Where is Cylinder #1 on 3.0

[viper1216]

Boat is a 1988 FourWinns and engine is a 1988 3.0. I replaced the head gasket at the end of last season. I buttoned it all up this past weekend and fired it up. It was skipping like crazy at idle. I thought the engine was going to jump out of the boat and drive down the street. I checked the ignition wiring and it was routed correct. I pulled the valve cover off and adjusted the valves per the factory manual. It got better but was still skipping. I was watching a video last night to make sure I was adjusting valves correctly, and the guy in the video is calling cylinder #1 different than what I thought it was. I've been looking around and can't find any info. I thought number 1 was the one closest to the back of the boat where engine connects to the drive. In the video, he was calling number 1 the front where the crank and belt for the water pump and alternator are. I'm going to be pulling the cover off again to readjust the valves, and want to make sure I have this right.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to make sure I got all the info in.

Thanks
Dave

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Where is Cylinder #1 on 3.0

The front one is #1

 

[alldodge]

Re: Where is Cylinder #1 on 3.0

Boat is a 1988 FourWinns and engine is a 1988 3.0. I replaced the head gasket at the end of last season. I buttoned it all up this past weekend and fired it up. It was skipping like crazy at idle. I thought the engine was going to jump out of the boat and drive down the street. I checked the ignition wiring and it was routed correct. I pulled the valve cover off and adjusted the valves per the factory manual. It got better but was still skipping. I was watching a video last night to make sure I was adjusting valves correctly, and the guy in the video is calling cylinder #1 different than what I thought it was. I've been looking around and can't find any info. I thought number 1 was the one closest to the back of the boat where engine connects to the drive. In the video, he was calling number 1 the front where the crank and belt for the water pump and alternator are. I'm going to be pulling the cover off again to readjust the valves, and want to make sure I have this right.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to make sure I got all the info in.

Thanks
Dave

Morning Dave

As Tomdinwv stated No 1 is in the front next to the pulleys.

There is no adjustment for valve clearance for your engine. Manual 6 states to torque the nuts to 20 FTLB. Once torqued you measure the valve clearance and it should be between .110 to .210. If clearance is less then .110 you replace the push rod with a shorter one, and if it is more then .210 you need a longer push rod.

Boatinfo - Mercruiser Service Manual nr. 8 - 1985-1989 - Mercury Marine 4 Cylinder Engines

 

[viper1216]

Re: Where is Cylinder #1 on 3.0

Thanks for the info. I just realized I am using a guide I found online, which is Service manual number 26...which after further evaluation is for 1998 and newer. So I'm going to have to get myself some feeler gauges I guess. I had the cover off again today and I did the valves, but I used the 1998 guide. Which was bring to 0 lash and then 3/4 turn. I only went 1/4 turn though. I'm thinking I'm probably at about 20 ftlb's though. Valves are quiet now. Engine is still skipping at idle. If I bring it up to about 1500 rpm it skips every second and a half or so. bringing to idle it skips hard and stalls. I'm going to check the timing tomorrow and make sure that is ok. I'm thinking the valves are close enough. I hope!!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Where is Cylinder #1 on 3.0

Don't torque the rockers to 20ftlb, that's for the 470 4cyl.

Since you have it running, I'd adjust the rockers with the engine running. Back off until clattering, slowly tighten until it's quiet, then another 3/4 turn down,,, slowly, 1/4 turn at a time.

Oh yeah, #1 cylinder is by the pulleys, front of engine.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Where is Cylinder #1 on 3.0

looks like you need manual 10 ,a quick way to set them with the engine off is rotate motor until intake opens and closes, now you on a compression stroke for that cylinder. loosen rocker nut until you can freely spin the pushrod, tighten until you cant spin it freely with your fingers, then go 1 turn more. Do that to all the cylinders . cylinders are numbered 1,2,3,4 front to back. firing order is 1,3,4,2 in a clockwise direction of the dist. valves in head are E,I,I,E,E,I,I,E
until someone posts a link ,you can go here to view/print the manual 10 Boatinfo - The library, containing manuals, brochures and other technical documents from the last hundred years!