Engine trouble!

B

BULLDOG

New Member
May 16, 2009
21
:smt009 STUCK IN THE WATER TODAY,STARTED FINE & I LET HER IDLE FOR ABOUT 15 MINS,UNTIED HER SELECTED REVERSE & IT JUST INSTANTLY CUT OUT & NOW WON'T RE START!!:smt089 ANY IDEAS ANYBODY.I HAVE CHANGED ALL THE FILTERS,FITTED A NEW CIRCULATION PUMP,NEW THERMOSTAT,NEW ALTERNATOR & HAD A TRAINED SEA RAY MECHANIC FROM MARINA MARBELLA UK SERVICE THE LEG & CHANGE THE BELLOWS & GEAR CABLE AS I WASN'T CONFIDENT TO DO THIS MYSELF.JUST DON'T GET IT AS THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SWEET UNTIL I WENT TO MOVE

HELP PLEASE
 
When you say it won't start, does it turn over when you turn the key in the ignition? If it does does it try to fire or nothing?

The suden failure sounds like an electrical related problem.

Did the shift cut out switch stick in the closed position. What about the saftey cut off switch did it get bumped?
 
the engine will turn over but not fire.It was running all ok until i took it out of nuetral & selected reverse then it instantly cut out
 
The first thing I would check is the shift cut out switch.
When you try to shift gears and there is too much tension in the shift cable it forces the switch closed. This shorts the coil and cuts off the engine, enabling the drive to shift. Once the drive has shifted and the tension in the cable is gone the switch should open back up.
It sounds like your switch has stuck closed, either because of a bad switch, or a bad shift cable.
You could disconnect the cut out switch and see if that solves the issue.
The shift mechanisem will look something like this
http://www.perfprotech.com/store/assembly/Shift-Bracket(Alpha-Engines),11741-220.aspx

and be mounted on the starboard side of your engine. The cutout switch is item 18. Try disconnecting this and see what happens.

Did it run in gear at all since the mechanic replaced the shift cable or was this the first time you tried it?
 
I thought OMC was the only ones to put this crap on. I have messed with the Shift interupters on my old OMC a ton. On that one it would only kick out half of the cylinders though. I twould sound like a terrible miss. On the Merc it shuts it down completly? If it is the same when the shift cable is too tight to the outer sleeve it won't allow it to return. Sounds like a good place to start.
 
Ok guys i agree,i thinks its that switch.will have a look & let you know.Thanks for your thoughts
 
Had a look this morning,the shift cutout switch is in nuetral position so i think that may be ok unless the switch is faulty?.The cables also appear to be ok.The engine just cranks now & will not fire!.I know i'm getting fuel to the carb as after a short while of cranking it floods,whats the best way to double check i'm getting a decent spark?..........there goes my 1st boating weekend!!!!
 
External spark and marine applications don't mix well. In an automobile based test, you could pull a spark plug wire from a plug, and using insulated pliers, hold the wire end next to the block and look for spark. In a marine application, that process is contraindicated but in your boat, if the entire engine cover is completely off and everything is well ventilated, you may want to make that decision yourself...after checking your life, boat and health insurances.

Every auto repair shop has touch testers for spark plug wires...they are a couple of bucks and you hold them next to the spark plug wire and if there is current, it induces a little LED to light up. Holding a spark plug wire in your hand will do the trick cheaper...unless you have a pacemaker...at which point the cost benefit equation gets a little skewed.
 
Hmmm. I thought with the shift interrupt, you wouldn't get the engine to crank. . .
 
thats what my 1st thoughts were,but why was that the engine was ideling fine & revving smooth then as soon as i stuck it in reverse it cut out & wouldn't re start-may be the coil has packed in all of a sudden-need to check that i have a spark-can't get my head round it ,like i said it was running in neutral for 15 mins!
 
BULLDOG said:
thats what my 1st thoughts were,but why was that the engine was ideling fine & revving smooth then as soon as i stuck it in reverse it cut out & wouldn't re start-may be the coil has packed in all of a sudden-need to check that i have a spark-can't get my head round it ,like i said it was running in neutral for 15 mins!
Click to expand...
Speaking from previous experience, there is a Neutral saftey switch that will keep it from cranking, but the interupt switch can be stuck in and it will just run like crap. (this is OMC experience) If your getting no crank condition than saftey switch needs to be checked.
In a 220 open with the bilge opened, run the blowers and put a screwdriver in the end of the plug wire. Hold plug gap distance away from engine ground while cranking. Should be sharp snapping blue/white spark.
 
The engine does crank over but won't start anymore,think that elliminates the neutral switch?
 
I won't say "absolutely eliminates" as electrical stuff can be goofy, but I highly doubt the neutral switch is your problem.

This was mentioned above, but did you try playing with the safety switch? It's on the throttle control box. It could be a red switch or a red button. Either make sure the switch is all the way up or make sure the button is being pushed all the way in (push with finger if you have to).
 
I don't have a safety switch as far as im aware.The control box has a lever with a large black button on the bottom which i press in to allow the boat to start with some throttle.The lever itself has a red button that you press to engage forward, obviously forward to go forward,back for reverse & central it will lock & allow engine to just idle.-this fault is going to be something stupid i just know it!
 
Look around on the square-ish "plate" that the throttle control is in the middle of.
 
Is it an EFI ? If so there is a small filter if the carb that is gummed up. The part costs $ 1.30, I had a similar problem last week in my port engine. Do you get tack movement when you begin to start the engine ?
 
On the square-ish plate is the large black round button that i press in then push the lever forward 2-3 times to pump fuel into the carb before starting.Its not an efi she's got a 4 barrell rochester carb.
 
You seriously don't have a kill switch? That doesn't make sense. Is the boat near you? Can you please look again, or post a picture?
 
My previous '89 and '90 sea rays had no kill switch.
 
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