Hey everyone, I need to ask for some help. I put the boat in the water yesterday, started it, ran it at 1200rpm to warm up, parked the truck and as I was coming back the the boat I heard it losing rpm and stall out. I started it back up, it ran for a few seconds and stalled again, did this a couple more times and now nothing. It just cranks and cranks, doesn't sound like it even wants to catch. The motor came from a 1998 boat, so maybe a 1997 motor? It's a 454/330. It's getting gas, you can see it squirting in the carb, the coil is arching when I take the cap off of it, rotor is new, cap is new, I cleaned the ignition sensor, and pulled one plug wire to see if there was spark, and yes, there is spark. I checked the breakers on the motor, push them and they don't move, and also checked the fuse panel, all good. I'm at a loss!! I have an event coming up next weekend so I need this thing fixed by then. I hate to bring it to a shop, in fear that they won't get to it in time. Anyone have any ideas or live in the Syracuse, NY area??? Thanks!

Jay

Hi, call my buddy Bucky...mechanic/rigger at MRD...516.398.8485....tell him marc from Florida said to call ya!!!At the very least he can trouble shoot/suggest things to check...

Marc

had a similar issue one time in an old boat, fuel in tank was contaminated,
see if you can get a fuel line off and pump some fuel into a glass container to get a look at it.
could also dump contents of spin on fuel separator into glass jar.
fuel and water will separate in the jar. mine was 50/50
got the tank pumped out and cleaned at a gas tank shop

That's FIRST on my list for tomorrow!!

What color spark are you getting? Sounds like a weak coil...

I would bet on water in the fuel. Check that first.

Sometimes at low idle you can gas foul your spark plugs. They will still spark when outside the motor but when you screw them in to the motor they will not fire under compression.

The water separating fuel filters are so good nowdays that they won't let any water past to the engine -- check the fuel filter, if no water, then that is not the issue.

Are you burning Ethanol-based fuel ? If so, I bet vapor lock.

If there's enough water in the fuel tank to fill the separator then you're still skrewed. The rest goes right into the engine.

Change the fuel filter,,,then get a 5 gallon can with fresh gas ,,,hook the line that runs to the fuel filter in to the gas can and run it on the hose at iddle and see if it runs for a wile .
If so ,,,,,,u found your problem,,,,,if not ,,its not the fuel system !!!!!!!
If it is ,,,,,drain the fuel tank out and refill with fresh fuel and go have fun .
Sounds easy ,,is easy ,,u can do it !!!!!!!!!