3.7L Boat Engine not Turning Over

[wellcraftowner]

I have a 1988 Wellcraft with a 3.7L Mercruiser that will not turn over. I just boat the boat and had it on the water once, but when I shut the boat off several times it killed the battery. So i replaced the alternator and now I have another situation. When I try to start the boat, it will just keeping cranking trying to turn over but it never will. I thought it was not getting any fuel, but I pulled the line from the fuel pump, and it has no restriction of fuel. I checked for spark at the distributor cap and it shows that it is sparking. Any help on what to try next would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[nola mike]

Fuel to carb doesn't mean fuel from carb (or quality fuel). Pour a few cc's if gas down the carb throat and see if it catches. If so then you need to figure out why the engine isn't getting gas.

 

[tank1949]

I have a 1988 Wellcraft with a 3.7L Mercruiser that will not turn over. I just boat the boat and had it on the water once, but when I shut the boat off several times it killed the battery. So i replaced the alternator and now I have another situation. When I try to start the boat, it will just keeping cranking trying to turn over but it never will. I thought it was not getting any fuel, but I pulled the line from the fuel pump, and it has no restriction of fuel. I checked for spark at the distributor cap and it shows that it is sparking. Any help on what to try next would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Will the motor spin but just will not ignite? If it will not spin, hand crank it. Use harmonic balancer nut and big socket and leverage to hand crank motor. If it won't remove plugs and pray no water comes out. If fresh water, you might be able to save motor by acting fast. If it will spin, pour a couple of ounces of gas down carb throat. Be careful to have fire extinguisher near by. If it then runs for a while then dies, u have fuel problems. If it will not run at all, pull plug with plug wire attached and ground plug so that u can see spark. Crank and lok for spark. If no spark, check to be sure 12+ volts are getting to + side of coil. U will need multi-meter tto test voltage. Good luck!

 

[Bt Doctur]

If it will not spin, hand crank it. Use harmonic balancer nut and big socket and leverage to hand crank motor

The worst possible advice to give a novice

 

[Rake722]

Mine did that - spin with no start - fuel down carb - fired right up. that above advice is good - sounds like a carb issue.

 

[wellcraftowner]

I poured a little gas down inside the throat and on the second turn the boat kicked on by died off after a second. So i believe that gas is not getting from the carb like said in the forum. Any advice on what to check?

 

[nola mike]

Check your filters first. Should be one at the fuel pump and one at the carb inlet. Possibly a fuel/water canister type as well. Check what's coming out of your tank (water? Crud?) You can try running off of a remote tank to see if it's a fuel problem, but most likely you're looking at a carb rebuild.