The A-4 in the Ericson 32 I just acquired (from my mother-in-law) started up and survived a 3-hour motor to my community marina two weeks ago. Near the end of the trip the engine started to overheat. Coming in to my new and unfamiliar slip I grounded and had to power off in reverse. While I was otherwise occupied, the engine temperature soared above 200 degrees and my plastic muffler melted.
I replaced the muffler and tore the cooling system apart. To get at the water pump I removed the distributor and the alternator. I believe I have found the problem with the cooling system but now I can't get the engine to start again. The starter turns it over briskly and it coughs a bit, but that's all.
I did my level best to get everything back together in good order. The ignition is an electronic upgrade from Indigo. I found TDC for #1 cylinder (both by orienting the roll pin after feeling for compression and by looking for the edge of the cylinder through the spark plug hole) and oriented the distributor so that there was 0 voltage across the coil at TDC. It didn't start. I checked for compression. It was good on all four cylinders. The scent of fuel and wetness on the plugs indicated that fuel was reaching the engine. I checked for a spark between the high voltage cable from the coil and the block. It was good. I double checked that the spark plug cables all connected to the correct plugs. It didn't start. I checked to ensure that the choke was fully closed. It didn't start.
The plugs are new this spring but they looked quite black (not oily just sooty). I know that running cool can cause fouled plugs, is it possible that overheating messed up the spark plugs? I'll try a new set of plugs.
Assuming that doesn't work, which seems like a safe bet at the moment, I'm at an impasse. Any suggestions?
I replaced the muffler and tore the cooling system apart. To get at the water pump I removed the distributor and the alternator. I believe I have found the problem with the cooling system but now I can't get the engine to start again. The starter turns it over briskly and it coughs a bit, but that's all.
I did my level best to get everything back together in good order. The ignition is an electronic upgrade from Indigo. I found TDC for #1 cylinder (both by orienting the roll pin after feeling for compression and by looking for the edge of the cylinder through the spark plug hole) and oriented the distributor so that there was 0 voltage across the coil at TDC. It didn't start. I checked for compression. It was good on all four cylinders. The scent of fuel and wetness on the plugs indicated that fuel was reaching the engine. I checked for a spark between the high voltage cable from the coil and the block. It was good. I double checked that the spark plug cables all connected to the correct plugs. It didn't start. I checked to ensure that the choke was fully closed. It didn't start.
The plugs are new this spring but they looked quite black (not oily just sooty). I know that running cool can cause fouled plugs, is it possible that overheating messed up the spark plugs? I'll try a new set of plugs.
Assuming that doesn't work, which seems like a safe bet at the moment, I'm at an impasse. Any suggestions?
Comment