1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

[turtle1173]

Hi,<br /><br /> I have been battling trouble with a 1976 55HP Chrysler for a while now. I have replaced the head gasket, thermostat, exhaust gaskets, puddle drain gaskets, fuel pump, and reed valves. The points and condensors were replaced by a mechanic last year. The compression is between 135 and 140 on both cylinders. When I had the head off, the cylinders looked very nice. There was very minimal carbon build up.<br /><br /> The problem I'm having is that the bottom cylinder won't kick in. At lower throttle levels it "tries" but doesn't ever get it. This is a problem that has progressively got worse (i.e. it used to miss for the first couple of minutes after start up but after that the 2nd cylinder would kick in and it would be fine the rest of the day).<br /><br /> This is a one carb engine, so I don't believe that is the problem.<br /><br /> I figure it must be an ignition problem. I have swapped coils before with the same results, so I figure the coil is not bad.<br /><br /> I'm really at the end of my rope. I am trying to take the flywheel off to take another look at the points, etc. and I'm having trouble getting the flywheel off. My mechanic tried to get the flywheel off yesterday for me but broke a bolt on the puller (luckily he got the bolt remnant out with some needle nose pliers). I've got a puller on it right now cranked down with PB Blaster soaking on it.<br /><br /> Does anyone have any other suggestions before I just toss this thing?? Oh, by the way, this Chrysler has the battery type ignition (2 external coils and no CD module).<br /><br /> I thank you for all the help you've given me in times past and hope you will be able to assist again.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane Williams

 

[jim dozier]

Re: 1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

My first thought was (as you are )to check the points again. Maybe the mechanic didn't set them right, maybe he set them but didn't replace them, maybe the screw is stripped and they moved, whatever. Hope the flywheel comes off.

 

[scotiany]

Re: 1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

Question, when you changed the puddle valve gaskets, did you check the valves. I've got a '70 55HP and that was the problem. I had the same symptoms that you have. Once the valves were cleaned, it ran better than new. Found out that the factory had left a piece of styrofoam in there.I don't know if it was done on purpose but, it didn't endear me to Chrysler build quality.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: 1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

Hi,<br /><br /> Yes, I did check the check valves to make sure they only went one way.<br /><br /> I've often thought that it might just be some small thing somewhere, but the problem will be in finding it <br /><br /> My mechanic tells me that the compression check isn't really an exact science that that there may be something wrong internally if nothing else pans out.<br /><br />Shane

 

[G DANE]

Re: 1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

Hi Turtle 1173<br /><br />I had exactly that problem with a 1973 Evinrude. It showed up being a leaky cranckshaft seal, in my case at upper end, caused by some water having made a rusty ring around cranckshaft. Corrected it by securing seal a bit higher in housing and polishing cranckshaft boss. Runs fine now. If you are able to block intake by covering carb with your hand and make someone turn motor slow you should be able to listen and hear the leak. Ignition off Its not difficult to remove powerhead and I think it can be replaced without disassembling powerhead.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: 1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

Let me ask something else that concerns an observation I have made about my engine recently.<br /><br /> When I first put this thing back together, I started it and warmed it up (in a garbage can). While it was idling, I was messing around with the spark plug wires. I removed the boot from the end of the spark plug but held it close to the plug. I started with removing the bottom plug boot. I could tell a noticeable difference in the running of the engine with the boot away from the plug but close to the engine block. When I put that boot back on the plug the engine picked back up. I then removed the top boot in the same manner. The engine ran rough on the bottom cylinder until I put the boot back.<br /><br /> My questions is: Why will my engine not hit on both cylinders while I'm underway? It will idle on the bottom cylinder alone without dying but underway it only tries to kick in.<br /><br /> Thoughts please??<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane

 

[G DANE]

Re: 1976 55HP Chrysler - I'm at the end of my rope!!

Hi again Shane<br /><br />Hard to tell - but maybee you will have lower water level in barral than on boat in water. With lower water level you will have larger amount of exhaust = larger amount of intake fuel/airmix + air from leak. That way, maybee it will runn on leaky cylinder in barrel, but not in water. Just a guess - but many have same experience on muffs with no backpressure.