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boat wont start

73redblaze

73redblaze

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I went to my grandpas cabin this weekend to go fishing but when I got up there I could not get the boat to start. She hasn’t been run in about 6 months. It has a big block Chevy motor in it so i know you guys can help me out. The starter was turning over and I kept the charger on it so it wouldn’t die. It just keeps cranking but no go. its getting fuel and I sprayed starting fluid directly in the carb with the spark arrestor off but still nothing. next I am going to pull the plugs on it and go from there.... any other ideas? Thanks guys
 
73redblaze said:
I went to my grandpas cabin this weekend to go fishing but when I got up there I could not get the boat to start. She hasn’t been run in about 6 months. It has a big block Chevy motor in it so i know you guys can help me out. The starter was turning over and I kept the charger on it so it wouldn’t die. It just keeps cranking but no go. its getting fuel and I sprayed starting fluid directly in the carb with the spark arrestor off but still nothing. next I am going to pull the plugs on it and go from there.... any other ideas? Thanks guys
Click to expand...

Does it have a kill switch?
 
If you sprayed starter fluid in it and it didn't fire, you are missing spark.

Make sure its in neutral.....you haven't told us what type of boat. Either something like a kill switch is keeping the ign off, or some ign problem.

Check your ign fuses, as well as your whoel ign system.
 
It's winter. You don't need a boat to go fishing.
ice-fishing.jpg

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No idea. But there should be SOME SORT of ign fuse somewhere....maybe a breaker. Get my outside of tournament ski/wakeboard boats and i'm useless.

But you are missing spark, for sure.
 
ok i will pull the engine cover off and take the plugs out. I did manage to catch one salmon by hand. 18" long. he was a fighter but i got him.
 
Even a 76 may have a kill switch, maybe with or without a lanyard. Look around the helm of the boat for a small switch. Check for spark, Odds are you have no spark. There are some easy things to check if you have no spark, first thing, check the cap and rotor. Most boats have a sun pad right above where the distributor is and they get saturated with water, which drops on to them, corroding them. Another thing to check is there should be a purple(usually) wire running from your key switch back to your distributor, make sure that wire is ok. I am a marine tech, and I had a 78 Sea Ray with an OMC 3.8 that I chased my tail on for about 3 days with no spark.

First things first, check for spark... if no spark go that route, if spark, check compression. A motor needs 3 things to run; spark, fuel, and compression. One could argue ignition timing, but that is to be considered under spark.
 
An engine needs air too...although it's mighty uncommon to find one livng in it's own airless environment. ;)

Rene
 
i take it it's a merc.....

if you've got no spark.. check the red push button breaker on top of the motor, just push it.. then make sure your getting juice to the positive side of the coil.....

just let me know what the marine package is on the motor, merc, OMC, etc and what ignition package is on it, points, Thunderbolt, etc and I can walk you through any diagnosis...
 
ryoken said:
i take it it's a merc.....

if you've got no spark.. check the red push button breaker on top of the motor, just push it.. then make sure your getting juice to the positive side of the coil.....

just let me know what the marine package is on the motor, merc, OMC, etc and what ignition package is on it, points, Thunderbolt, etc and I can walk you through any diagnosis...
Click to expand...

This is right on.

I use to have to sand between the points after it sat for a while. That breaker switch can go bad as well, (although no the case if the starter is turning over). A test light is nice to have with these things. Also it is nice to have an extra hand or a remote starter switch when trying to figure it out. Best of luck.
 
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