Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

[alternative]

Recently bought a 88 fourwinns and the test drive went smooth.. the day after that I launched the boat, and it started to bog out on the water. Parked at the well and the next day went out to ride and engine would not start... changed the fuel filter, still nothing, tried starting fluid, still nothing... changed the coil. still nothing, melted down a battery post ,,, changed battery, still no start. A mechanic friemd looked at it and jiggled some wires and it started right up .. later that night it started. Then the next day same problem...no start. and to top it off the motor was hydrolocked...got the water out of the cylinders and still wouldnt start, getting spark and fuel..but no start! why? the original owner just changed the points to elec. ign.. didnt change plugs wires or coil... could this be the problem... please comment....??????and why is the water in the engine..(hydrolock?) how does this happen?

 

[Don S]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

There is a lot of different answers to your many questions, and why you are getting water in the engine, and why it won't start are going to have to have a lot of questions answered to find out.<br />First. What kind of engine and drive do you have? Volvo, Merc, OMC, are we talking V8, 4 cylinder, outboard, I/O you haven't given us any information here. Fourwinns built may sizes of boats with many different engine combinations.<br />

and why is the water in the engine..(hydrolock?)

Where is the water? in the oil or in the cylinders? If it's in the cylinders, water on the spark plugs will stop them from firing. <br />And there are lots of reasons for water getting into the cylinders as well. Anything from a leaking riser gasket to getting water up the exhaust during launch.<br />Start detailing the information you have and answers to your questions will be forth comming.<br />I haven't been here long, but I can already tell there are no mind readers here.

 

[cc lancer]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

haven't been here long, but I can already tell there are no mind readers here.<br /><br />Hey Don:<br />That the fun of it, you have to be physic.<br />

 

[Don S]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

Had to give it up CC. Darned old new guy at the shop broke my crystal ball. Now I have to work like the rest of the mechanics.......man that's hard to do

 

[alternative]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

Sorry.....(its a 205 Fourwinns sundowner and this boat has a 1988 OMC V8 305 gm i/o engine, this boat ran three times ,, it seems the problem is sporatic. I just wondered if the water in the cylinders is the reason for not starting. Its not in the oil. The boat is parked on the lake and the wake hits the transom daily. The ignition system was recently messed with.. dont think it was fixed properly.. thats why i had asked if the points are changed to elec. ign. do you need to replace any other ign parts.. ie coil, wires, plugs....? I just dont understand why it ran on day 1. then it ran on day 2(did bog out on lake twice after lauch). by day three after sitting on the lake at the seawall, But after a few parts were diagnosed(coil, plug, fuel filter)-dont know if these parts replaced had anything to do with it starting finally on day 4.???? But day 4 only ran the boat for a hour and parked it. Day 5 ...again not starting and this time noticed the hydrolock after about the fifth crank.. pulled plugs and cranked to get water out. put plugs in and still not starting. Its day 6 and iam totally confused.. and kinda bummed out. I have a boat and only been out for a total of 1.5 hours.... any help is appreciated>>>>>

 

[alternative]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

Also when water gets in the cylinders , can the engine run without damaging it,,? if the water is cranked out of the cylinders of coarse? What can be done to solve this problem.. could it be that the day it sat all day there was 4 ft heavy waves coming in at the transom? I know it needs some work ... just want to wail untill the season ends

 

[tylerin]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

Water won't compress like gas and yes it will damage your motor

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

alt, have a look at this article re: water in engine:<br /> http://www.marinemechanic.com/Workhorse/index.htm

 

[Don S]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

I would guess you have bad risers or manifolds which is allowing water to get into the cylinders. The manifolds and risers don't last forever and should be replaced every 5 to 10 years depending on usage.<br />With water in the cylinders, you are going to destroy the engine. Bent rods, broken rings and pistons, rust in the cylinder walls etc. And once the spark plugs are wet with water, they will not fire.<br />You need to get it fixed ASAP or you will be looking for a new engine.

 

[alternative]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

what is the average cost to fix this problem/// flappers bad?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

I would start by replacing the exhaust flappers.The waves hitting the stern acts the same as getting the risers below the water line by decelerating abruptly.The flappers will stop the water from coming in through the exhaust and running into the cyls.The next thing I would look at is the risers.This will let water into the cyls,but only if the motor were running.Your friend jiggling the wires and the motor then starting would point to another problem but you will have to check for any loose connections like the starter,battery switch,seloniod etc. Charlie

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

first thing ya gotta do is learn to dock the boat. you must dock it bow into the waves or even flappers may not help in a 4 ft sea. now its time to do some basic testing. you will need at least a basic spark tester. while the engine is cranking test for spark from the coil then from the cap. if you have spark at all 8 plugs we can move onto the fuel system. good luck and keep posting

 

[alternative]

Re: Omc 305 GM wont start ???WHY

Just wondering ,,, since noticing water in the cylinders. mostly on one side of the engine... how much damage could be done to the engine,,, it has not ran since noticed water..? could this be a cracked block or head gasket... or is it (I HOPE).. only a exhaust flapper or something minor? if it is only the flappers how difficult is the job and how much cost if a mechanic does it