 

Trunks

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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

it was doing the same thing with my old 2 bbl carb and 2bbl intake ... i changed the fuel pump filters and lines
 

guyaverage

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Aug 4, 2008
Messages
101
Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

Maximum WOT for this engine in the 170 hp version is 4200-4600 and 4600-4800 for the 190hp version. Once you figure out the carb/fuel issue, prop this sucker down some, for the sake of your drive. You're spinning too fast.
 

dn010

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Oct 16, 2010
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

unless my tech is bad, I'm getting 5000-5200 out of my 470 at wot...



Maximum WOT for this engine in the 170 hp version is 4200-4600 and 4600-4800 for the 190hp version. Once you figure out the carb/fuel issue, prop this sucker down some, for the sake of your drive. You're spinning too fast.
 

Trunks

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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

mine revs 5000 to 5200 too .... with all my props... 17 3 blade 19 3 blade 17 4 blade... motor is a killer ... but i need to figure out this problem ... its annoying the f out of me
 

dn010

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

Did you check the timing? Carb adjustments/ idle air adjustments? Check or change all filters / separator, is the gas old?
 

Trunks

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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

new gas... did the same thing with 4 different carbs... timing is perfect ... all filters and u name it has been changed LOL
 

dn010

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

If it isn't gas, carb, timing, etc the only thing externally that could keep it from reving up would be an electrical issue somewhere - maybe arching wires, no idea. Also sometimes upgraded components aren't such a good thing - I had a flame thrower coil and electronic ignition on my 302 once, it only ran for a few minutes and then died - too much electricity - melted the cap & rotor...
 

Trunks

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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

yep iam stumped myself.... even with all the original components it was the same ... i wonder if the harness could be the problem ....
 

DACEAC

Cadet
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Apr 19, 2009
Messages
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

Huh? I can only get 4300 out of my 3.7 190hp. Ive tried to get more out of it but after everything I tried that didnt make a difference I decided to leave well enough alone. Just a suggestion, could yoour tach be off?
 

dn010

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

It is extremely possible that my tach is off showing 5-5.2K when I'm at WOT..., Trucks problem is that he gets to 5200 on his tach but there is a flat spot he has to get through in order to get there...
 

jmccollum

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Jun 29, 2011
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

Im really new this stuff and dont know a lot about it, but i was reading about the 470 due to the fact i am having problems with mine. While researching i found the factory timing is 8 BTDC but mechanics recomend setting it to 4 BTDC now due to fuel quality. Not sure if it will help but worth a shot.
 

Trunks

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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

I have my timing set to 8 BTDC and i run 94 octane ... yeah my tach is fine ... i just have a flat spot that wont do anything untill it slowly after 30 seconds creeps past 4300 then it shoots like a rocket and goes like mad to 5200 ... its like something is holding back .... ITS SO ANNOYING.... i know that the power is there just wont come when i want it too ... and that last 4300 to 5200 makes the boat go from 30mph to 46mph .... i also noticed something today ... i looked at the alternator wiring ... the B+ of the alternator wire goes from a 8 gauge wire to a even smaller wire.... the connector of the alternator wire looks like it was starting to melt... tomorrow iam going to run new 4 Gauge wire from the alternator and add it on connecting it to the main Battery wire to reduce the load off the small wire... i wonder if that could be it... im just starting to guess because there is nothing left to upgrade or change lol
 

Trunks

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Jun 27, 2011
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

oh yeah my tach is new and it shows the same as my old tach
 

scv76

Seaman Apprentice
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Jun 17, 2011
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

and that last 4300 to 5200 makes the boat go from 30mph to 46mph

Sounds like you may have more problems than you think.. My 18' deep "V" goes 40-42 mph at 4200-4300 rpm. You really should check your rpms with a tachometer set for a 4 cyc engine...who knows, maybe the resistance in the wire going to your dash tach is incorrect and you are not getting an accurate reading. Granted, that will not have any effect on the dead spot in the throttle you have described.
 

missalot

Seaman Apprentice
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Sep 19, 2009
Messages
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

Two odd ball things come to mind. 1. slop in the throttle linkage that does not smoothly let the carb open all the way, the air flow pulls the butterflys slowly the last bit 2. Timing advance curve has a flat spot / sticky spot near the top end of the curve.
 

Trunks

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Messages
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

i have checked with a timing light and the tach is accurate... Missalot ... i did think that was the problem at first so i check to see the timing under load at that rpm ... looks like timing is all in around that rpm ... i also replaced the distributor too ...
 

DACEAC

Cadet
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Apr 19, 2009
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Re: Mercruiser 470 wont rev past 4200 rpm HELP

just out of curiosity what size prop are you running? i run 14.25 21p and at 4300 im running like 44 to 46 depending on trim settings
 
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