1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

grumpyjoe79

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Feb 13, 2012
Messages
3
Hello,

I have a 1992 21' Thompson with a 4.3 Mercruiser. I have read a lot of the posts on this forum and I have tried everything suggested and still have the same issue. The engine idles great but as soon as you hit the throttle there is absolutely no power and it takes FOREVER to get the boat on a plane. Once on a plane it run great until you hit between 4200 rpm or WOT then the engine rpm fluctuates. I have tried everything that has been suggested below.


?Fuel condition. Type and Octane possibly old fuel - I RUN 92 OCTANE AND USE FUEL STABILIZER AND ADDITIVES FOR WINTERIZATION I ALSO DRAINED THE FUEL AND ADDED NEW FUEL SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Propeller pitch or diameter, damaged blades - BOAT RAN GREAT TWO YEARS PRIOR AND NEVER CHANGED THE PROP NO DAMAGE TO PROP AND I EVEN BOAUGHT A NEW PROP SAME PITCH AND DIAMETER SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Restricted fuel pickup tube or anti siphon valve Fuel System Test - RAN A FUEL LINE STRAIGHT FROM FUEL PUMP TO PORTABLE FUEL CAN SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Crankcase oil volume, high oil level can cause aerated oil and lifter collapse - CHANGED THE OIL MYSELF AND CHECKED AND RECHECKED OIL LEVEL SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Marine growth on hull and outdrive - BOAT ISN'T STORED ON THE WATER AND HAS BEEN WASHED AND WAXED (TO INCLUDE HULL) SEVERAL TIMES SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Wrong gear ratio in outdrive - BOAT RAN GREAT TWO YEARS PRIOR AND NEVER CHANGED THE THE OUTDRIVE ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND SERVICED SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Restricted carburetor air intake (clogged flame arrestor) - CLEANED FLAME ARRESTOR AND EVEN RAN ENGINE WITHOUT IT SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Restricted exhaust system (broken exhaust shutters/flappers) in engine transom shield or drive - REMOVED SHUTTERS AND RAN (FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY) THEN REPLACED THEM SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Poor cylinder compression Compression Test - DID A COMPRESSION TEST ON ALL CYLINDINDERS AND THEY ARE FINE SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Carburetor defective, or wrong type. - REPLACED MERC CARB WITH BRAND NEW ROCHESTER CARB SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Fuel pump pressure and vacuum - DID A PRESSURE AND VACUUM TEST AND WAS WITHIN SPECS SO THIS CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM
?Boat overloaded, improperly loaded, or improperly trimmed. - HAHA YA OK....I WEIGH 175LBS I THINK I'M GOOD HERE
?Engine Overheating - THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE PROBLEM
?Engine timing and ignition system operation - I ADJUSTED THE TIMING AND REPLACED PLUGS, WIRES, CAP, ROTOR, DISTRIBUTOR PICK UP, COIL ETC. THEN I WENT THRU THE MANUAL AND DID ALL THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS AFTER REPLACING EVERYTHING JUST TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T BUY ANY FAULTY PARTS SO THIS ISN'T THE PROBLEM
?Remote control cables and linkage for proper travel to open throttle plates fully. - I EVEN CHECKED THE THROTTLE CABLES AND THIS ISN'T THE PROBLEM

So as you can see I have a mystery on my hands, any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!
 

dubs283

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,343
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

did you replace the fuel filters??

one on fuel pump/water sep and one in the carb

look for others in the fuel line
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

When you take the spark plugs out, what do they look like? How are they burning? You can tell quite a lot from the read on the plugs...
 

LilRedNeckGirl

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
184
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

as simple as it sound, when you replaced the points, etc, did you replace the CONDENSER? We had bought new condensers last year with our yearly tuneup, and they both failed. boat was doing EXACTLY what you discribe. A new { put the old ones back in} condenser solved the problem instantly.
That fluctuating rpm was the first thing we noticed. We would back off the throttle, and it would be fine. then it started at lower RPM levels, until it just shut the engine down. It occasionaly would ' Backfire/ buck" as it got worse.
Was told, assunming it was a guess at this point, that somewhere, the condensers were auto design, and got mixed up as marine grade. ???? no idea, but neverless, two new condensers both failed causing the same issues you are discribing. a simple swap back to the old ones fixed the issue in 5 minutes, and its running good since then....
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

No points or condenser in those engines, it has the Thunderbolt IV ignition.
Check the distributor shaft bushings. Look at the connector between the distributor and the ignition module. Sometimes water gets in and the pins get corroded.
 

ktbarrentine

Lieutenant
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
1,296
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

I see you checked the fuel pump pressure and vacuum, but didn't see a comment on the fuel sight-tube. My fuel pump diaphram was cracked, which was flooding my carb at high RPMs (pump still had good pressure). Just my 2 cents.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

... but didn't see a comment on the fuel sight-tube. ....

No sight-tubes on electric fuel pumps.... Now there's a thought... Check that the pump is getting full voltage. Sometimes the oil pressure switch contacts get corroded and will not allow full current to the pump...

Chris.......
 

tpenfield

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Jul 18, 2011
Messages
19,018
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

I know that you checked just about everything . . . but do you know if the boat has taken on water in any obscure places or even the foam?

What did you get for compression values and how did they compare to the 'spec' for the engine? You might try a cylinder leak test, if the numbers have a bit of variation or are below spec.

Aren't boats fun ???
 

grumpyjoe79

Recruit
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
3
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

I by passed the fuel filter water seperator all together and checked the filter screen in the carb. Compression was 170 to 175 on all cylinders and spark are burning normal. I thought about running some clear hose to test for air bubbles from the pump. I will do that this weekend. I will check the distributor bushing as well but all the guts of the distributor were replaced with a sealed unit.
 

Pete104

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Joined
Apr 30, 2011
Messages
1,439
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

Try cleaning the Mercarb. How did you get fuel to the carb when you bypassed the water sep?
 

grumpyjoe79

Recruit
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
3
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

I finally found the problem. The distributor bushing were warn causing it to missfire as you can see in the pics. Unfortunatley, you can't buy and replace the bushings or buy the distributor housing the holds the bushings. The whole distributor has to be replaced. If anyone knows if this info is wrong please let me know. I uploaded some pics so you can see what it looks like.

Thanks for all your help.


distributor1.jpg
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

I'm sure a half descent auto-electrician would be able to replace the bushings.
 

Don S

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Messages
62,321
Re: 1992 4.3 Mercruiser - no power, rpm fluctuate between 4200 rpm & WOT

I'm sure a half descent auto-electrician would be able to replace the bushings.

I would bet money the shaft is worn as well as the bushing. A new distributor is your best bet.
 
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