Engine trouble shooting help needed.
 

I have a buddy with a P-29 Scarab with twin 383's in it. The starboard engine is having some problems, and we are trying to figure it out. It is a 1996 and has the Holly fuel injection intake and fuel management computer set up. The engine was running fine and just quit. I have checked the ignition switch, tether switch, cleaned all the block grounds , cannon plug, and dumped the fuel water separator. It seems to be a fuel issue. When you turn the key on, you hear the fuel pump kick on and he has a fuel pressure guage plumbed into the fuel rail . Shows approx. 30 lbs. The engine started and ran at idle no problem . When he tried to get on plane it stuttered and shut off. Would not re start. Tries to crank but seems like it is having a hard time, like the compression is too hard to turn over. Battery is 100% new and charged. What should we be looking at?

Possible stuck open injector (s) and or dumping too much fuel. Possible bad fuel pressure regulator.

"Having a hard time to crank - compression to hard to turn over " - Going by your descriptions why I posted too much fuel issue. But if it just ups and dies its either running out of fuel completely or spark / ignition related.

Next Did you pull any spark plugs to see if they are very wet or even dry - like no fuel getting to them. Did you check for spark ? How old is this fuel injection system and is this the old Hirel fuel injection system that holley bought long ago or a current holley set up.

I agree with BUP as a hard crank effort suggest liquid in the cylinders (can not compress liquid). It is either fuel or water as you did not complain about oil smoke exhaust. Check the oil to see if it is over full and has water or smell like gas. Best thing it to pull the plugs as you will know immediately to what you see on them. If it is the old Cutler/Hirel system they did not like RF.

I did not check for spark or pull the plugs as it was getting late and we just put it back on the trailer. It did feel like there was liquid in the cylinders and couldn't compress it. I believe this is the older Holley system. It has a black plastic box mounted on the fuel rail. Hard to see it in this picture, but you may be able to identify it.


http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...psf17f5d42.jpg

If I remember correctly because I have not touched the Hirel / Cutter set up in many years nor seen one in a very long time. If I remember correctly something in their system would shut down - and possible fuel would still flow into the cylinders for a few seconds after the fact. I what to say it was their management system that would shut down but the fuel pump still flow fuel a few seconds on top of. Anyways I have notes somewhere on them but I think it was 15 to 20 years ago.

You know the set up in the pics looks like someone professionally installed it - nice job by them.

Thanks to my buddy Revd Up for posting this thread! I own this P-29, and I sincerely appreciate all of the assistance. BUP, the gentleman in Ohio that installed these engines around year 2000 seemed to have done a nice job. I love these motors, just having a little trouble with one of them. Here is a closer shot of the Holley system. http://www.scarabsprint.com/wp-conte.../07/holley.jpg

I agree with what was said above. Pull plugs on motor giving trouble and inspect them and see if it spins freely with no plugs in. Hopefully you haven't already bent a rod.

It was cranking freely but no fire. Let it rest a bit . Turned key back on , fuel pump ran, then tried to crank but couldn't.

What can you tell me about the Hirel/Cutter fuel injection set up? I have this same Holly intake manifold on my engine but using the Merc Mefi 3 computer to control everything.

Turns out the fuel pump was bad. Pumping fuel but not enough.