No fuel going to carb

[downriver]

Not sure of year, Mercruiser 4.3 alpha one, engine number OD707859, I m new to the forum and to boats, never had one.

This boat is abandoned on my property, 1992 180 SE Glasstream in poor condition, I m trying to see if it will run. I put a battery in it and it will crank over but not start, I removed the fuel line to the carb, put it in a plastic jug and cranked the motor it is not getting any fuel into the carb. A boat mechanic told me that there is a antisiphon valve in the fuel tank that could be the problem. The tank is about 3/4 full of gas. I removed the fuel line from the tank to the mechanical fuel pump, there was no gas in the line. I m trying to decide if I want to spend the money to put a lien on it, to get title, so my objective is to see if the motor will run without spend a bundle of money.

I have used a test light on the ignition system and found a bad connection.

any ideas?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Mechanical pump or electric?

 

[180shabah]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Do a compression test. If it fails this then
$500-600 in fuel and ignition components won't help.

 

[turbinesurgeon]

Re: No fuel going to carb

If the gas is old and the boat has been sitting for a long time then I would start by draining the tank. I would also recommend cleaning the entire fuel system out. Both mechanical and electric fuel pumps can go bad by sitting with no use. You can check the condition of the mechanical fuel pump by removing it and than removing the screws that hold the bowl together. Usually what happens is the rubber diaphram dries out and becomes frozen in its position, when you turn the motor over than the diaphram tears. New pumps are usualy around 150.00

 

[chiefalen]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Pour 4-5 tablespoons of gas down the carb see if it cranks and starts.

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Do a compression test. If it fails this then
$500-600 in fuel and ignition components won't help.

The engine should be warmed up before doing a compression test? I can not start the engine

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Mechanical pump or electric?

Mechanical

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

mechanical

 

[chiefalen]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Hook up the gauge to each cylinder and crank it at least 4 revolutions.

Record each cylinder.

Post the results hurry up it's getting cold outside.

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Mechanical pump or electric?

Hook up the gauge to each cylinder and crank it at least 4 revolutions.

Record each cylinder.

Post the results hurry up it's getting cold outside.

Would it be fairly accurate on a cold motor?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: No fuel going to carb

We just want to see how close the numbers are together.

And if it's not under 100.

 

[Don S]

Re: No fuel going to carb

I've seen a lot of engines that I did a compression test on after they sat for a couple of years and wouldn't start, be in the 80 to 100 range, ocasionally one would be 0. Once I got it started, and smoothed out a little bit the compression came up to usable (not great, just usable)

 

[chiefalen]

Re: No fuel going to carb

lets just see what it is.

The compression i mean.

Than we will go from there.

 

[pattimac]

Re: No fuel going to carb

You'all glossed over, or missed, Chiealan's post! He's right. Pour some gas down the carb throat and see if it either starts, or at a minimum, fires a few times! If it wants to fire, pour some more down the carb. If it either starts or again tries to run, then at least you know that fixing the gas input problem will allow you to access the engine state!

Or...find out who the owner is via the license or registration and give them a call and ask "what's up?" Maybe they simply don't want it any more and can tell you about what shape the engine is in. You're going to have to notify them anyway if you try to lein it, so maybe you can save some money and get the info from the owner!

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Pour 4-5 tablespoons of gas down the carb see if it cranks and starts.

I did put gas down the carb and it acted like it wanted to start, but did n't

Pulled the plugs and coil wire and started the compression test. I got 120 lbs in the opposite front two cylinders, then the ignition switch went bad I guess from all the cranking. The parts place is about 20 miles away.

I tried bypassing the switch by contacting a wire from the B terminal to the S terminal but nothing happened.

How do I bypass the switch?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: No fuel going to carb

You sure it's in neutral, jiggle the freekin handle. You pull the dead mans switch?

Maybe the battery connection is bad?

Maybe the starter connection is bad?

Maybe the ground is bad?

Maybe the battery is a anchor now, bad?

Maybe you blew the fuse.

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

You sure it's in neutral, jiggle the freekin handle. You pull the dead mans switch?

Maybe the battery connection is bad?

Maybe the starter connection is bad?

Maybe the ground is bad?

Maybe the battery is a anchor now, bad?

Maybe you blew the fuse.

I ve gone thru Don's start up test light procedures and it tells me the switch is bad.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: No fuel going to carb

You got a lawnmower switch.

You tried the ole wire together trick didn't work?

Why ask yourself.

No power anywhere else?

Main fuse blew?

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

You got a lawnmower switch.

You tried the ole wire together trick didn't work?

Why ask yourself.

No power anywhere else?

Main fuse blew?

what is the wire together trick? Is this how to bypass the ignition switch?

How do I do it?

 

[downriver]

Re: No fuel going to carb

Here s the compression test results on the cold engine, Could not warm it up cause it still will not start.


140 - 85

125 - 70

115 - 130