1990 Supra with PCM 351 revs to 2000 rpm then struggles. Reverse works fine

itsmetibbs

Seaman
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May 24, 2016
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If it's weighed down, we won't be able to plane out and get to a cruising speed. If it's just me and a few two others, it'll slowly accelerate, but eventually get to an okay wakeboarding speed.

The engine revs easily to 5-6k rpms in reverse, but under load in forward, it struggles once it gets to 2000 rpms. When I say struggle it doesn't misfire, or sound odd, it just lacks power and won't accellerate past 2200 rpms without giving it way too much time to plane out.

I initially thought it was a fuel delivery problem, but since it works fine in reverse, I'm wondering if it's a problem with the butterfly valves on the carb, or the throttle cable itself.

I took apart the main body of the carburetor and everything looked good. I cleaned it out and replaced the gaskets anyway.

Has anyone seen anything like this on their boats?

The boat is a 1990 Supra Sunsport with a Ford Windsor 351 built by PCM. Holley 4160 carburetor.
 

Bondo

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I initially thought it was a fuel delivery problem,

Ayuh,..... Reverse is irrelevant,.... It sounds like a fuel delivery issue,.....

Pull the fuel filter, 'n examine it's contents for anything but clean fresh gasoline,.....

It's got a fuel restriction, Somewhere,.....
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Go back to the carb. Did you chase every passage with a small wire to make sure they are clean?

Did you set the float level properly?
 

itsmetibbs

Seaman
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May 24, 2016
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Every passage was blown out with compressed air and carb cleaner. I did not adjust the float levels. I'll look into that.
 

itsmetibbs

Seaman
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May 24, 2016
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Everything seems to be working fine in the driveway when the engine is not under load. I noticed that I was low on transmission fluid, so I purchased a quart and filled it up. I'm taking it to the lake next week to test it on the water. I should also check the points and maybe give it a tune up before I go.
 

itsmetibbs

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May 24, 2016
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signed up for an account at just answer. They assigned a marine mechanic who just gave me a bunch of general stuff to check. I'm going to start with this and see what I find. I'll post here with any updates. Here is what he said:

1. As simple as this sounds you always start by running it off of a different fuel tank, like a small plastic portable tank. Half the time there isn't anything wrong the motor itself, but rather something wrong with the boats fuel system. This can be a pinched or collapsing fuel line, bad or old gas, or a bad anti siphon valve. Marine engines are very sensitive as to the quality of the fuel, and if any part of it is over 90 days, the fuel itself is always going to be suspect. This is a pass or fail test, and the engine is either going to run better or it is not. If it does run better, on this portable tank, first change the anti siphon valve and retest with the engine hooked back up to the boats fuel tank. If it goes back to running poor on the boats fuel tank, that tank will need to be pumped out. Bad anti siphon valves are a common problem, when they go back they create a blockage and restrict the amount of fuel that flows to the engine. If the engine does not get enough fuel it obviously will not make full power. Click this link, this explains more on the anti siphon valve and why they go bad. http://www.sterndrives.com/anti-syphon-valve.html On this anti siphon valve there is an inlet side and an outlet side. The inlet side faces the fuel tank, the outlet side faces the fuel line. When the engine runs, the fuel pump creates suction. This suction pulls the check ball off of it's seat and fuel is allowed to flow around it. The problem with this is over time the spring in the valve will get weak or simply break. When that happens the check ball will be free to jump to the outlet side of the valve and create a blockage/restriction on the outlet side of the valve. If the spring is simply weak and not broken, this will more or less happen at random. Click this link for a picture, it will make more sense once you see it http://imgur.com/a/tpq4H. The anti siphon valve itself is located at the fuel tank, where the fuel line connects. If you pull the fuel line off the tank you will see a hose barb, that hose barb is the anti siphon valve. As part of this test replace all fuel filters. Also, as part of this step check the air filter/spark arrestor on top of the carb and make sure that is not overly dirty.



2. If no change, then compression testing the engine is next. Your results need be about 100 PSI or better on that engine, all cylinders should be within 10-15% of eachother. If you get below 100 PSI, then the engine is worn out or has mechanical problems, and you might as well stop your troubleshooting here, as there is nothing you can do to an engine with low compression to make it run better. The next step after this would be checking that valve adjustment, and seeing of it's a valve adjustment issue causing the low compression.



3. Spark test and timing test. Your engine originally came with a points and condesnor ignition system. Before doing the actual test, install new spark plugs, points, and condensor. Set the point dwell, and time the engine. Next, get a timing light and run the engine and hook the timing light up to each plug wire one at a time and see if the timing light flashes or not. Flash means the engine is sparking when running, no flash means no spark. Again this is a pass or fail test. If there is no spark on an cylinder, change the cap, rotor and plug wires next, and this will get you spark back to all cylinders. Next up is the timing test. For this, hook the timing light up to the #1 cylinder (front right) Run the engine, and aim the light at the harmonic balancer on the front of the engine and check the timing. At idle it should be roughly 8 degrees before top dead center. If you rev the engine up, the timing should advance to roughly 25+ Degrees before top dead center. basically what will happen is the timing mark on the balancer will jump all the way to the left, almost out of sight. If the idle timing is good, but that timing is not advancing when you rev the engine up, the centrifigul force mechanism for the points is going to be rusted up. Also make sure the firing order is correct and that the correct spark plug wire is on the correct cylinder.



4. Fuel pressure test - Hook up a fuel pressure gauge between the pump and carb, measure fuel pressure with the boat going as fast as it can. Pressure needs to be at least 3 psi. If it's low, the fuel pump is weak. Make sure you do this after you do #1. If that anti siphon valve is bad that will cause low fuel pressure because the fuel pump would be struggling to pull through that restriction/blockage that a bad anti siphon valve creates.



5. Lastly, if you do all of the above steps and still do not get any kind of result, if carbureted, the problem is going to be in the carb. It is either dirty on the inside, and not flowing enough fuel from the carb and into the engine. Or it has a sticking float not allowing fuel into the carb. in any event if you get to this point the carb would need to come off and be professionally rebuilt.
 

itsmetibbs

Seaman
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May 24, 2016
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I have started to go through the 5 steps listed above, and got to the compression test. Looks like my entire engine has low compression. I need to do some research as to what to do now. Am I toast? If I remember correctly, low compression on all cylinders might be caused by a slipped timing chain. Any other recommendations other than a full engine overhaul?

I used an autozone compression tester, I want to make sure the tester is functioning properly before I dig too much deeper into the problem.

Here is a video of me testing compression and fuel lines. https://youtu.be/BEM4MJX4L5E
 

Bondo

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Ayuh,..... Even though you did the compression test poorly, with the pressures at 100 psi, 'n less,.....

You need to rebuild the motor,..... 100 psi is a Core motor, not a runner,.....

A compression test is done with all the spark plugs out, 'n the throttle at Wot,.....

If the timin' chain slipped, you'd also have other runability issues,....

Btw,..... That little in-line fuel filter don't belong on a boat, use a canister type fuel filter,....
'n the vent line on the fuel pump appears to have some sorta fluid in it, which it shouldn't,....
 

TwoBallScrewBall

Lieutenant Commander
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Sep 14, 2003
Messages
1,695
Any progress?

Have you visually checked the secondary plates when you go WOT?

Also, check that compression gauge on a known good motor. I accidentally replaced the check valve in my gauge at some pointwith the wrong type of valve core, and it was giving ~50lb low readings. Got the right core, which had much less 'spring' resistance in it, and readings went back up to where they should have been. Found this by checking the 305 in my old camaro which I knew was good but was still showing 110-120lbs. Swapped the core out in the hose and went back up to 170-180.

Not having the plugs out and the throttle open will also give low compression readings, but 70-90lbs is concerning.
 
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