No Start and advance springs

[smosher]

Hi, I have a late model 1974 Atomic 4. Got it going
about a month ago after it sat for the winter. I have
since put electronic ignition, new dist cap, rotor and plugs.
Doesn't start, so I pulled the dist cap and notice that the rotor is moving freely. Looks like the new one from napa is defective as the notch is very small, I put the old one back one and it locks in place. Try Again, and still doesn't start, unplug a plug wire and I get spark. From the fly wheel looking aft #1 plug is going to the 9 oclock position on the dist cap. The firing order is 1,2,4,3. I believe this is right. Take the dist cap off again and my son says that there's a broken spring. Looks like there's 2 springs and one is broke the other is very rusted and should be replaced. Looks like its part of the advance and it might of been running with 1 spring for awhile. The advance does move when I turn it by hand.

I took off the flame arrestor and didn't see any gas in the bottom of the throat. This is after running the starter 1/2 dz times with the choke out. I tried the hand prime and it doesn't appear to move.

So I'm thinking that I had 2 problems, 1 was the rotor and either the float is stuck or the jet is clogged.

How can I check these 2 things and any idea's for a source for the springs ?

TIA

Steve

[Don Moyer]

Steve,

Your troubleshooting is very credible. With the amount of cranking you've
done, there should be raw fuel puddled in the bottom of the intake throat,
and with the diaphragm chamber within the fuel pump appearing to remain
fully charged (priming lever hanging limp), the problem is most likely a
restriction in the carburetor.

You can confirm a plugged main jet versus a stuck float valve by removing the
half inch hex-headed main passage plug in the bottom of the carburetor
(assuming you can access it on your boat). If a good amount of fuel drains
out into a glass jar, the float valve is OK; the fuel is simply not making
it through the main jet.

You can find fly weight return springs in our online catalog at
moyermarine.com. They have a product number of IGLM_10.1_292.

Don

[smosher]

Don, I'm embarrassed to say that my skills are not quite at the level you think.

I went back to the boat this am and pulled the passage plug and gas came out. Put the plug back in and removed the flame arrestor again. This time I used a flashlight and looked at the bottom of the throat and there was gas there. Squited a blast of starting fluid put the arrestor back on and the engine started and ran through 4 gallons of water in no time. I do not have tach but it does appear to me that it idles real smooth, better with the electronic ignition.

It looks to me that the rotor was my problem and the other problem was probably the engine was flooded and I need to use my glasses and a flashlight !!.

I have the springs on order.

Thanks for the support!!

Steve

[smosher]

HI Don, as a follow up I launched Sat morning and ran the boat 40 miles to its mooring. With all of the maint and advice and upgrades I rec'd from you and your web site the trip went uneventfull. I put the indigo prop on also and for the 40 mile hike the motor stayed at 120 - 140 for the entire trip, never a hickup while cruising in 3 - 5 ft rollers at 5 - 5 1/2 kts. The atomic 4 used about 6 2/3 gallons for the 8 hour trip. The upgrades I did was the electronic ignition, flame thrower coil and water pump cover. I believe the motor ran smoother with the electronic ignition and flame thower coil. I also replaced the dist cap, plugs, impeller, advance springs, all hoses, fan belt, fuel filter. Finally i did the acid rinse. FWIW Now the atomic 4 goes through a 5 gallon bucket of water in no time even at idle.

Thanks for making the launch a success..

Steve

[Don Moyer]

Steve,

Thanks for the check in. You've done a great job and it's good to hear things have worked out well for you.

Don

[TimBSmith]

Don, Just discovered SMosher was one of the prior owners of my boat...

Looking back at this original post from 2006....hard to contain excitement about what I will learn about Oasis from SMosher's posts. Does explain why I have discovered so many favorable conditions and upgrades my A4. I have reached out to him via message and email on this site. Hope to make contact if he values it and is available. Otherwise, I will simply relish in the history of my A4 captured here... Grateful. Stay well. Tim