1998 SeaRay Sundancer 330 wont get on plane

M

Mauro Palma

New Member
Sep 19, 2019
23
Fort Myers
Boat Info
1998 Sundancer 330
Engines
Twin 454 Gen VI
Help. I have a Sundancer 330 7.4 Gen VI. It wont get on plane. What is the cruising speed and rpm for this type of boat. Southeast Florida area.
 
Mauro, when was the last time you had the boat out of the water and cleaned all the algae and slime and other green gunk off the bottom? That's often the culprit.
 
1998 SUNDANCER 330 454 7.4 GEN VI RPM LIMITED TO 2400 UNDER LOAD AND NEVER REACHES ON PLANE



● Engine serial number 0L008483

●Sear Ray spec 4200-4600 rpm range at WOT

●With boat in neutral rpm goes to 3100 and reaches the built in rev limiter

●2 built engines Atlantic Marine and installed by another boat technician

●Bottom of the boat cleaned and exhaust was checked for obstruction

●Props are correct in size and pitch according to Sea Ray Parts Manual

●Frankie and Johnny’s prop shop cleaned and repaired both props (sheet matches specs in size and pitch)

●With both propellers off in gear rpm went past 2400 to the rev limiter of 3100

●Fuel injectors cleaned and flow checked by RPM Diesel

●Intake flame arrestor was removed and boat was tested with it removed

●Throttle linkage checked at wide open throttle and was confirmed it reaches wot, throttle mechanically at the throttle body and also TPS voltage was confirmed for wot voltage

●Fuel pressure checked while under load approx. 45 psi MerCruiser spec is 43 running.

●Fuel tanks drained of all contaminants if any prior to engine replacements

●Fuel filters replaced twice and water separator checked for water contamination

●2 New Fuel Pumps

●Called MerCruiser tech support there is no limiter at 2200 rpm.

●Timing has been set in accordance with MerCruiser, 8 Degrees BTDC and timing advance confirmed.

●Trim tabs checked for full travel

●Transmissions were tested by local facility and fluid changed. Velvet drive and ratio checked and cross checked with parts manual as original equipment. (Velvet drive model 20- 02-003 with 1.50:1 ratio)

●Both ignition coils replaced when engines were installed

●Lower portion of boat was checked for excessive water retention

●Diagnostic scanner was scanned for trouble codes and intake air temperature sensors and connectors replaced

●Both engine fuel coolers replaced

●Both engine oil coolers replaced

●New spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor

●Engine monitoring system no fault annunciated
 
Bottom was cleaned like 3 weeks ago. See the above things that have been done already
 
Does it sound like it's hitting the limiter at 2600 ?
Have you checked compression on these engines?
Do you have a diagnostic computer hooked up and reading all the values when it hits the wall?
 
scoflaw said:
Does it sound like it's hitting the limiter at 2600 ?
Have you checked compression on these engines?
Do you have a diagnostic computer hooked up and reading all the values when it hits the wall?
Click to expand...

I have not checked compression as it was done after the new year by someone else and they said it was good. These are new built engines not the original from Atlantic Marine Hialeah, Florida.
As for the computer I do not have one to monitor or record the parameters while under load. The rpm top out at 2400
Thank for the help
 
Mauro Palma said:
I have not checked compression as it was done after the new year by someone else and they said it was good. These are new built engines not the original from Atlantic Marine Hialeah, Florida.
As for the computer I do not have one to monitor or record the parameters while under load. The rpm top out at 2400
Thank for the help
Click to expand...
Mauro Palma said:
I have not checked compression as it was done after the new year by someone else and they said it was good. These are new built engines not the original from Atlantic Marine Hialeah, Florida.
As for the computer I do not have one to monitor or record the parameters while under load. The rpm tops out at 2400
Thank for the help
Click to expand...
Runs strong at 2400
 
I would do those 2 things I mentioned. Rebuilt engines can be a crap shoot. Do the compression first to see if your dealing with solid motors
 
scoflaw said:
I would do those 2 things I mentioned. Rebuilt engines can be a crap shoot. Do the compression first to see if your dealing with solid motors
Click to expand...
I will try that. they only have 100 hours on them. I am going to have to try to get a hold of a laptop to take a snap shot of the scenario as it happens. I live in Fort Myers and the boat is in Fort Lauderdale
 
Another thing too. If it's not throwing codes I would replace everyone of those 22 year old fuel lines and the anti siphon valve. They collapse on the inside and look fine on the outside. You can have good pressure without sufficiant volume.
 
I bypassed the anti siphon valve for diagnosis purposes . As for the fuel lines and low volume, even though there pressure is correct, wouldn't it bog down or something instead of running smooth?
 
I would not be comfortable with fuel lines that old. I'd take it a step at a time. Compression test first to determine the physical health of the engines first. Scan for codes next.
 
scoflaw said:
I would not be comfortable with fuel lines that old. I'd take it a step at a time. Compression test first to determine the physical health of the engines first. Scan for codes next.
Click to expand...
I checked codes using ground the terminal and reading the light.just code 12 all normal. I will perform a compression check and see what comes about. MerCruiser manual for that year should be 100psi. i am thinking higher than that
 
This boat also has the optional valves where you can switch from starboard and port tanks where you can just run off of one tank. It has many fuel lines.
 
Mauro Palma said:
This boat also has the optional valves where you can switch from starboard and port tanks where you can just run off of one tank. It has many fuel lines.
Click to expand...
Right, many 22 year old fuel lines. Not good.

As far as reading codes with a light ? Fred Flintstone technology. Some parameters with this old Mefi 3 can be problematic without setting a code
 
Check the plugs and wires to see if they are in good shape. Check the firing order and that they are installed right. The 454's can run smooth even with some cylinders not firing right. Why are you saying the rev limiter is 3100? Mine are carbs so maybe EFI is different, but my boat will rev way up past 3100 in neutral. Not that I would do that.
 
Creekwood said:
Check the plugs and wires to see if they are in good shape. Check the firing order and that they are installed right. The 454's can run smooth even with some cylinders not firing right. Why are you saying the rev limiter is 3100? Mine are carbs so maybe EFI is different, but my boat will rev way up past 3100 in neutral. Not that I would do that.
Click to expand...
Creekwood said:
Check the plugs and wires to see if they are in good shape. Check the firing order and that they are installed right. The 454's can run smooth even with some cylinders not firing right. Why are you saying the rev limiter is 3100? Mine are carbs so maybe EFI is different, but my boat will rev way up past 3100 in neutral. Not that I would do that.
Click to expand...
From the list I installed new cap rotor and wires. The distributors we installed at top dead center and the firing confirmed and correct The engine were built by a reputable engine builder and they only have 100 hours on them. Thai boat was purchased not running so we do not know it’s prior history
Except for that it sat for years
 
I had a similar issue with my 1998 290 sundancer with twin 5.o efi. After changing just about everything along with the props. It ended up just being a timing issue and week fuel pump. Would run strong and hit rev limit at dock. Under a load it just would hit a wall at 2800 rpm and never get to plane. Wires were crossed and out of timing. Took a merc master tech with a good ear and 10 minutes to fix what i was dealing with for a month. Good luck and keep us informed
 
Jeff Delbuono said:
I had a similar issue with my 1998 290 sundancer with twin 5.o efi. After changing just about everything along with the props. It ended up just being a timing issue and week fuel pump. Would run strong and hit rev limit at dock. Under a load it just would hit a wall at 2800 rpm and never get to plane. Wires were crossed and out of timing. Took a merc master tech with a good ear and 10 minutes to fix what i was dealing with for a month. Good luck and keep us informed
Click to expand...
I will, I had a mercruiser tech with me because he had the scan tool to to set base timing. At that time we did confirm firing order and timing advance
 
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