First things first -- what I did last week:
[*] Adjusted engine idle. At the dock, I put the engine under load and rotated the distributor (which is using electronic ignition, by the way) until I had max RPMs. Engine ran great after this, it was off a touch before. I did re-tighten the distributor.[*] Changed the oil.[*] Installed water temperature and oil pressure buzzer/alarm (the gauges don't work)
Saturday I tried to take the boat out. I started the engine to let it warm while I took off sail covers, etc. The engine slowed and stalled. I re-started it, and it ran for a much shorter time and it stalled again. After a couple rounds of this, it got to the point that I could let the engine sit for 3 or 4 minutes, and it'd turn over and fire up and run for two seconds, refusing to re-start unless it had 3 or 4 minutes to sit and think about it.
Things I tried:
[*] Compression seems fine[*] Plugs are clean[*] I cleaned the carb, twice -- seems alright[*] Fuel pressure seems okay. When the engine dies, I tried using the manual lever on the gas pump to see if there was back pressure, and there was.[*] I took out 1/3 quart of oil -- I overfilled the engine slightly during the oil change[*] Tried running off of a spare coil: no improvement
After letting the engine sit for a couple hours, I again fired it up and it happily ran for 15 minutes or so. I just left it idling, and after 5 minutes it sounded a little slower and less rhythmic, then after 10 minutes it was worse. Then at 15, it just petered out.
I've no guesses. Then again, I'm not much of a mechanic. I figure these symptoms might mean something to somebody. Hopefully I've added all the detail anyone would want, but just ask if there's anything I've left out. Thanks!
[*] Adjusted engine idle. At the dock, I put the engine under load and rotated the distributor (which is using electronic ignition, by the way) until I had max RPMs. Engine ran great after this, it was off a touch before. I did re-tighten the distributor.[*] Changed the oil.[*] Installed water temperature and oil pressure buzzer/alarm (the gauges don't work)
Saturday I tried to take the boat out. I started the engine to let it warm while I took off sail covers, etc. The engine slowed and stalled. I re-started it, and it ran for a much shorter time and it stalled again. After a couple rounds of this, it got to the point that I could let the engine sit for 3 or 4 minutes, and it'd turn over and fire up and run for two seconds, refusing to re-start unless it had 3 or 4 minutes to sit and think about it.
Things I tried:
[*] Compression seems fine[*] Plugs are clean[*] I cleaned the carb, twice -- seems alright[*] Fuel pressure seems okay. When the engine dies, I tried using the manual lever on the gas pump to see if there was back pressure, and there was.[*] I took out 1/3 quart of oil -- I overfilled the engine slightly during the oil change[*] Tried running off of a spare coil: no improvement
After letting the engine sit for a couple hours, I again fired it up and it happily ran for 15 minutes or so. I just left it idling, and after 5 minutes it sounded a little slower and less rhythmic, then after 10 minutes it was worse. Then at 15, it just petered out.
I've no guesses. Then again, I'm not much of a mechanic. I figure these symptoms might mean something to somebody. Hopefully I've added all the detail anyone would want, but just ask if there's anything I've left out. Thanks!
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