shuddering when firing

[chilly1]

I got my 1971 557 hc running well in the driveway in a bucket with the prop off, so I decided to put it in a bigger bucket with the prop on so it would have a load on it. The prop threw out all the water, so I decided to put the garden hose up the intake. It shuddered and would not start. I assume I got water in the cylinders, and do not know what to do next. Took plugs out and let it sit for a day in the heat. Turned it over w/o plugs by hand and with starter, turns easily. Turned it over with plugs by hand and with starter, normal, and feels like normal compression. Try to start, shudder and shake.
Did it change timing, or did I really mess something up?
Thanks,
Joe

 

[chilly1]

Re: shuddering when firing

Well, the purpose of this forum is to learn and see others' mistakes, so I will tell on myself. I do not know if I can run the water up the leg with a hose or not, but the starting problem was my crossing wires when I remounted the ignition coils. Not the plug wires, but the wires coming from the mag plate. After the points adjustments and plug gapping, it almost purrs. Unless someone tells me the hose method is ok, I will always use the bucket w/o prop.

 

[JeffSmith]

Re: shuddering when firing

The others on this forum are more knowledgable than I am when it comes to boats, but...my motor would not run at all on muffs. As soon as I turned the hose on, the motor would die, no matter what pressure the water at. I let it sit for about a week out of frustration, and just tonight, I put the motor in a 50 gal drum of water...fired right up and ran great. I don't know what the cause was, but...you may give that a try. Good luck...

 

[chilly1]

Re: shuddering when firing

Please forgive my late reply. Thank you for your response. I have ran it without fail in the bucket (actually a big plastic tote). I do not have (working) power trim so its a pain to put it in and out of the tote. I have to remove and replace bolts. Wish I knew for sure the hose thing would work. It would make me more apt to fire it up before I left the house.

Anybody know?

Thank you,
Joe

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: shuddering when firing

None of those engines have a large enough water inlet to allow a garden hose so I must assume you stuffed it into the exhaust snout.

If this IS what you did, it does absolutely no good and possible harm since no water will be pumped through the engine block and yes, it could possibly get into the cylinders.

If your engine is like my 1967 and has the water intake above the prop on the back of the exhaust snout, then you must have the lower unit submerged in a barrel or such.

If your engine has intakes on the side of the lower unit above the gearcase torpedo, then you can buy a set of muffs and modify them to fit.

 

[chilly1]

Re: shuddering when firing

I was afraid of that! I will consider myself lucky that I didn't get it started that way, and do it the way I've been doing it. There is no way of using muffs on this one, either.

Thanks, Frank!
Joe