compression and idle quality |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3736 |
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Posted: May-07-2014 at 2:08pm |
Glad you found the issue, your compression numbers are very good for a used engine. The fluctuating vacuum is a sign of dead cylinders. No spark will certainly kill cylinders. If you go with a new alternator for more Amps make sure it is a Marine Sealed unit. The Marine units are designed to make sure no spark is exposed. This way if you get a fuel leak there is reduced chance of Explosion. I think it is Marine Law also to have the sealed Starter and Alternator in boats.
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phatsat67
Grand Poobah Joined: March-13-2006 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 6157 |
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Batteries with dead cells can do all types of weird stuff. Ask me how I know.
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backfoot100
Platinum Member Joined: January-03-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1897 |
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13.5 is fine for a charge voltage. I wouldn't worry about that. The battery sounds like it's definitely the problem then.
Sometimes it's a real head scratcher at what the problem turns out to be. |
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When people run down to the lake to see what's making that noise, you've succeeded.
Eddie |
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Yeah once I hit the old battery with the start selection on my charger and realized that the engine smoothed out because of it I yanked the battery out of my wifes car and all troubles dissappeared. As I said before its charging right at 13.50 volts. I would have liked to see closer th 14 volts though. |
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Nice... wont be doing that again. I have been wanting to get a 90 /100 amp altenator to replace mine.I have an amp and want to beef the the charging system up some.Any suggestions on an upgrade?
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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Bri892001
Grand Poobah Joined: September-27-2008 Location: Boston MA Status: Offline Points: 4947 |
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Do you have access to another battery you can try, like from your truck or something? How old is the one you've got in there? It could have some kind of internal short.
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Online Points: 21171 |
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Like TX said, if it wasn't the alternator causing the problem originally, it's probably suspect now! They don't last real long without a good 12v reference.
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TX Foilhead
Grand Poobah Joined: February-01-2009 Location: Kingsland TX Status: Offline Points: 2076 |
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That's pretty rough on the alternator, it might end up being bad if you keep that up. Ignition issues suck, I was thinking coil myself except when I had simialr issues I couldn't get it to restart or run with the throttle open up.
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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I also can start this thing and disconnect the battery and all symptoms go away. In doing ths can I safely assume the charging system is ok? Alternator is putting out 13.45 volts.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Thanks backfoot. I have the dist. Not the muiltispark box. I was thinking of addding one though.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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mark c
Gold Member Joined: May-09-2012 Location: Massachusetts Status: Offline Points: 534 |
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I would have thought either a bad ignition coil that starts to misfire as it heats up, or a restricted exhaust. Gradual decrease in vacuum is a sign of a restricted exhaust. Seems just about impossible to have restricted exhaust in one of these boats though. I guess the vacuum would also decrease as the ignition starts to heat up and go south as well.
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backfoot100
Platinum Member Joined: January-03-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1897 |
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Definitely could be the alt. Maybe it's charging at first and then stops? Getting a little charge to the battery and when it stops, the battery isn't enough to keep the MSD running. MSD's don't like any kind of power hiccups. They can be finicky that way. You said you have a MSD HEI and ign. module. I assume that means the whole MSD dizzy and ign. box setup?
If so it's possible that the MSD is on it's way out too, although unlikely. It either works or it doesn't. Don't rule out the mag pickup though. I'm guessing if you put the MSD in, you're aware that you can test the ign. box real easy. That is if you didn't hardwire all the connections so that you can disconnect them if need be. If you hardwired them, it'll be much more difficult to test. First unlpug the coil wire from the dizzy cap and set it up so the contact lead is a half inch from ground. Unplug the dizzy wire going to the ign. box, turn the ign. key ON and then short out the two wires going to the ign. box (the ones you just unplugged from the dizzy). When you remove the short, you should get a bright white spark from the coil wire to ground. You'll hear that sucker too. It really snaps pretty loud. You're basically simulating the short/open from the mag pickup. If that checks out, the ign. box and all your wiring is good. You should get that bright spark every time you short/open that connection. The only thing left is the mag pickup at that point. I had to replace mine several years ago. Was giving all kinds of fits. Work and not work. Real intermittent. I keep thinking replacement was $20-$25 or something like that. |
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When people run down to the lake to see what's making that noise, you've succeeded.
Eddie |
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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How in the hell can a battery start and engine and not supply enough to keep the ignition powered. Think I might check the alt too.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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MSD HEI with MSD Module cap rotor wires and delco plugs. |
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Been idleing for about ten min. Vacuum starting to fluctuate between 15. 5 and 17. At fifteen min it stalled. Refired and still fluctuating vacume, battery charger attached but not on. Waited for break up and stall. Started stalling turned charger on to start setting and boat cleared up and vacuum hit steady 17" guess the dam battery was causing all this.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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hotboat
Gold Member Joined: March-28-2009 Location: Conn Lake Pa Status: Offline Points: 814 |
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What ignition are you running?
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Brian
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Now idling at seven fifty with mixture set at max vacuum and then 1/2 turn out. Vacuum reading at 17.
Timing set to 14* initial 36* total at 3000 RPM. Let see if she hiccups...... |
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Ok heres the cold compression numbers
#1/162 #2/166 #3/170 #4/170 #5/163 #6/165 #7/165 #8/168. Dead headed fuel pump with guage will rolling compression test. Five pounds max with fuel pressure gradually dropping between cylinder tests. Plugs are ghost white with a faint chocolate color covering maybe 5% of the porcelain insulator. Going to run it and do a hot compression test now and get those results then temp install electric pump and see if it will repeat symptoms. Then I guess ill move over to ignition and electrical. Wonder if a weak battery would cause all of this as I also have noticed that muiltiple starts will weaken it to the point of no roll over pretty fast. |
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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hotboat
Gold Member Joined: March-28-2009 Location: Conn Lake Pa Status: Offline Points: 814 |
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Dont forget what this gentleman said, I been there |
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Brian
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3736 |
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A compression test will tell you the overall health of the engine, while the plugs are out read them and see what you learn from reading the plugs. Champion, NGK or Autolite all have websites with great pictures on reading plugs.
If you have a fuel supply issue the plugs will be very clean from lots of air and not much fuel. I would read the plugs before working on the fuel system. Let us know what you learn. I hope it is an easy fix. |
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Im not totally convinced on the compression hot/cold senerio MrMcd. As mentioned before and I know were not dealing with a two stroke but I have, you can lean one out and fry the ring pack and it will run til warm. Let it cool and will do it again. But on the other hand i dont know everything I wouldnt be here asking you all what the hel is wrong with my engine.lol
My plan is just for shiets and giggles temporarily through a in line electric fuel pump on it just to reassure me the the fuel system has nothing to do with the problem. Next will be compression test and depending on how that goes, a leakdown most likely will be next. Im going to get this basterd on the lake and run the crap out of it get it good and hot and jerk all 8 plugs out and test compression. |
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3736 |
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I agree with TR Benj, Compression does not come and go hot and cold like your problem. With no compression they get hard to start in addition to other problems, smoking exhaust etc.
It very much sounds like a heat related vacuum leak, the block and heads expand as the engine warms up and a crack that is sealed cold can open hot causing issues. As a twist, have you overheated this engine and maybe you are running with partially collapsed exhaust tubes that are shutting down your engine at idle but open under full throttle? |
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Im going to purchase a replacement compression tester tomm. ( wont be loaning any more dam tools lol) I will check compression and post results. Also going to borrow a electric fuel pump and regulator from my vette and re verify its not fuel related. Will post results on that also. Thanks guys for the help.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Well that was also looked at. Actually accidentally. Pulled the pvc and blocked the line trying to get it to idle. While the pvc was out noticeable blowby was evident. Its not choo choo puffing but a steady flow without any positive pressure behind it. Also once I pull the intake oil in the intake ports of the head would be tell tell sign of vacuum leak under the intake.. |
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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oldcuda
Senior Member Joined: June-22-2010 Status: Offline Points: 474 |
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My first thought was massive vacuum leak but it would never idle.Unless it is holding vacuum like Zach's test maybe crankcase acting as vacuum canister.
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phatsat67
Grand Poobah Joined: March-13-2006 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 6157 |
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Vic, Pull the PCV and take a piece of paper and hold it over the PCV hole in the valve cover. This is a way to check for a vacuum leak from the bottom of the intake into the engine. If it pulls it it's pulling vacuum.
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backfoot100
Platinum Member Joined: January-03-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1897 |
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You've confirmed it's not vacuum or carb related. Have you looked at the cap and rotor? I've seen some cracked caps cause some really goofy issues.
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When people run down to the lake to see what's making that noise, you've succeeded.
Eddie |
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SNobsessed
Grand Poobah Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
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You might consider doing a leak down test. It is more comprehensive than a compression test; can help you isolate valve vs. ring issues.
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“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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This was an occasional issue the became more and more frequent. In the beginning it would refire immediately and take some time to start acting up again. In the early stages it wouldnt give a problem going into gear after refire. And then it progeressed into stalling going into gear all the time. It was classic carb symptoms I thought but after trying three different carbs with the same result ruled the carb out.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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forvicjr
Gold Member Joined: August-24-2012 Location: sc Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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I will be doing a compression check. That was next on my list. Went t ok the tool box to find it missing. I must have loaned it out and the loanee forgot where the hel it come from. :-/.
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“Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes.” ― Harry S. Truman
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