Engine wont start after it is at operating temp.

Joined
Jul 10, 2017
Messages
6
I recently purchased a 1979 Chris Craft 28' Express Cruiser with twin GM181 inboards. I made three trips, one of which was 1.5 hours each way, without any issues. On my last trip, I had a starboard engine failure on both the 1.5 hour trip out and on the trip home. Both times the failure happened the exact way.

The engines started fine and ran fine. As I entered the harbor and placed both engines in neutral to dock, the starboard engine died and would not restart at all. I had to dock on a single engine, which in this boat doesn't work so well. After the first failure, I thought it was a result of a ball valve I put in the fuel vent line. I did this because gas spilled out and I wanted to make sure this never happened again. I forgot to open the valve after we were underway. I laid awake that night trying to mentally come up with an explanation as to what the problem might be. It dawned on me the valve was closed and the engine probably died due to the lack of fuel created by the vacuum.

I went out to the boat the next day, opened the valve and the motor fired right up. Problem solved, so I thought, until a day later when we went back to our home port and the same engine again died while docking.

Due to my work schedule, I will not be able to see my boat for another 3 weeks and I would like to come up with some likely reasons this happened, possibly order some parts so I have minimal down time on my next time off. I realize it is either a spark or fuel issue. I cant fathom why the carburetor would crap out on me in this fashion, so I am leaning towards a spark issue. Does anyone think maybe there is crack in the cap and rotor that the heat is causing to create an open circuit or maybe the coil is being affected by the heat?

Thanks for any suggestions.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
47,296
take the ball valve out of the vent. that is a good way to rupture the fuel pump

the motor dying could be fuel system relate or electrical system. most likely its fuel.
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
40,581
It dies going into neutral makes me think electrical. Bring along a voltmeter and see if you have 12V on the + side of the coil.
 
Joined
Jul 10, 2017
Messages
6
It dies going into neutral makes me think electrical. Bring along a voltmeter and see if you have 12V on the + side of the coil.


Ya, I'm leaning towards the coil too. If I drive from the boat ramp to the fuel dock, it idles just fine and easily restarts. This only seems to happen after the engine has been running for a significant amount of time. I will be checking the fuel line just to make sure it isn't close enough to the engine to be boiling, but I really don't think its a fuel issue.


Also, I'm not removing the ball valve. There is no way I'm risking a $10,000 fine over spilled fuel. Way to many hippies in my area that would ***** up a storm given the chance and the coast guard is almost always present.
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
10,198
i'm chasing the same over the last couple years. I think I found a guy who knows what he is doing and it seems to be a lot om little things adding up. I'll post results if it looks like it might help you.
 
Top