Stranded in the Catalina channel!

[mkino]

I have a 1991 Sea Ray 225br. 454 Mercruiser (carburetor, no fuel injection) with Bravo 1 drive. Took it to Avalon, ran great. On the way back, about 11 miles from Avalon, 26 from Dana Point, running around 3200 rpm, it sputters a bit. I lower the rpm, seems ok, take it back to 3200, sputters, backfires a little, and stalls. I replaced the fuel pump last year, and I checked, fuel was going into the carb when I pumped the throttle. I pull the check valve, clean it our, then bypass it, won't start! Bad place to be, and my passenger is getting seasick. BUMMER!

I get Vessel Assist to tow me in, $1525!!! So, not a lot of spare change for a mechanic right now!

Can anyone help me troubleshoot this? It turns over great, just won't catch. I am thinking maybe something is stuck in the carb? Boat is 20 years old, should I buy a new carburetor?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Don S]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

and I checked, fuel was going into the carb when I pumped the throttle.

I wouldn't be too quick to blame the carb, have you checked for spark?

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

No, I am pretty sure it is a fuel restriction based on past experience, and I thought spark problems would happen more suddenly? But, you certainly could be right, I guess?

 

[Don S]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Check it and be sure, guessing doesn't help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

and I checked, fuel was going into the carb when I pumped the throttle. I pull the check valve, clean it our, then bypass it, won't start!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... I don't see the fuel Filter mentioned...

Dump it, 'n check for Water....

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Yes, I should have thought of the fuel filter out in the channel, great idea!

I am really looking for clues to help in the troubleshooting. It seems likely to me that fuel problems would cause problems out of the blue like that, whereas spark problems might be more sudden?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[79camaro]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Have you checked the timing?

 

[Part-time]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Backfires sound more like a spark isue... or maybe water in the gas.
But it's not a fuel pump. Usualy backfires are due to fuel loading up in a cyl due to no spark for a few strokes.
Could it be that your distributor cap got some moisture while you were going?
Have you trired starting it back up after the engine cooled?
Sometimes corosion on conectors will cause a resistance and heat up or make electronics heat up and stop working momentarily.

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

I had similar symptoms two years ago (backfiring, loss of power) and it was a dirty check valve restricting fuel flow. But it definitely wasn't that this time!

 

[Technorunner]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Does it have points or electronic ignition?? if it got points i would say capacitor is bad or the coil, but coil usually just stops working.

 

[gus-gus]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

I am thinking water is the issue. That spooks me to think of water ingestion in a 2 stroker. That is a killer.

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

It has points, (thunderbolt ignition?) and it is a four stroke!

I will check the fuel filter now and let y'all know on that one.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

It has points, (thunderbolt ignition?) and it is a four stroke!

I will check the fuel filter now and let y'all know on that one.

Thanks for the help!

Nope,... It Don't have points, it's electronic ignition...

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

No water in the fuel filter. Sort of glad as that is something I should have checked in the middle of the ocean!

Next I will poke around the carburetor a bit to see if I can find some sort of blockage (not likely I could find it if there was!), then start looking into spark.

Thanks guys!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

No water in the fuel filter. Sort of glad as that is something I should have checked in the middle of the ocean!

Next I will poke around the carburetor a bit to see if I can find some sort of blockage (not likely I could find it if there was!), then start looking into spark.

Thanks guys!

Ayuh,.... A spare fuel filter, 'n a qt. sized freezer baggy makes changin' the filter an easy, spill-free operation....

 

[Don S]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Are you sure there is some gas in that bowl of water you have pictured?

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Well, it sure smelled like gas! And just to be sure, I poured in a cup of water, which sunk to the bottom.

So much for the easy stuff!

 

[Don S]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Well, it sure smelled like gas! And just to be sure, I poured in a cup of water, which sunk to the bottom.

So much for the easy stuff!

Smart move, NOW, check for spark. It takes 30 seconds.

 

[jimh1626]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

$1525.00 to get towed in??? Are you serious? Good God I'm in the wrong business.

 

[mkino]

Re: Stranded in the Catalina channel!

Well, just tested for spark, got a pretty strong looking yellow spark as I turned it over...

Any ideas?? How would I test the carburetor??