Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

[halcrimm]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Thanks ktbarrentine, will give a go in the morning and report back.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Also, since it has been 4 or 5 years since this has been run, you may have other problems in the carb, as well, like varnish in the jets and passages, dried out seals/pump, etc. Just something to keep in mind. Hope it comes back to life nicely for you.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

So you are cranking the engine with the new starter as opposed to eariler where it would not crank? thats a move in the right direction!!!

Nice..

Well you are either not getting spark or fuel.. Definitely you will have to prime the carb by squirting some gas right down the carb and pump the throttle a few times and see what happens!!

Do you have points or a Digital Distributorless Ignition System (DDIS)? if points you will definately have to replace the points, condenser, cap and rotor to get her to fire.

there's a good chance the fuel in your tank has ethanol and will be an issue after sitting that long. You will want to remove the old gas from the tank if you haven't done so already, good luck and let us know!!

 

[halcrimm]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

This morning I tried priming the carb and attempted cranking. Engine tried to turned over and started (or tried to start) for a second or less with a puff of smoke out the exhaust. I tried again and the battery was too low. (Have got to replace the battery soon). charged the battery and attempted again. Primed the card tried to crank and the same thing happened. It started for a second or less and then done. I try to start again and the engine will turn over fine but not crank. I am assuming this is because once the fuel that I used to prime is burn up there is nothing else to ignite. Thinking that I am not getting fuel.

With the flash arrestor off the carb I do notice that the flapper doesn't move unless I move it with my fingers. I move the throttle back and forth but the flapper stays where it is. Isn't the flapper supposed to move (open and close) with the throttle?

Eric, the engine has points. I looked at distributors online last night. Is this item something that I can clean and replace parts inside or do I need to buy an entire new distributor due to the engine sitting idle for 4-5 years.

Thanks for helping guys.
Still smiling.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

With the flash arrestor off the carb I do notice that the flapper doesn't move unless I move it with my fingers. I move the throttle back and forth but the flapper stays where it is. Isn't the flapper supposed to move (open and close) with the throttle?

Oh, the woes of trying to start a dormant beast! Your choke (i.e. the "flapper" you mentioned above) may be a part of your starting problem, but probably not all of it... any way, here is a fairly decent thread that might help you understand how it works and how to adjust it. Instructions are in the manual, too. (I am assuming you have an electric choke).

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=487694&highlight=electric+choke+works

http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/manuals/mercruiser13.html#/280

Choke should be closed (nearly fully) when engine cold. It is "set" in that position when you open the throttle to pump gas into the venturis during start up. Then slowly opens as engine warms. HTH! Good luck.

BTW... when I bought my recent 5.0L chaparral, the electric choke was physically bound/stuck open in the air horn... the P.O. didnt care....he just kept pumping more gas in! Sure took alot of "adjusting" (with a full carb overhaul) to get that one working right again.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

This morning I tried priming the carb and attempted cranking. Engine tried to turned over and started (or tried to start) for a second or less with a puff of smoke out the exhaust. I tried again and the battery was too low. (Have got to replace the battery soon). charged the battery and attempted again. Primed the card tried to crank and the same thing happened. It started for a second or less and then done. I try to start again and the engine will turn over fine but not crank. I am assuming this is because once the fuel that I used to prime is burn up there is nothing else to ignite. Thinking that I am not getting fuel.

With the flash arrestor off the carb I do notice that the flapper doesn't move unless I move it with my fingers. I move the throttle back and forth but the flapper stays where it is. Isn't the flapper supposed to move (open and close) with the throttle?

Eric, the engine has points. I looked at distributors online last night. Is this item something that I can clean and replace parts inside or do I need to buy an entire new distributor due to the engine sitting idle for 4-5 years.
Thanks for helping guys.
Still smiling.

You want to replace the points, condenser, cap and rotor. No need to buy a new dist. They may be the reason for no start.

Back to the Adults Only sticky at the beginning of this forum:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

there are several other articles in there that may help get it running. the starting system is fixed, now it's either the ignition system or fuel system

 

[halcrimm]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Spent a while cleaning the distributor and it looked pretty good. Then moved on to the carburetor. Using the service manual, I first needed to see if I had and fuel making into the carb. SM#13 said to check and clean the Fuel Inlet Filter. Tried to remove the fuel inlet nut but was unable to get the nut of the side of the carb. Unfortunately I tried loosening the large nut on the side of the carb before I realized that the nut the SM was talking about was the smaller nut the screws into it. Still unable to remove nut, I cleaned everything up and tried to start the engine seeing as how I had already cleaned distributor. Because the inside of the carb looked very dry I tried priming again before starting. Started the engine, tried once to start and then died then I had gas leaking between large nut and carb. Is it possible that I broke something inside the carb when trying to loosen.

 

[halcrimm]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Just checking etiquette. At what point am I suppose to start a new thread based on what I am trying to repair.
Don't want to abuse the thread.
hal

 

[Failproof]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

You need to use two LINE wrenches, or you run the risk of twisting and kinking the metal tube. Use the large nut wrench held steady, and then loosen the small nut. You may have just broken the seal, you may have damaged the tubing.

 

[halcrimm]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

I was worried that i broke something with the large nut because I did turn it about an 1/8th of an inch before realizing it was the wrong nut..

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

You may be lucky... Sounds like you just got the filter nut loose enough to leak. May have put a strain on the tubing, but it is fairly resilient (to a point). Like it was said above, use two wrenches. Now you want to hold the large nut steady, and loosen the small tubing nut, and remove the fuel inlet tubing. Then you can remove the large nut that holds the carb filter in place. Pay attention to the order of the parts. If you put that filter in backwards, it just wont work!. Good luck! On the positive side, sounds like the fuel pump is delivering "some" fuel to the carb. lets hope it is enough. Did you get the choke working?

Its ok to keep this thread going to get your boat working. Easier for You to follow. When you get it up and running, then you can start new threads on the new issues (hopefully there arent many).

Be careful with that tubing nut... looks like it is about to get rounded off. make sure the wrench fits snug. If it does round off, youre into vice grip city, and that is not good! (although they do sell replacement inlet tubing, complete with nuts and bent to fit for your situation, but it aint cheap)

Also, always a good idea (pretty much a "must") to put those threaded connections back together with PST thread sealant, rated for fuel.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Don't start a new thread yet, the filter is behind that large nut that is leaking, there is a gasket there, probably just loosened the nut.

the small nut has to be removed before the large one.

You have to hold the large nut from turning while removing the small nut, then remove the large one.

If the small nut is frozen to the line itself and starts to twist the line,(happens often) stop..... spray the line and nut with wd-40 or pb blaster, and slowly work the nut back and forth just a little bit until the line separates from the small nut, then remove the nut.

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

If you have a "line Wrench" that helps a lot getting those fuel lines to turn without rounding the nut off as bad. Just be sure to hold a back-up on the large nut.

 

[halcrimm]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Well, finally finally and lots of smiles. The engine started up tonight and ran without stopping. I ended up taking the fuel line nut off safely and getting the in line filter out at the carburator and found that it was half full of crud. Cleaned that and the gasket and put all back together and gave it a try and finally the engine started right up.

I appreciate everyone's help in getting a beginner to get an engine that has not run in 4-5 years up and running.

I do have to replace the alternator. Would not even spin tonight. Not going to try and have it rebuilt. Just going to order a new one and replace the belt.

Time to move on to the Outdrive. Thanks again everyone.
Super siked.

Hal

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Still cannot start engine Mercruiser 3.0L Alpha I Gen 2 SN#OD714746

Nice.... Glad to hear a sucess story!!

That same site you got the starter has alternators too,