My 2010 Mercruiser 4.3L V6 TKS 2BBL Carburetor Engine is giving me sporadic problems. My symptoms are all over the map. Things like:
1) Runs fine for 3-4 hours pulling kids tubing then starts to stall and I can't go above 1500 rpm once this happens the engine won't run for more than 1 min before stalling again so I have to limp back to shore and continually start engine.
2) Other times the engine just looses power for a very short period of time but then takes off again without stalling. It does this at idle, low speeds or wide open throttle. There is no frequency/pattern to the short dead time. When it does this at wide open throttle it really jerks the boat. It feels like slamming on brakes in car or like the boat just drove into a patch of very thick weeds as the boat slows very quickly, which is very weird because I can't get the boat to feel like that when at top speed and pulling throttle back to neutral.
Also this may seem weird but I feel I don't have as many issues after I fill the gas tank almost like all these symptoms increase when below 1/2 tank. Then again symptoms could be increasing after engine warms up?
The engine has 200 hours. I have replaced the following parts:
New CAP/Rotor/Coil/Ignition sensor/Wires/Plugs and new electric fuel pump (861155A3) .
I am leaning toward fuel flow issue or carb issue. I split open the carb to see if some object was trapped in the bowl but found nothing. I gave the carb a good cleaning when I was in there, carb cleaner sprayed through all openings freely. I would like to measure the fuel pressure entering the carb. The fuel line is 3/8" with flared nut fittings. Does anyone know of a way (or kit) that would allow me to Tee in a pressure gauge? Or even better if you know of a kit that has a site-glass flow meter that can be placed between the fuel pump and carb to see if fuel flow is cutting out.
Any other advice would be appreciated
1) Runs fine for 3-4 hours pulling kids tubing then starts to stall and I can't go above 1500 rpm once this happens the engine won't run for more than 1 min before stalling again so I have to limp back to shore and continually start engine.
2) Other times the engine just looses power for a very short period of time but then takes off again without stalling. It does this at idle, low speeds or wide open throttle. There is no frequency/pattern to the short dead time. When it does this at wide open throttle it really jerks the boat. It feels like slamming on brakes in car or like the boat just drove into a patch of very thick weeds as the boat slows very quickly, which is very weird because I can't get the boat to feel like that when at top speed and pulling throttle back to neutral.
Also this may seem weird but I feel I don't have as many issues after I fill the gas tank almost like all these symptoms increase when below 1/2 tank. Then again symptoms could be increasing after engine warms up?
The engine has 200 hours. I have replaced the following parts:
New CAP/Rotor/Coil/Ignition sensor/Wires/Plugs and new electric fuel pump (861155A3) .
I am leaning toward fuel flow issue or carb issue. I split open the carb to see if some object was trapped in the bowl but found nothing. I gave the carb a good cleaning when I was in there, carb cleaner sprayed through all openings freely. I would like to measure the fuel pressure entering the carb. The fuel line is 3/8" with flared nut fittings. Does anyone know of a way (or kit) that would allow me to Tee in a pressure gauge? Or even better if you know of a kit that has a site-glass flow meter that can be placed between the fuel pump and carb to see if fuel flow is cutting out.
Any other advice would be appreciated
