motor problem
 

Ive got a gen 5 carbed 454, 420HP that has a little issue... it will start up in the morning, i can run it to lunch (about an hr) turn off the motor and eat lunch (about 1.5hrs), go to the boat and it starts right up, but then i go and anchor out, let it sit about 4 hrs, and it wont start, the 4 hours it sits is the hottest and most humid part of the day, im thinking it could have soemthing to do with that,

i usually go back to the ramp on one motor, then the next day it will fire right up again in the AM.... any ideas??

Re: motor problem
 

Is the boat rocking a lot when anchored? could be a fuel float issue causing the motor to flood.

Could water be running of the hatch and getting the ignition wet (from swimmers)

Re: motor problem
 

You have to be more specific with your symtoms. Does it crank, clicking noise, or???

Re: motor problem
 

swap out the coil .....

Re: motor problem
 

Your not taking a long enough lunch !!

Re: motor problem
 

I've seen the fuel vapor lock when it's hot, just a suggestion.

Re: motor problem
 

that was my first thouht...

Re: motor problem
 

It sounds like vapor lock, usually a coil goes all at once, no hit or miss, it could also be the slave solinoid, does it click once when the key is turned but not engage the starter? It sounds like a vapor lock the more I think of it but after 4 hours that should clear. If the engine is hot the fuel will boil and vaporize and leave a pocket of air that locks the fuel system. On the slave, you can turn it and hear a click, keep doing it and it may fire but most of the time they have moisture in them. It is very common after storage to have this go out. This is a fun one to find, you can swap out the entire electrical system and find it is fuel or the other way around. I would say fuel though, maybe lift the hatch while sitting, run the blower to pull the hot air out. Still 4 hours is enough time to let this rest.

Re: motor problem
 

I'm not a mecanic to that point, but I would think float problem... I'd switch the carb first. Does not take too long to do it!

Re: motor problem
 

coil swap is easier and faster than swapping carbs.....

Re: motor problem
 

My thought is vapor lock. A mechanical problem such as mis-adjusted floats (if you haven't adjusted them in 2-3 years they need it anyway) wouldn't require such a long heat soak to cause it. Pull a plug after cranking it and see if its wet.

Re: motor problem
 

Take a screw driver, and jump pole to pole on the upper starter solenoid, if it cranks over and the key is in the on position and it has fuel it will start, 20 dollar part from BAM and these things are KNOWN for going bad all the time. Replaced about 4 of them in the baja and the apache needs one now. I carry a spare just in case. If it does not crank doing the pole to pole jump, then you have to start looking elsewhere. When trouble shooting issues like this dont just start swappiong parts hoping for it to work especially since it seems you have to be OUT on the water for it to happen. When it does happen again, Jump the poles, see if thats it. If you do get clicking and the engine does crank, you might have moisture in the distributor cap, Bad or corroded rotor, bad coil as suggested or bad coil wires. You should yank out the plugs too and see if there is any water in the cylinders or if there is any moisture on the plugs, with the plugs out does she turn over nice and easy. (with no compression she will if she turns over at all.
Maybe swap the coils from one engine to the other and see if this problem surfaces on engine #2 if it does you have isolated the problem and can get a new one. Swap the coil wire as well. Dont just start throwing $ at the problem right away, check the obvious first.
Good luck
J

Re: motor problem
 

the motor will turn over, and it will even pop, kinda of start for a minute but not continue to run, yesutrday i used it with no problem at all, but the weather was a little cooler and there was no humidity

Re: motor problem
 

you are always speaking about humidity ! Why don't you try a new set of spark plug wire ? or switch yours on yours engines, or try one of your friends set ? would not cost a lot to know !

Re: motor problem
 

the next time it happens ...just swap out the coil and it will probably start.....

Re: motor problem
 

what ever happened....what was the final solution??

Otto