Good morning all
I recently purchased a boat with this engine. It's a 1996 model. 3rd owner but second owner was my father for the past 4 years.
Anyways over this past winter I did a couple of things to the engine to help prevent possible breakdown at my local lake
1. Rebuilt fuel pump. Oil side has been deleted for some time. We run a 50:1 premix. I did this because the engine would not stay running after approximately 2 minutes and would only stay running after hitting the primer bulb. This corrected that issue.
2. Replaced all for plugs just because. Can't remember the gap that it called for but remember checking from what I read online. Yes I went back with champions.
3. Replaced both thermostats with OEM due to what looked like scale build up and I thought why not? Best to keep this rascal from overheating.
4. Replaced gear oil in lower unit.
5. Tachometer hasn't worked the past 2 years. Dad said he did some kind of check he read online but couldn't remember what that was. Anyways I hadn't gotten around to fixing or diagnosing this issue.
So that's the history of this engine to my knowledge.
Went out yesterday with some buddies for some fishing. Didn't run it hard as it was my maiden voyage with this rig. Ran great and the highest speed I got to was 20 mph. While heading back to the ramp about 1/2 mile away the engine started vibrating to beat all hell. I immediately killed it. No warning lights! Pulled cover nothing caught my eye. Tilted up to look at the prop best I could and nothing stood out.
Anyways started back up at idle and engine sounded ok to my untrained ear. Could give her a little throttle and she would move but once you gave it any decent amount she would vibrate. Again no alarms and she was pissing water out which told me water pump and stats were working. We could however smell gas while at idle.
ONE thing that stood out to me was how hard the boat would pull to the right the little bit I did run it getting back to the ramp. Almost leads me to believe I lost a cylinder.
Got it home and decided to check my plug wires with my Lisle in line spark checker. And the bottom left cylinder I had a hard time seeing the spark in the glass as opposed to the others. So I ordered new wires, coils and just went ahead and ordered the powerpack for good measure.
With all of this being said any advice or thoughts that y'all can offer is appreciated.
I recently purchased a boat with this engine. It's a 1996 model. 3rd owner but second owner was my father for the past 4 years.
Anyways over this past winter I did a couple of things to the engine to help prevent possible breakdown at my local lake
1. Rebuilt fuel pump. Oil side has been deleted for some time. We run a 50:1 premix. I did this because the engine would not stay running after approximately 2 minutes and would only stay running after hitting the primer bulb. This corrected that issue.
2. Replaced all for plugs just because. Can't remember the gap that it called for but remember checking from what I read online. Yes I went back with champions.
3. Replaced both thermostats with OEM due to what looked like scale build up and I thought why not? Best to keep this rascal from overheating.
4. Replaced gear oil in lower unit.
5. Tachometer hasn't worked the past 2 years. Dad said he did some kind of check he read online but couldn't remember what that was. Anyways I hadn't gotten around to fixing or diagnosing this issue.
So that's the history of this engine to my knowledge.
Went out yesterday with some buddies for some fishing. Didn't run it hard as it was my maiden voyage with this rig. Ran great and the highest speed I got to was 20 mph. While heading back to the ramp about 1/2 mile away the engine started vibrating to beat all hell. I immediately killed it. No warning lights! Pulled cover nothing caught my eye. Tilted up to look at the prop best I could and nothing stood out.
Anyways started back up at idle and engine sounded ok to my untrained ear. Could give her a little throttle and she would move but once you gave it any decent amount she would vibrate. Again no alarms and she was pissing water out which told me water pump and stats were working. We could however smell gas while at idle.
ONE thing that stood out to me was how hard the boat would pull to the right the little bit I did run it getting back to the ramp. Almost leads me to believe I lost a cylinder.
Got it home and decided to check my plug wires with my Lisle in line spark checker. And the bottom left cylinder I had a hard time seeing the spark in the glass as opposed to the others. So I ordered new wires, coils and just went ahead and ordered the powerpack for good measure.
With all of this being said any advice or thoughts that y'all can offer is appreciated.