boat stuck in Bimini, one engine down merc 350 mag any ideas?

[eddiejaimes]

Good morning,

Well after having a TON of fun in Bimini this past weekend , in the way back to the marina Sunday around 6 pm one of my engines shut down. We were pulling in to the harbor and we limped to the slip in one engine . I was coming around 4000 RPM, no alarms or beeps just went dead and off course is my steering engine, We pulled to the slipped and the engine turns over fine but does not start. Here is what i checked: first checked pressure in the fuel rail to make sure the fuel pump is working, ( gas shoot and hit the engine cover so plenty of pressure ). I checked next for spark , I have spark, I check pulse in the injectors and have pulse, Also tried starting fluid and nothing. Since i have twins, i swap the ECM and nothing, The ECM from the bad engine does run on the good engine. I swapped the distributor rotor and cap and here it got interesting.. The rotor was missing one screw ( found it inside the distributor ) and the other screw was loose and the rotor was obviously loose, there was some plastic pieces laying inside the distributor but the contacts seem OK. I got exited and though that was the problem and no go... I did swap them with the good engine and no go ... The engine did run flawless and is hard to believe because the rotor was loose.. The only thin i can come up with is the pick up coil? Sending spark at the wrong time? maybe cross firing inside the distributor? , I though maybe the distributor moved when the rotor hit the distributor cap an broke some of the pieces? I also though about the crank sensor.. but i get spark so that means the sensor is working.. Any input will be appreciated.

Engines are twin 350 MAGS, 2008 they have 80 hrs since total rebuild in December ( REMAN Long blocks, new coupler, mounts, manifolds and risers, starter, water pump, injectors), gimbal bearing, bellows, trim senders, steering cilynder, steering pump, starter, Bravo 3 drives.

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[Fun Times]

Hi, Is the boat an 08 too? If so, you may have damaged the CAM Sensor found under the distributor cap....It should have a wire connector connected to it. The pickup coil should be more for an earlier designed ignition system versus an 08 system unless the reman engines where bought complete turn key....It would be best to know both the original serial numbers and the newest serial number that should be found on the engine block just above the engine starter.

While cranking the engine over, do you see roughly 350 RPM movement on the tachometer?

 

[eddiejaimes]

Hello, Yes the engines are 2008, and I said Pick up coil because I don know how you call them on the new distributors, but you are correct, it uses the CRAB style distributor. I tough that could no be it because it has spark? on my boat the sensor you are talking about looks like this ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/898141-Sens...ash=item5430ef7694:g:zG0AAOSwGIRXYfMx&vxp=mtr
Serial number is 1a052749 and 747. Only long blocks were put in .. Engines are 2008 350 MAGS MPI


Thanks for the input!

 

[boltonranger]

You should put a timing light on it. If the sensor AND shaft have skipped you could have spark but at the wrong time in the engine rotation.
-br

 

[Fun Times]

Yes that is the CAM sensor found under the cap, item number 6, http://www.iboats.com/Distributor-A...218110--session_id.722323033--view_id.1683422

Here's your full parts guide supplied by iboats for this engine model number 44420H7US,
http://www.iboats.com/350-MAG-MPI-ALPHA-BRAVO-0W650000-THRU-1A299999/dm/view_id.1691820

And boltonranger is correct, it doesn't necessarily always knock out spark, it could just throw off timing so it won't/can't start.

 

[alldodge]

Paraphrasing - you have spark and have used starting fluid.

With using starting fluid and if there was actual spark at the plugs something would ignite, even if at the wrong time, there should be something.

Are you seeing spark at the plugs or the coil? If only at the coil I would check a plug or two, or as boltonranger mentioned use a timing light on the plug wires

 

[eddiejaimes]

Hello Guys,

I pulled one of the spark plugs and ground it and turned the engine over after disconnecting the fuel pump, There was spark , bot is arriving towed today to miami will have a mechanic check tomorrow, we are pulling the distributors.. Like you guys said. i think when the screw of the rotor got off, it may have blocked the rotor, broke the tabs and spun the gear/pin in the bottom, making spark at the wrong time .

fingers crossed is something simple .

Thanks for all of the help.

 

[eddiejaimes]

Hello guys, well we have found the problem, the distributor gear was off , when the rotor hit the cap.. Boat is runing like new again! Thanks for all of the help!