Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

[Faerbairn]

Thanks for all the help getting my boat ready and into the water. We used it this weekend and had a great time. A few issues came up that I would like to resolve:

We had less than a full load of people and gear, but it acted like it was extremely overloaded: Hard to steer, slow starts, a lot of spray coming off the underside of the bow at 25 to 30 mph.

Also, it had hesitation when going towards full throttle when pulling a skier out of the water. Also, it never seemed to reach WOT.

Compression is 155 to 160 in all 6 cylinders. It has had a full tune up, new fuel filter, new gas, new plugs, new fluids.

Do I need to rebuild the carb?

1991 Sea Ray 170
Mercruiser 4.3L V6 Engine Serial # OD516254
Alpha One Gen II Outdrive Serial # OD525588
14 x 21 Aluminum 3 blade prop

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

We had less than a full load of people and gear, but it acted like it was extremely overloaded: Hard to steer, slow starts, a lot of spray coming off the underside of the bow at 25 to 30 mph.

What were you doing with trim? Sounds more like it was trimmed all the way in. Also could be loading, was everyon in back?

Also, it had hesitation when going towards full throttle when pulling a skier out of the water. Also, it never seemed to reach WOT.

Could be a carb thing, but I would be more likely to say propeller. A smaller pitch will accelerate out of the hole better. A 17 foot boat could probably benefit from smart tabs and with 6 people, making sure they are positioned correctly on the boat.. And BTW, that is good info on the engine/drive/prop, thanks for that.

Glad you got out and had a good time though, much more fun on the water than on the internet!

 

[Faerbairn]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

There is a new problem.

I took the boat out to observe more closely what was happening and now it goes slow no problem and then when I give it a lot of throttle the engine speeds up but the boat does not go faster. At first I thought the hub of the prop might have gone bad, but it is in good shape.

Do you think it might be the Engine Coupler?

I had the engine alignment checked at the beginning of the season...

Thanks for your input & help

 

[Faerbairn]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

I marked the prop to see if it spun, took it out today after work and the boat ran flawlessly. It went faster than ever, the trim worked properly and helped a lot.

I have not checked the prop to see if it moved at all from the mark on the hub. My best guess is the hub was spun, then it sat in the sun for 2 or 3 weeks and the glue rebonded.

What do you think happened?

Should I replace the prop to be on the safe side?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

My best guess is the hub was spun, then it sat in the sun for 2 or 3 weeks and the glue rebonded.

Ayuh,.... Not in a Million years, is That gonna happen....

 

[Faerbairn]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

Bondo,

What do you think it could be?

 

[boat4fishin]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

Bondo,
this is my issue with my boat. its a 1984 crestliner bow rider 18' mercruiser 140 (181 cid) i went through prop issues i went with a 19 pitch prop. at the time it ran fine with that pitch at around 30 MPH at about 4200-4300. Great. i floated it this past weekend and right off the trailer it did the above, couldnt be happier. i docked it grab my friend and fishing ploes, fired it up and wouldnt you know it it will not go abouve 2000-2200 rpm with 2 people in the boat, it wont go any faster with 1/2 tank fuel with just me in the boat. what coud it be. i think maybe stuck distributor counter weights, fuel filter been replaced on my boat there is only one, tank vent is open and clear, timing is 6 BTDS, lets see manifoldis tight carb is tight linkage move to WOT operated free, but since the hole 2000rpm thing iw iwll over heat like all hell 2 minutes WOT it will peg 240 if i let it, turn it off for like 2 min start and troll or idle temp drops to about 140 until the process is repeated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

Bondo,

What do you think it could be?

Ayuh,.... Any chance you were boatin' in a Weedy area when it slipped,+ boatin' in clearer water when it Hooked up,..??

Bondo,
this is my issue with my boat. its a 1984 crestliner bow rider 18' mercruiser 140 (181 cid) i went through prop issues i went with a 19 pitch prop. at the time it ran fine with that pitch at around 30 MPH at about 4200-4300. Great. i floated it this past weekend and right off the trailer it did the above, couldnt be happier. i docked it grab my friend and fishing ploes, fired it up and wouldnt you know it it will not go abouve 2000-2200 rpm with 2 people in the boat, it wont go any faster with 1/2 tank fuel with just me in the boat. what coud it be. i think maybe stuck distributor counter weights, fuel filter been replaced on my boat there is only one, tank vent is open and clear, timing is 6 BTDS, lets see manifoldis tight carb is tight linkage move to WOT operated free, but since the hole 2000rpm thing iw iwll over heat like all hell 2 minutes WOT it will peg 240 if i let it, turn it off for like 2 min start and troll or idle temp drops to about 140 until the process is repeated.

B4F,... You need to start a thread of Your own, about Your boat,+ it's Problems,...
Confusion will reign in Faerbairn's thread otherwise,...

Btw,.... Welcome Aboard,...
Also, up in the Adults Only section at the Top of this forum, you'll find a Great fix it list for Your Problem...
Won't go WOT...

1 more thing,... Find your "Enter" key,+ hit it now,+ then....
Paragraphs make Easier readin' for these old eyes.....

 

[Faerbairn]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

There is a chance I could have been in a weedy area when it happened. How would that cause the engine to run fast and the boat to go slow?

 

[nola mike]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

prop cavitating in weeds maybe?

 

[Kainon]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

Stirred up the bad gas, got some water into the carb.. that will give you a no power issue.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

Faebairn, your issue could be Carb and fuel related, bad fuel, water in the fuel will cause running and lack of power, and a Bad Accelerator pump in the Carb will cause a hesitation.

 

[Faerbairn]

Re: Slow start issues, WOT issues, help...

I am not sure if I am misunderstanding or of I did not explain the problem properly.

When I had the problem the engine RPM's increased but the boat did not go any faster than 5 mph.

Can that be caused by weeds in the water? By water in the fuel or at the carb?

It seemed to me like the prop was bad or the coupler. So I marked the prop, went out and ran it again and now it works perfect... It is strange, but I am happy. I just want to fix the problem if there is one, so I don't get to the lake and have the problem reoccur with my family in the boat ready to enjoy the day.

Thank you for your help