Need Bay Area Mechanic

[LarryLinda]

We recently bought a 1992 Catalina 27 with an Atomic 4 gas engine.

It starts right up and then dies as if it's starving for gas.

The seller has agreed to pay someone to fix the problem but we're having trouble finding someone to work on this.

It is berthed at Emeryville Marina.

Any referrals for a mechanic?

Larry

[Don Moyer]

Larry,

To our understanding, the last year that an Atomic 4 was used in a production boat was in the 1982 Catalina 30 fleet.

In any case, if you're referring to the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a good Atomic 4 mechanic in Sausalito by the name of Tom List who runs List Marine Services. Tom's phone number is: (415) 332-5478 and email:
listmarine@yahoo.com.

If you can't find a local mechanic with time to work on this engine, it sounds as though there is just enough fuel gravity feeding into your carburetor to run the engine for a few seconds. This condition is frequently caused by the fuse being blown between the positive terminal of the coil and the electric fuel pump. Below are a few other things to check:


PUMP FUNCTION:

To check the function of a mechanical pump, remove the fuel line from the carburetor, and pump a couple pints of fuel through the pump, using the priming lever on the fuel pump. Catch the fuel in a clean glass container and check for any sign of turbidity coming in with the fuel. After the fuel clears, hold a finger over the end of the fuel line and work the priming lever again. The lever should feel limp after a couple of strokes as fuel builds up ahead of the diaphragm. Hold your finger over the line for 30 to 60 seconds (the longer the better), to be sure that the pump can hold pressure. If fuel pressure drops off after only a few seconds, the pump will more than likely need to be rebuilt.

To check the function of an electric pump, disconnect the fuel line as above, and then bypass the oil pressure safety switch (assuming that one is installed), and run the pump by turning the ignition switch to "on".

BLOCKAGE:

Common blockages within the fuel supply system are frequently found in the screens at the end of pickup tubes within the tank, spring-loaded anti-siphon valves, and filters in need of a change.

Regards,

Don