Trying to get her started again... (Merc 470)

EJS

Cadet
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
15
I bought a fixer upper boat about a year and a half ago, basically replaced all the parts on the 470 (new starter, alternator, fuel pump, coil, distributor, cap, rotor, etc) took her out once and found a bunch of rot. I completely gutted the boat and replaced transom, stringers, foam. The boat is like new now, and I dropped the motor back in. I had the carb rebuilt, but now it leaks out of the seal. The motor cranks and the carb is getting fuel to the bowls but she wont fire. I have 12v to the coil, the distributor contacts are fine and it spins nice. New plugs. It ran okay before it was pulled out, but had a bit of a carb issue, would pop and die. I thought the carb rebuild would fix this... The needles are 1.5 turns backed out, as per the mercruiser manual for a starting idle point. I guess I just need some ideas for a plan of attack.

Thanks for any comments!
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Re: Trying to get her started again... (Merc 470)

Ayuh,... Is there Spark at the plugs,..?? Are they Wet with gas,..??
 

EJS

Cadet
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
15
Re: Trying to get her started again... (Merc 470)

Plugs are good and spark, but they arent wet with gas... I can see gas spraying into the carb from the top though...
 

solar7647

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
1,218
Re: Trying to get her started again... (Merc 470)

Check to make sure are on the distributor in the right order. Also if the battery dosnt have a good enough charge it will turn but not start, thats what happened to me. Also if your carb is leaking gas it could also be sucking more air then it needs, this would mes up the mixture and prevent a fire.
Good Luck
 

EJS

Cadet
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
15
Re: Trying to get her started again... (Merc 470)

Well.. I took her to the local shop. They found that the previous carb rebuild was done wrong and they redid it. It fired up, but was running rough, did a compression check and found cylinder #1 has no compression (dead hole). Now its big decision time... I just want to use the boat! Ive replaced the whole transom, stringers, floor... all new wood. Now its the engine...it never ends. Rebuild the infamous 470? Or find a replacement.. AH
 
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