i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

[fisheymikey]

I really hope I did not damage the engine.... I have a 125 force 1988

I installed BUHW instead of BUHX I also timed it accordingly

I get around 4700 rpms. after inspection my bottom spark plus seams not to have combustion it looks very clean.

am I hurting my engine. I don't have my timing light with me I am in Massachusetts I live in Montreal

I am here for 2 more days is it safe or im realy damaging the engine

please help

thanks in advance

mike

 

[pnwboat]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

I doubt that you are doing any damage. I've run BUHW plugs in my 1988 125HP motor with no problems. The BUHX plugs are designed to maximize the spark energy with the Prestolite ignition system that comes on your 1988 125HP motor. The BUHW are designed for the later Mercury style Thunder Bolt ignition systems. The gap between the center electrode and the plug body on the BUHX plugs is about .025. The gap on the BUHW plugs is about .040. Worse case scenario, if your ignition system is not in tip top shape, it may not have the energy to fire the BUHW plugs like it should under a load.

If your bottom plug is clean, then like you mentioned, it may not be firing. Make sure there is no water on it.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

The plugs should be the permagap plugs not the electode type.
The buhx are permagaps,not sure about the others.
I "think" the jap plugs,the heat goes like this, the last letter is the heat indicator,the X is a cooler plug than the W.
So the plug your running might not be hot enough to operate properly?
The 4700 and clean plug is water or low compression.
Do a comp test and poat the #s

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

ok

I have 141 compression on all 4 cylinders...

therefore I am assuming water in the lower cylinder. how do I confirm water in cylinder?

also what is the procedure to repair

thanks you very much for your help

mike

 

[pnwboat]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

I would not assume anything. Look very closely at the plug and see if you can see very small droplets of water on it. If no sign of water, then start checking the spark. Can you post pictures of the four plugs?

If you do see water, then you might start with the head gasket which is very easy to do, although your compression numbers would not necessarily indicate a blown head gasket. The next thing would be the exhaust cover gasket. A little harder than the head gasket because you have to be careful not to snap off the bolts that hold it together.

By the way, what size prop do you have and what type and what length is your boat?

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

I would not assume anything. Look very closely at the plug and see if you can see very small droplets of water on it. If no sign of water, then start checking the spark. Can you post pictures of the four plugs?

If you do see water, then you might start with the head gasket which is very easy to do, although your compression numbers would not necessarily indicate a blown head gasket. The next thing would be the exhaust cover gasket. A little harder than the head gasket because you have to be careful not to snap off the bolts that hold it together.

By the way, what size prop do you have and what type and what length is your boat?

I have a CC trophy 18.5.

I have a very hard time posting pics I am computer savy but when I attach pics it wont allow...

I did not notice any drops at all I did adjust timing with wrong spark plugs would that conduct different spark?

I did also check spark and all 4 cylinders are sparking

mike

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

The pics need to be resized to be posted.
The comp could still be good and still have water.
No adjusting the timing with the wrong plugs wouldn't make one plug cleaner.
Why you messing with the timing?
I had water intrusion in1 cylinder and it was still showing 145 all 3 cyl.

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

The pics need to be resized to be posted.
The comp could still be good and still have water.
No adjusting the timing with the wrong plugs wouldn't make one plug cleaner.
Why you messing with the timing?
I had water intrusion in1 cylinder and it was still showing 145 all 3 cyl.

I adjusting timing because I was not getting the specs... I was off by a lot

I need to run the engine and remove immediately?

I am running at 4700 at wot 37 mph. I think 13/ 17

 

[pnwboat]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

I don't know but I'm thinking that everything looks kind of normal to me. Fourth plug does look kind of clean, but I think all of your plugs look pretty clean. I would run it like it is. Trophy hull is more of a deeper "V" than say a Capri type hull. I don't think you have a problem.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

Can you explain how you set the timing? Usually the timing doesn't get "OFF" unless the linkage breaks or someone works on it.
You static time or dynamic time it? If the timing is too far off you can melt a piston??
Is there a miss or anything?Running rough?

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

I did forget to mention....

When u installed the proper plugs the buhx the boat would not rev more than 3000 rpm!

When i reinstalled the buhw i got back my 4700

Is that normal?

Thanks for all the responses

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

Can you explain how you set the timing? Usually the timing doesn't get "OFF" unless the linkage breaks or someone works on it.
You static time or dynamic time it? If the timing is too far off you can melt a piston??
Is there a miss or anything?Running rough?

I removed the all of the engine block to reinstall on other engine. the other engine was seized thus my timing was off due to all link and sinc procedure. im going to start from scratch again with the proper plugs and redo the link sinc procedure to see if that's the reason of my low rpms when I install the proper buhx instead of the buhw

I just feel stupid I did all that work and the simple thing to install the proper plug I failed...

 

[pnwboat]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

Hmmm, I've tried the BUHW in my 1988 125HP motor with the Prestolite ignition system (Blue coils and CD units) a few years ago as a test and I really didn't notice much difference. BUHW's didn't idle as smooth. The BUHX plugs are specifically designed for the Prestolite ignition system.

Yes I would start from scratch and double check link and sync, timing etc. I would also check the set of BUHX plugs you used. Maybe a bad plug??? From my experience, I didn't see much of a difference between the two types of plugs BUHX vs BUHW on a 1988 125HP with the Prestolite ignition system.

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

ok maybe one of the brand new plugs failed. that's the only thing that make sense.

and yes I have the blue coils.

I will post later the findings

thanks guys!!!

btw here are a pic from my fishing trip in cape cod!! I have fish for me and my family for a few months!!!!

 

[pnwboat]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

WOW! That's a lot of fish!!:hungry:

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

well now im sooooo upset!! confused etc

I installed the proper plugs and now im getting 4400 rpms

its like im losing more and more power. if I install the buhw ill get the 4700! everyone is stating that the buhx plugs are hotter thus im assuming it should provide a better spark.

also im getting a small hesitation.im very confused.

I have done everything by the book.

linked and sinked, I did timing with starter at 28 then ran in the water re-timed 30 WOT.

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP

mike

 

[pnwboat]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

The BUHX plugs are a different type of spark plug than the BUHW. Not sure about the heat range. BUHX are a boost gap plug designed specifically to be used with the Prestolite CD ignition system. The BUHW plugs are conventional design to be used with the Mercury Thunderbolt ignition system. The fact that it turns higher RPMs with the BUHW plugs may be an indication that you might have something in the ignition system that isn't quite right. Start by checking all of the ignition system grounds. Each coil has a ground wire. There is a black ground wire that runs from the engine block to the coil/CD module mounting plate. Make sure these grounds are making good contact. Verify with an OHM meter. At and idle, momentarily pull one plug wire off at a time. The motor should decrease in idle speed. If you pull a plug wire off and it makes no difference, it may indicate something is wrong with that cylinder.

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

Ok i will...

Where di i check the resistance exactly i have a multimeter but need more info please

Im guessing it my last one hut will check all 4

Just curious... If i have all spark plugs grounded and receive spark why would it change

 

[labawg]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

Doc, Will I be able to play the piano after my surgery? Doctor sez, Did you play the piano before?
While you are going through your diagnostics please tell us what was your RPMs where prior to the first time you installed the BUHW sparkplugs? Also find nomenclatures of your prop ( part number is normally stamped on prop). A 18.5’ trophy is a heavy boat.

 

[fisheymikey]

Re: i istalled the wrong installed the wrong spark plugs!!!!!

Doc, Will I be able to play the piano after my surgery? Doctor sez, Did you play the piano before?
While you are going through your diagnostics please tell us what was your RPMs where prior to the first time you installed the BUHW sparkplugs? Also find nomenclatures of your prop ( part number is normally stamped on prop). A 18.5? trophy is a heavy boat.

Hahahahha...

Ok i will but why would the rpms would change between both spark plugs

Mike