Tell Tail & Starting Issue

[Rstang1966]

I'm new to owing a boat and don't have a lot of experience with boat motors, but am pretty experienced when it comes to automation motors.

I have an old Ted Williams motor (217-5871-0) that I recently purchased and have been doing some work to on it.

Below is a list of things that I have done so far...
1. Disassembled and cleaned carb.
2. Replaced all fuel hoses.
3. Replaced plugs.
4. Checked compression (~100psi each cylinder)
(not off more than 5 psi compared to each other)
5. Replaced impeller.
6. Replaced lower end gear lube.
7. New fuel/oil mix.
8. Cleaned magneto contacts.
9. Checked for spark at each plug with a volt meter.

My first concern is that when i get the motor running and idling I have a very strong (solid stream) tell tail. However when I drive the boat and speed up the boat the tell tail slowly goes away until I have no water coming from the tell tail. Anyone have any thoughts?

Secondly while I was driving the boat around at WOT on one occasion the motor slowed (by its self) to the point that it turned off. I was able to immediately restart the motor and continue on my way. Seemed very weird but I'm not sure if its something that I should be concerned with.

Lastly the motor is pretty hard to start from cold. I would say that it typically takes me 12 - 20 pulls in order to get it started. Does anyone have any tips or things to look at to improve the ease of starting?

Thanks for the help..

 

[steelespike]

Re: Tell Tail & Starting Issue

Welcome, Your motor is a 73 built by Eska (217) prefix)
Check for a strong spark.nice blue with an audible snap.
Does the motor run strong? Next time the motor fades try squeezing the primer bulb to keep it going.May be an indication of a weak fuel pump.
Starting a cold motor squeeze primer bulb till firm don't force it.
set the choke, Set the throttle toward the high side of start.
When she fires release the choke as seems apropriate.

 

[Rstang1966]

Re: Tell Tail & Starting Issue

Yes the motor does run strong. I had it out for ~1 hour and the power faded out on it just one time.

I did not get a chance to check the spark like you mentioned. I will try to take a look at it tomarrow.

I did not see any curling of the bladder type pumping element when I had the carb appart. (Had a repair manual) Could it still be causing issues if its not curled?

Any one have any thoughts about my tell tail issue.

Some one else I talked to said it might be a bad seal between the water pump housing and the water tube. Any thoughts??

 

[Rstang1966]

Re: Tell Tail & Starting Issue

I made it out today to check the spark on the motor. I am getting a good blue spark and a snapping noise from each of the spark plug wires.

I think that I may take a look at adjusting the carb a bit and see it that helps.

Regarding the Tell Tail...
I was reading in my manual that I bought that has a paragraph on the water cooling circuit. It says that...

"Pressurized water from the cooling pump flows up from bottom of engine through the side covers, back into the cylinder block and around the outside of the cylinders to the cylinder cover, back around the cylinders to the base of the engine where it cools the exhaust gases, finally leaving the engine with the exhaust gasses."

However another section in the manual says...

"if at any time during operation the tell tale stream stops.... Stop engine immediately and avoid further operation until water pump and cooling system are thoroughly checked."

I am very confused on this one... Can any one offer any info on whether water should always be discharged from the tell tale?