mercruiser 5.7 not running right

sanger91

Cadet
Joined
Jul 4, 2011
Messages
13
I have a 91 ski sanger direct drive with mercruiser 5.7. this is my third summer with the boat. the first summer i used it twice ran awesome up to the end of second time when it started cutting out. i changed fuel filters and it would run good for about an hour. i found debree in fuel tank. removed tank, cleaned out and ran brand new fuel line. i removed carb (quadrajet carb), and had an automotive mechanic rebuild it for me with a kit i bought from carquest auto parts. install carb will not idle below 1000 rpm and mixture screws do nothing. called my local boat shop they said street kits and marine kits different. so i bought there kit made by sierra, did it my self. took to lake yesterday still does not idle right. engine sounds like its missing and low rpm but more at high rpm. im only getting 3200-3300 rpm at wot. i put new plugs in it still same. this boat did sit in a nasty winter and was a lot of condinsation on everything. are my points and cond. bad? coil? wires? should i buy an reman marine carb? any help would be great.
 

dubs283

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,346
Re: mercruiser 5.7 not running right

are my points and cond. bad?

probably

replace points, condenser, rotor, cap, plugs, wires, fuel filters, etc... as part of a tune-up

set dwell and timing, adjust carb for idle settings
 

sanger91

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Joined
Jul 4, 2011
Messages
13
Re: mercruiser 5.7 not running right

what should the dwell be set at? and at what rpm? what should timing be set at? rpm? and do i need to do anything special to set timing? i can get the carb to adjust. might have to break down and buy a reman.
 

sanger91

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Jul 4, 2011
Messages
13
Re: mercruiser 5.7 not running right

I also did a compression test yesterday and every cylinder is between 140-150 psi.
 

dubs283

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,346
Re: mercruiser 5.7 not running right

what should the dwell be set at? and at what rpm? what should timing be set at? rpm?

all the specs should be on the label on the flame arrestor cover or the valve cover
 

sanger91

Cadet
Joined
Jul 4, 2011
Messages
13
Re: mercruiser 5.7 not running right

no specs on either. i tryed doing starting at a dead stop in the water and just putting the throttle not quite to full throttle and the boat just flies out of the water really nice. just wont idle good and misses/ hesitates going down the lake. before i never really payed attention to my rpm when it was running good but yesterday was only getting 3200-3300 rpm. what is normal for a direct drive to have at wot? thank you for your input so far.
 
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