Wont Start

Replaced points, cond, cap & rotor, plugs and coil. Started once for a second and buddy inadvertently shut it down. Wouldn't start up again. What am i missing? Brett

Hollywood wrote: Just to recap brettmac wrote: replaced the plugs, coil and battery. brettmac wrote: Gas is coming from a fresh gas can. Boat was laid up with a full tank of premium non ethenol with stabil. Have cranked down the new battery twice without a start up. Just a lot of popping and farting. brettmac wrote: Changed the plugs, fresh shot down throat, holding wide open, at idle etc. Nothing seems to make a difference. brettmac wrote: Plugs are wet when pulled. Pulled cap and everything seems in order. Is it time to replace cap, rotor and plug wires. brettmac wrote: Ok team CCF, i verified the firing order and brought home a spark plug tester. All 8 cylinders are getting spark. Damn thing nearly started during plug test. It didn't however. And yes Hollywood the gaps are good. How bright are those tester lights supposed to be? It seemed it was brighter on some of the cylinders than others. Fresh plugs, fresh gas, weak spark. Time for a distributor tune up.

I really don't see anywhere where you mention what's under the distributor cap.

Does it have points or is it an electronic conversion?

It seems like you want to change the cap and rotor but make no mention of anything else under there other than "everything seems in order" which isn't very descriptive. You don't exactly tell what the cap and rotor look like either.

Maybe Pete will come and tell you he gets 35 years out of a set of points or maybe it's 50
but it's with some attention being paid to their condition. Don't listen, get a new set if you're getting a new cap and rotor

I bet Hollywood's tuneup would/ should include points if that's what is hiding under. there and then you might as well do the condenser too while you're at it.

Could be a weak spark you're getting from some points that need attention

You also mention that you verified the firing order, but haven't said what it is and hopefully the plug wires are going in the right direction around the distributor cap too.

Just to recap

brettmac wrote: replaced the plugs, coil and battery.

brettmac wrote: Gas is coming from a fresh gas can. Boat was laid up with a full tank of premium non ethenol with stabil. Have cranked down the new battery twice without a start up. Just a lot of popping and farting.

brettmac wrote: Changed the plugs, fresh shot down throat, holding wide open, at idle etc. Nothing seems to make a difference.

brettmac wrote: Plugs are wet when pulled. Pulled cap and everything seems in order. Is it time to replace cap, rotor and plug wires.

brettmac wrote: Ok team CCF, i verified the firing order and brought home a spark plug tester. All 8 cylinders are getting spark. Damn thing nearly started during plug test. It didn't however. And yes Hollywood the gaps are good. How bright are those tester lights supposed to be? It seemed it was brighter on some of the cylinders than others.

Fresh plugs, fresh gas, weak spark.
Time for a distributor tune up.

SNobsessed wrote: Check ballast resistor. It is bypassed during cranking, which would give you some limited fire.

Assuming this is a PCM engine he has, the ballast resistor is not bypassed during cranking.
PCM never did it this way

Others like Indmar for example did.

If you look at a wiring diagram for a PCM engine, you won't find it.

Some people have done it on their own, thinking it makes for better starts.

KenO

It was running when you parked it. That says the firing order and timing is OK. Unless you messed with that part.
Throw in some new plugs or rinse those off with brake clean. I prefer new cause it would not hurt to have new at start of season.
Hold choke open and hold throttle open also. Use a hot battery and crank it over. If it does not go in 10 seconds or so THEN give her a few good squirts of gas. You sound like you have a combo of fouled plugs from the oil and old gas and also maybe a weak battery.
Also always good idea to keep the fire extinguisher and or a blanket handy when doing all this.   It ran before and it will run again. Good Luck, Duane

Keep the Starting Fluid at home!!!!

plug wires are probably not the cause, don't go messing with them right now.

verify your firing order first. new plugs are gapped to .035" ?

Plugs are wet when pulled. Haven't confirmed all 8 are getting spark. Good idea. Have only looked at one on each side for spark. Pulled cap and everything seems in order. Is it time to replace cap, rotor and plug wires. Hate to keep throwing money at this without any guarantee that they are the issue, but again am getting frustrated. I have owned boat for three years and plug wires look good. But they are the ones she came with. IDK what else to try. Thanks again to all. Keep the ideas coming. Regards Brett

That's a good point.

I was also going to also mention, double check that you didn't accidentally jumble up the plug wire order, when you were replacing the plugs etc.

Have tried all of that. Changed the plugs, fresh shot down throat, holding wide open, at idle etc. Nothing seems to make a difference.

Unlikely unless its really full of junk, you might simply be flooding - try to hold the throttle all the way open and crank it over, don't pump the gas just hold it open and be ready to pull back on the throttle if it catches.

Gas is coming from a fresh gas can. Boat was laid up with a full tank of premium non ethenol with stabil. Seems like she's pushing ton of gas down the carb. Belching black smoke and it looks like mystery oil can be seen in gas going down carb. She wants to start, but wont catch on all cylinders. Have cranked down the new battery twice without a start up. Just a lot of popping and farting. Getting discouraged. Help and thanks to all of you. Brett

88 Dominique wont start after layup. I have tried to start the boat, replaced the plugs, coil and battery. It tries to fire, but wont catch all 8 cylinders. Motor was fogged with marvel mystery oil. What am i missing?