Engine won't start, but I'm narrowing it down.
 

All,

I was the one who thought my engine would not start because of a potential gearbox problem, but it must have been multiple problems.

I ran my boat several times this year, then it failed to start while i was out sailing last week. I did not change the oil this year, but there is definitely some water in there. I will change it a couple of times today, as per your other posts on water in gearbox.

I am also getting good spark to each plug (did clean up plugs though) , and 3 of 4 cylinders have great compression, with #3 good but noticably lower. The fuel is clean coming into the fuel bowl on the engine. However, I took off the flame arrestor and I have some water in the bottom of the carb. Carb still sucking air when engine turned over, but no ignition. Even when ether sprayed in it did not even kick. Fuel is last years, but I used a winter stabilizer.

Open to further suggestions. Do I need to take the carb off and clean it up? It is so difficult to get at, that I would not relish the idea, but will do what you suggest.

Thank you for your time on this problem,

Keir Hood

Keir,

There's a bit of an anomaly in your report. With good compression and good spark to each plug, it's difficult to imagine why the engine wouldn't at least try to run when you sprayed starter fluid into the intake of the carburetor. Last year's fuel should have nothing to do with your problem.

Has anyone worked on the engine since it last ran OK?

As a separate but related issue, I wouldn't bother changing the oil until you can get the engine started. You need to run the engine approximately 5 minutes between changes so that the water will have a chance to emulsify and
come out with the oil.

Don

Thanks for the advice - but still no go
 

That's the strange part. All I did was run the engine with no trouble, then sailed for several hours. When I attempted to restart, it wouldn't even catch a little.

Could it be that I am getting air flow through the carb, but no fuel? Even when I pump the throttle trying to start it, it does not smell like gas and there is no evidence of the cylinders flooding.

Aside, can you make a spark plug recommend? I should at least get a couple of sets of new plugs.

Keir,

Attached is our abbreviated check list for non-starting engines.

Don