Fuel Issue '73 Southwind 340
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30678
Printed Date: October-08-2024 at 11:17pm
Topic: Fuel Issue '73 Southwind 340
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Subject: Fuel Issue '73 Southwind 340
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 6:05pm
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I have had a fuel issue with my Southwind ever since I bought it. The boat idles well, but as soon as you give it any gas it seems to stumble and kill. After a few accelerate-and-kill passes, it seems to have a hard time even holding an idle. I've tried several methods to alleviate this problem and nothing has worked so far. I had the carburetor rebuilt this winter, I replace the in-line fuel filter, I replaced the water separator filter, and I've replaced the fuel pump. I replaced the fuel pump, and both filters last weekend. After they were replaced the boat wont even start. The in-line filter is downstream of the fuel pump and water separator, and is clear, I can see that no fuel is reaching it. When I crank over the boat and put a finger on where the fuel line is supposed to go into the fuel pump and I can feel a pulsing vacuum. The MOPAR fuel pump doesn't have a pintle mechanism and just runs off an eccentric. The install is pretty straight forward. I'm at a bit of a loss for ideas at this point. Perhaps the fuel tank is rusted out and clogging anything at high flow? It doesn't make sense to me that after I installed the fuel pump and changed the filters that it won't run at all. Perhaps I could get a fuel tank from a fishing boat, hook it up, and see if that remedies my problem? Any ideas are appreciated. -Dan |
Replies:
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 6:14pm
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Dan, I think you have the right idea. You've done pretty much everything from the fuel pump to the intake, sounds likely that your problem is the fuel feed to the pump. Yes, if you could hook up a temporary tank that would prove out everything else. Engine starts and runs fine, idles, accelerates without stumble, you have your answer. When you installed your fuel pump, was there gas in the fuel line when you disconnected it? I don't know if you have a shut off valve at the tank, if so can you disconnect that line and open and close the valve to see if any flow? ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 6:20pm
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Is it safe to assume that the ignition is in the proper state of tune? Never start tinkering with the carb or fuel system until youre sure the ignition is good to go. Good cap/rotor/points/condensor/plugs/wires, and properly set dwell and timing. Then start looking at fuel. If youre not getting ANY fuel to the pump, then look at the anti siphon valve first. ------------- |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 6:39pm
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Tim, when he says no fuel is reaching the inline filter I figure there has to be a fuel feed problem. ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 7:08pm
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Tim is right though Dave. He has a fuel problem now but that may be from throwing parts at it. He may get fuel flowing back to the carb and still now have the same problem that he started with. Then as a last resort he gives it a tune up anyway maybe solving the problem by replacing the throw away parts ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 7:21pm
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I won't assume the ignition system is in tip-top shape. I purchased the Pertronix Electric Ignition Conversion kit, but have yet to install it. I was trying to hold some of the variables constant while I tinkered. Would you recommend I install the kit and proceed from there? Is the anti-siphon the brass valve located on the top of the fuel tank where the fuel line meets the tank? -Dan |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 9:10pm
I actually would not recommend installing the Pertronix... ever.  Yes, that is the anti siphon valve. ------------- |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 9:19pm
| You wouldn't install the Pertronix ever? May I ask why? |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 9:24pm
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The pros and cons of retrofit EI kits has been discussed here to a great extent, so I wont attempt to rehash that. Suffice it to say I am in the all or nothing, ie, "upgrade to a new/modern distributor with EI or leave the points in it" camp. I have several of both, all have been good performers and reliable. The only thing I have had fail prematurely was a EI retrofit kit- and it was one "better" ones (PCM/Prestolite). The only 2 people I know who tried Pertronix units in their boats ended up with issues and ended up switching back to points. I have not found points to be a maintenance issue (5+ years on a set is normal) and theyre dirt cheap. ------------- |
Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 9:49pm
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Guess I may be an exception to the rule then..... I installed the petronix EI years ago and haven't had one issue with it. Been working great for me. ------------- "Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman" |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 9:54pm
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You just don't know any better but now that you have said it----- Just stick to trailers  ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: July-10-2013 at 10:11pm
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Dan, with the help of people here I'm betting you get that boat running very nicely in short order, why not see how it runs with current points setup and decide on the conversion later? You'll need a timing light that measures dwell or a tach/dwell meter along with a timing light, can probably borrow one if you don't have one. ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-11-2013 at 7:13pm
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I replaced the points and condenser. However, since it still isn't getting fuel I can't ensure timing is proper. The plan tonight is the hook up a plastic gas tank and see if that fixes the fuel problem, then check the timing. If that still doesn't fix the fuel problem I plan on hooking the gas tank straight to the carb fuel line, then working backwards to see where the blockage is occurring. When I removed the old water separator filter I noticed the gas had a bit of a red tint to it, so I have a hunch where the problem lies. If the gas tank is in fact shot, what are the best/cheapest options? My wife is starting to get wise to my money pit...... |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-12-2013 at 11:28am
Turns out the problem was in the fuel tank after all. I hooked up a 2.5 gallon gas tank to the intake side of the fuel pump and cranked over the engine a few times. You could see the pump forcing fuel into the clear plastic in-line filter. The engine fired right up, idled well, and **bonus** I got to go for my first ski ride behind the boat after owning it for almost two years.  There was only one minor issue to report. When the boat is idling and the skier is ready to go, if you put the throttle all the way down it will stall. It needs to be lightly goosed in before opening it wide up. Any ideas how to fix that? Also, the timing is correct. Where is a good place to get a cheap gas tank? |
Posted By: 81nautique
Date Posted: July-12-2013 at 11:42am
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Check that you're getting a squirt of gas from your accelerator pump off of idle. if not the engine is stumbling from a momentary lean condition. What carb is on the motor? ------------- You can’t change the wind but you can adjust your sails |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-12-2013 at 12:22pm
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I believe it is a Carter AFB, but I will have to double check. Would you have to replace the accelerator pump to fix the issue if it isn't getting fuel? |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: July-12-2013 at 12:27pm
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Glad you solved it and got out skiing! Yes, check accelerator pumps, but also when you say timing is correct did you check dwell? ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-12-2013 at 5:35pm
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I didn't check the dwell when I checked the timing. Could this be a potential cause? |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-12-2013 at 8:48pm
Dan, Please post a picture of the filter. The only clear plastic one I know of is a Tempo and it's only rated for outboards. Sorry but you may be driving a bomb!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
RedandWhite73 wrote:Posted By: 74Wind
Date Posted: July-14-2013 at 12:45am
Sounds like your problem solved, but to add my 2 cents, I'm with Tim, I put Pertronix in my 75 Century 5 years ago and no problems since. ------------- 1974 Southwind 18 1975 Century Mark II |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-15-2013 at 11:54am
| No problem. I'll take a picture of the fuel filter tonight when I get home. I was attending weddings all weekend and didn't have time to work on the boat. |
Posted By: RedandWhite73
Date Posted: July-16-2013 at 12:10pm
 As promised. |
Posted By: 63 Skier
Date Posted: July-16-2013 at 7:29pm
Sorry I never got back to this thread. Dwell is the angle that points stay closed before opening, and it's set by the point gap. So, if you correctly gap your points you get the correct dwell. But, checking with a dwell meter is a better way of knowing you got the gap right. Whenever you change the gap on points you have to re-check timing. A change of timing won't change dwell, but a change of dwell will change timing. When you say could it be a potential cause - you seem to have found your fuel supply problem, now get everything in the ignition set up correctly and see how you run. While you are setting gaps, make sure your spark plugs are gapped correctly. ------------- '63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-16-2013 at 8:06pm
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Dan, It looks like a PO or a hack mechanic (sorry!) went after you high pressure side of the fuel delivery and installed the filter. The line should be hard piped and not all the rubber with hose clamps. Personally, I would be afraid of driving that boat. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |