1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

[Don S]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

Best to post your transom problems and questions over in the Boat Restoration/Hull repair forum. That's what that forum is all about. This forum deals with only the engine and drive repairs.

 

[Randflorida]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

Best to post your transom problems and questions over in the Boat Restoration/Hull repair forum. That's what that forum is all about. This forum deals with only the engine and drive repairs.

}}Very good will-do. I will be working on the boat all day. it seems that the points, and rotor have some wear, and I dont think the points gap is right at 8deg off TDC, which is what the book says to measure at right? or measure at TDC. even at TDC the points are not on the top of the lobe of the dist shaft. id say about 8 deg to the left. no adjustment left. i might have to try to pull the dist and move it one tooth. yes? I am going to post pics of all this work later

 

[Don S]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

it seems that the points, and rotor have some wear, and I dont think the points gap is right at 8deg off TDC, which is what the book says to measure at right?

No, that's not how you set them. Setting the point gap has nothing to do with the timing, you set the point gap with the points on the high spot of the distributor cam. Even at that, setting the gap is just a preliminary to resetting using a dwell meter to set the points to 62?3?. The engines actually like 62? to 64? best for starting. Then you set the timing at the specified rpm. Never set the timing first. Dwell will change the timing, but timing will not change the dwell.

 

[Randflorida]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

No, that's not how you set them. Setting the point gap has nothing to do with the timing, you set the point gap with the points on the high spot of the distributor cam. Even at that, setting the gap is just a preliminary to resetting using a dwell meter to set the points to 62?3?. The engines actually like 62? to 64? best for starting. Then you set the timing at the specified rpm. Never set the timing first. Dwell will change the timing, but timing will not change the dwell.

>>OK what you said about dwell just confused the crap out of me. I found TDC with a long blunt screwdriver but how do i know its in the compression stroke? i couldnt find any notches on the crankexcept a circular indent in the crank which is pic'd in this reply. as you can see in the pic, TDC has the dist rotor facing front, and when i rotate to TDC again its facing the transom. does the dist cap sticker (warning sticker) face towards the alternator or inside near the block? compression is 100,60,60,60. But i read in the manual it can be very low if its been sitting a while (is that true), until oil pressure build after the first start.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

100,60,60,60

NOT GOOD, you should be in the 140 to 170 range at least on those engines. Of course checking compression on an engine that hasn't run for some time isn't very accurate either.

For what it's worth, here is how to find TDC on the compression stroke. HOW TO: Find #1 TDC on the compression stroke.?/ 427081

What you really need to do is get that engine running, even for a minute and retry the compression.

Here is how to do a proper compression check. It may not be a GM engine, but the procedures are the same.

View attachment 97-25 Compression Test.pdf

As far as dwell, just use point gap for now and get it running so you can get a proper compression test first.

 

[Randflorida]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

NOT GOOD, you should be in the 140 to 170 range at least on those engines. Of course checking compression on an engine that hasn't run for some time isn't very accurate either.

For what it's worth, here is how to find TDC on the compression stroke. HOW TO: Find #1 TDC on the compression stroke.*/ 427081

What you really need to do is get that engine running, even for a minute and retry the compression.

Here is how to do a proper compression check. It may not be a GM engine, but the procedures are the same.

View attachment 188070

As far as dwell, just use point gap for now and get it running so you can get a proper compression test first.

}}OK. I have an update. when i found TDC, the dist rotor was facing about 45deg to the left of the firing position of cyl1in the rotor when lined up with screw holes (make sense?). that told me the distributor was pulled and replaced incorrectly. yes? i pulled the dist and moved the rotor about 3 teeth over to the counterclockwise to match the rotor firing position in the rotor cap, and re installed. BAM it fired up and ran as long as I was gasing it, (but died when i let off the gas (ie pumping it)). not misfiring when i had the gas pumping at about 3000, ran smooth and silky. however, since i removed the distributor, i need to find the spot in the adjustment. As I moved the distributor slightly, it would start misfiring and then i tried to find the sweet spot. im letting everything cool down (battery cables etc) and I will go back out again. This is actually quite the learning experience. transom seems good.

 

[Randflorida]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

i also tested my compression wrong. i left all the plugs in except the cyl i was measureing with the hose for the compression tool

 

[Don S]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

Did you follow page 93 of the service manual when you installed the distributor? You should have, that's why I gave you the manual.

 

[captmello]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

Glad to hear you're making progress!

Follow Don's guidence and he will lead you to..., hopefully a running motor.

I'll look for your Baretta restoration thread in the resto section.

BTW, don't be afraid to start new threads for specific jobs like, setting the points with a dwell meter, or installing a distributor, Sometimes these longer threads can get off course and readers will leave half way through and not get to your next question. Just my opinion.

cheers.

 

[Randflorida]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

i didnt do the compression correct according to your doc. i will do it again. I set TDC and checked the rotor on the dist. it wasnt anywhere near the cap electrode when seated. i pulled the dist, turned it counterclockwise till the rotor and cap position line up. replaced the dist, set all the wiring, and BAM it fired up and I kept it running for about 4 minutes but it started getting hot in the bellows so I think either the impeller is bad in the boot or its clogged somewhere

i moved the distributor a little to the left or right and it def effected the running parameters. I need to tweek that, but i need water into my exhaust chamber so it doesnt get hot in the exhaust. can i pull the baffle connection at the manufold and try to flush water down?

 

[Randflorida]

Re: 1989 Baretta 185 with 4 cyl volvo penta

just saw the additional posts, sorry. yes im following page 93. i am still green green green at this but Im learning