An Easy Fix

[rpowers]

So there I was, leaving the dock for a sunset motor cruise.

I throttled up to full power, got to 2000 rpm, life was good.

Then, the revs dropped to about 1200 rpm, with loss of power.

A couple of power surges a few seconds on, then back off, finally settling into low power mode.

Should I turn back immediately? Should I press on with the pleasure cruise?

What could possibly be wrong? A plethora of possible scenarios ran through my head:

1) Bad fuel? Had water somehow gotten into my recently gone-over fuel system? Should I drain the float valve tank?

2) Gunk in the carburetor? Would I have to do the rebuild that I have so far avoided with success, and hope to never do?

3) Have I lost compression, like a broken piston ring or something worse?

4) Has my coil failed? I think I have a spare on board somewhere...

Back at the dock, the first thing I did was to check each of the spark plug wire connections.

Sure enough, the #1 plug wire was loose. I snugged it down and the problem went away.

Easy Fix!!!

(wish they were all like that...)

[sastanley]

bravo!

Nice fix & great description of the chain of events in your mind...it is comforting to know I am not the only one that has all those thoughts running thru my head when the engine acts up.

[David Masury]

I believe that phrase it "it is better to be lucky than good"

David

[rigspelt]

Love these anecdotes. Good reminder to do the basics first.