Motor Problem - HELP

pferreira

pferreira

New Member
Feb 18, 2009
41
Connecticut
Hi Everyone,

I took the boat out to the lake today to give it run but was disappointed…

First of all let me tell you what I have:

1989 Sea Ray 200
Mercruiser (GM) 4.3 V6
Alpha One Outdrive

Boat has been seating for about a year.

I noticed there was some gas in there, but not much, less than a quarter of tank, so I toped it up with new gas.

Took it to the lake and tried to get it going but it starts and only runs for a few seconds.

After it turns off I pumped the gas 2x and it starts right up and runs for another few seconds… maybe 20 to 30 seconds and shut down.

It does run smooth for as long as it’s running.

I also noticed that if I keep on pumping the accelerator the motor does stay on and run as long as I keep pumping it. Not well but stays on.

I checked the gas line and there is a lot of gas coming up to the carburetor, but I did notice the filter was very dirty.

My first thoughts are that because the boat was sitting for 2 years, the rubber pieces on the carburetor must be bad and the carburetor must be dirty… so I took it home and removed the carburetor for inspection and find it to be cleaner than expected! The jets don’t even look dirty!

I turned the motor and there is a lot of gas coming out of the steel tube that connects to the carburetor. Therefore, I don’t think it would be a gas pump problem.

It seems to be a carburetor problem. Could it be the carburetor just needs to be rebuilt?

Or do you think something else is going on?

Thank you all in advance for your help.

Peter :huh::smt100
 
Rebuild the carburetor. It does not take much build up in the idle passages or the venturi system to throw performance off. Get a kit and have at it. Remember to measure everything exactly per the manual. An 1/8 of an inch is not 3/32 unless the spec say +/- 1/32. I've rebuilt lots of different carbs and always try to get every spec exactly right. All ran perfectly after rebuilding.

Best regards,
Frank
 
The idle circuit is usually in the base plate under the bowl. I've seen it done differently on different carbs, like some Holleys. That's only for downdraft carburetor, of course.
 
Sounds like a stuck float in the carb or idle jet and/or passages plugged. If you are able to get gas when you pump it then the main jets are working....probably need cleaning too.

The idle passages are usually the first to plug fully as they are the smallest.

Rebuild the carb and she should run fine.:thumbsup:
 
Accelerator pump is a different circuit from the main.

Typically, there are a few independent circuits:
  • idle
  • accelerator
  • low speed venturi circuit (not common)
  • high speed venturi
  • secondary (four barrel carb)

Accelerator is the least likely to fail since it uses a positive displacement pump that can overcome some passage clogging.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I had a similar problem on my previous srv 190 and there was water in the bottom of the gas tank coming in from a bad oring on the gas cap.
I had to remove the tank to get all the water out.
You'd be able to see the water settle on the bottom of a glass container.
 
Hello everyone,

Well… the carburetor is rebuilt and on the boat! It was running better but still shutting off…

So I looked at the fuel pump and looked ok, but I expected it to be more saturated with fuel when I opened it… I also noticed there was no filter in the pump!

Next, some weird instinct told me to bypass the water/fuel-filter separator and to my surprise the boat runs fine and smooth when I bypassed the separator by connecting the tank line directly to the fuel pump! No shut offs, just fine!

Obviously there is something wrong with the Separator… My old boat didn’t even have one! Do I really need it?
 
Pete:
Just caught this thread start to finish. Don't want to be a Monday Morning Quarterback, but changing the fuel filter would have been FIRST,FOREMOST and CHEAPEST on my list of probably causes. Your gas (stupid E-10) has probably turned to shitake mushrooms too. I'm sure we could all use a good carb rebuild so that was not for naught, but probably extra work that could have been avoided.
 
Hello,

This boat is driving me crazy!

Yesterday, after rebuilding the carb. and bypassing the separator the boat ran fine for the longest time, accelerated up fine… no problem!

Today I installed a new separator and now it’s doing the same thing… runs for a few seconds and turns off. I bypassed the separator again to see what happened, but still doing the same thing….

I drained some gas but it doesn’t seem to have water in there… So I ordered a new fuel pump from Napa and I am hopping that’s all it is!!

Bad fuel pump? What else could it be?

It ran fine yesterday so I don’t think it would be the carb. after all it was just rebuilt… maybe a faulty fuel pump?

That’s the news here from Connecticut from this frustrated musician who wishes he had the money to just hire a professional!!!!!

Warm regards,

Peter
 
I feel your pain. last year I went through the same thing. I thought it may be the carb. turned out to be the fuel pump. A mechanic was there for 7 hours trying to diagnose the problem. ouch! (even though he only charged me for half of those hours)

At least you'll know what has/has not been done.
 
Hello everyone...

I "think" I got great news here from cold connecticut!

After spending a "few" $$$ on my boat I think it's now ready for a test ride once the weather clears!
I won't mention how much I spent in case my dear wife reads this post and will proceed to cut my pin-pongs off!

But here is what I have donne:

1- Re-built the carburetor & installed a new choke unit on it.
2- Replaced the old water/fuel seperator with a new one from mercury
3- Installed a new fuel pump
4- new gas lines and filters
5- new gas
6- new motor oil and filter
7- new steering oil

I have also istalled new carpet and re-did the cuddy last month and replaced and/or updated some of the electrical wiring and old fuses with the new kind.

I had the motor running for about 15/20 minutes and it was running good and smooth. Temperature went up to and stayed at 145. I turned it off to let it cool dow and see if it would start again and it did start right up and stayed running!

I flushed the water from the motor and re-winterized it with anti F. to wait until the weekend and maybe take it out on the water and test it again...

Thank you all for your continued help! You've been great!!!

Peter
 
Good news so far!

At least we're here for moral support. Many of us have had similar experiences. It's frustrating when the chips seem down, but very rewarding when you get it right.

don't think of it in terms of "how much you spent", you need to use terms your wife uses, such as "look how much I saved by doing it myself".

I've got my fingers crossed for you.

Gregg
 
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