Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Troubleshooting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 71.112.72.50
Old 06-01-2009, 01:49 AM
rkllogjeri rkllogjeri is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Engine shuts down/Non Responsive to throttle

So i need some help. I took the boat out for the first time this season and it started just fine, the engine would rev in neutral when the throttle was engaged, but once in forward gear it wouldn't pass 1500 rpm no matter how much throttle was open. i shut down the engine and replaced the fuel filter, no change was noticed. after restarting, an hour later the tachometer flickered and the engine died. we tried to restart the engine but would only die after starting for a moment. after letting the engine cool for an hour it would start again, but no throttle response above 1500 rpm still, and the engine continued to die about one hour into the journey.

any help or suggestion on what might be the culprit?

here's some things I already checked:
the exhaust valve on the gas tank was clear,
fuel lines were clear and flowing
fuel pump pumping fuel
fuel filter replaced
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 75.25.99.23
Old 06-01-2009, 06:42 AM
joec43's Avatar
joec43 joec43 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 51
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
possibly the spark plug wires are reversed

I have found that when it runs well in neutral and reverse, and not in forward that I have reversed two of the spark plug leads.
Easy fix, and worth a check.

Good luck!
Reply With Quote
  #3   IP: 70.173.53.189
Old 06-01-2009, 08:37 AM
Bob Grenier's Avatar
Bob Grenier Bob Grenier is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 29
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The time laps would make me suspect the coil. Check when it dies to see how hot it is. Do you have electronic or point ignition?
Reply With Quote
  #4   IP: 68.224.125.99
Old 06-01-2009, 11:13 AM
roadnsky's Avatar
roadnsky roadnsky is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lake Mead, NV
Posts: 3,104
Thanks: 24
Thanked 467 Times in 309 Posts
Certainly sounds like the coil.

This from Don in another post...
"The most basic three-step method of checking a coil while installed on your engine (and the most fun) is to (1) remove the negative primary wire leading from the negative terminal of the coil to the distributor and installing a two-foot jumper wire (14 gauge or larger). (2) remove the high voltage lead from the coil that installs into the center of the distributor cap and hold it approximately 1/4" from the head or block. Then (3), with the ignition switch on, touch the end of the two-foot jumper wire from the negative terminal of the coil to ground and release.

This is of course exactly what the points do: make and break the negative (or grounding) circuit between the negative terminal of the coil and ground. Each time you touch and then release the jumper wire to ground, you should see a good secondary discharge between the coil lead (that used to go into the center of the distributor cap) and the head or block. The secondary discharge actually occurs when you remove the jumper wire from ground."


Happy hunting...
-Jerry
Reply With Quote
  #5   IP: 66.165.56.2
Old 06-01-2009, 11:13 AM
rkllogjeri rkllogjeri is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Joec43,

i have not messed with the sparks plugs in two years i have owned Sandpur, however i was thinking of changing them as it is being hauled out from the water. Do you know what the order would be? Idon't have a manual on it.

Bob,

I read somewhere in the fourm yesterday that the coil could be it and i have not had a chance to check it. I will. I know that the Coil is next to the engine block, should i relocate it? Thank you for your help
Reply With Quote
  #6   IP: 68.224.125.99
Old 06-01-2009, 11:30 AM
roadnsky's Avatar
roadnsky roadnsky is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lake Mead, NV
Posts: 3,104
Thanks: 24
Thanked 467 Times in 309 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by rkllogjeri View Post
Do you know what the order would be? Idon't have a manual on it.
I know that the Coil is next to the engine block, should i relocate it? Thank you for your help
FIRING ORDER:
The plug wires are installed in a clockwise orientation around the distributor cap in the order of the engine's firing sequence (1, 2, 4 and 3). This means that the plug lead from the distributor cap post directly to the right of number one goes to the second cylinder from the flywheel, the next post to the fourth cylinder (at the transmission end), and the lead from the next post to number three. You should then be back at the post for cylinder number one.

COIL
You can certainly move the coil if you suspect it's always getting too hot.
I'd narrow down if the coil needs replacing first...
Reply With Quote
  #7   IP: 206.125.176.3
Old 06-01-2009, 12:35 PM
sastanley's Avatar
sastanley sastanley is online now
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Solomons, MD
Posts: 7,016
Thanks: 1,134
Thanked 600 Times in 442 Posts
I also think it's the coil

Hi, I have very similar behavior to my new-to-me A-4. The engine would purr along at 1,500 RPM for an hour and die off. Repeated restarts were shorter and shorter until by about restart number 4 or 5 it would not stay running. I hunted for a fuel problem for days, and a guy & his three dogs at a prop shop on the Eastern Shore said "have you checked the coil? got a spare? try it!"

I mounted a new coil on the engine room bulkhead, close enough I could still reach it with the high tension wire. I had to lengthen the other wires to the coil (+) & (-) posts. I have had no unplanned shutdowns since, but only have a couple of hours on the motor since the coil replacement.
__________________
-Shawn
"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic3231_6.gif
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Engine Sputters and Coughs, and Needed Choke to Run Smooth CaptainChas Troubleshooting 9 06-30-2009 10:50 PM
Engine Stalls in Full Throttle number9 Troubleshooting 7 06-07-2009 10:09 PM
Engine Dies after approx one hour Trysail Troubleshooting 4 08-07-2008 11:15 AM
Removing the engine from your boat Don Moyer General Interest 13 06-27-2008 11:06 AM
Removing the engine from your boat Don Moyer Ranger 7 12-12-2005 12:24 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved