Beefer
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,737
I think I have a combination of 2 problems, but I'm not completely sure. Here's what happened today, that prompted this thread. This is not the first time I've had this happen, but I can always (usually) get it started.
A buddy came over at 6am to go fishing. Had the boat off the lift and tied up, running and warming up. I had it warming up about 15 minutes, then we shoved off. Making the u-turn in the canal, which I do at idle speed, she died. OK, no problem. Then she wouldn't start. She'd crank and crank, but not start. I may have flooded it, but I'm not sure. Dropped the anchor about 50 ft from my dock, and waited. After about 10 minutes, she started, and then died again after maybe a minute at idle speed. From that point, we couldn't get it started, tied up to my neighbor's dock, and he towed me over back to my dock.
During the wait between the 1st and 2nd stalls, the pos cable to the started solenoid got pretty warm, almost hot. Volts dropped below 12v, and it sounded like we killed the battery. Got her back on the lift, and for grins and giggles, I turned the key. Fired right up. I was out of the water, and no muffs, so I turned it right off. Lowered her back into the water, and again, fired right up. She's off right now, but before I finish this, I'm going to see if she starts right up again.
I doubt it's a fuel issue, other than me potentially flooding her, as everything in the fuel system is less then 7 months old (all filters, fuel lines, carbs cleaned, pump checked), plugs are new, plug wires new, both starter solenoids (one on the starter, and the other one) are new. Starter is old. Battery positive cable to starter solenoids are new. Positive cable between Batt 1 and Batt 2 is older, but seems ok (no visible correosion, feels pretty solid), negative cables are older, but condition seems ok as well.
It's a 1984 Merc 488R, Alpha 1, and once she's running, runs fine. It's only when in gear below about 1200rpm that I ever have an issue.
Ok, just went and started her up, she fired in 2 cranks, left the throttle in idle, and she died in about 10 seconds. Once again, I can't get her to start, either with leaving the throttle in idle, or with pumping. Once again, sounds like the battery is dying.
Any ideas?
A buddy came over at 6am to go fishing. Had the boat off the lift and tied up, running and warming up. I had it warming up about 15 minutes, then we shoved off. Making the u-turn in the canal, which I do at idle speed, she died. OK, no problem. Then she wouldn't start. She'd crank and crank, but not start. I may have flooded it, but I'm not sure. Dropped the anchor about 50 ft from my dock, and waited. After about 10 minutes, she started, and then died again after maybe a minute at idle speed. From that point, we couldn't get it started, tied up to my neighbor's dock, and he towed me over back to my dock.
During the wait between the 1st and 2nd stalls, the pos cable to the started solenoid got pretty warm, almost hot. Volts dropped below 12v, and it sounded like we killed the battery. Got her back on the lift, and for grins and giggles, I turned the key. Fired right up. I was out of the water, and no muffs, so I turned it right off. Lowered her back into the water, and again, fired right up. She's off right now, but before I finish this, I'm going to see if she starts right up again.
I doubt it's a fuel issue, other than me potentially flooding her, as everything in the fuel system is less then 7 months old (all filters, fuel lines, carbs cleaned, pump checked), plugs are new, plug wires new, both starter solenoids (one on the starter, and the other one) are new. Starter is old. Battery positive cable to starter solenoids are new. Positive cable between Batt 1 and Batt 2 is older, but seems ok (no visible correosion, feels pretty solid), negative cables are older, but condition seems ok as well.
It's a 1984 Merc 488R, Alpha 1, and once she's running, runs fine. It's only when in gear below about 1200rpm that I ever have an issue.
Ok, just went and started her up, she fired in 2 cranks, left the throttle in idle, and she died in about 10 seconds. Once again, I can't get her to start, either with leaving the throttle in idle, or with pumping. Once again, sounds like the battery is dying.
Any ideas?