260 Mercruiser just quit running

[706wake27]

260 Mercruiser quit running
Help please
I was cruising along and my engine just died ? The engine was running fine , about a hour into the cruise it just sputter and died? tried to start it and nothing ?.it would turn over but would not hit a lick? I did a compression test and all 8 cylinders were around 125 psi. The engine has about 723 hours on it?.What I?ve done so far ?
1. Changed plugs
2. New distributor cap and button
3. New ignition sensor


I?m getting a strong spark from the coil wire and a so so spark from the spark plug wires?
I poured gas down the carb so I know I?m getting gas?.

Any ideas?

 

[1980Galaxy]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

you know your getting gas because you poured it down the carb?

i had the exact same problem last year. it turned out i needed a new fuel pump. someone else here is gonna have to tell you how to tell if its bad or not tho because i really dont know.

my second guess is a clogged fuel filter or water seperator.

 

[706wake27]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

When I pumped the throttle I see gas shooting down the carb.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

If it has points, i'd certainly check the gap or replace. They're only 5 bucks.

 

[706wake27]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

New ignition sensor I't does not have points
Just replaced the fuel pump and checked the filter still nothing.........

question could it be the key switch? Could a key switch be bad and still turn over the motor but not crank?

Could the engine jump time?

Could the ignition black box gone bad? "the box that is connected to the ignition sensor"

 

[JustJason]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

Its either compression, fuel, or spark. If you say you have 125 across the board that is not your problem. If you say the accelerator pump shoots fuel that means there is fuel in the carb, at least enough to get a fart out of the motor, but it doesn't mean the carb is still isn't clogged or has some sort of fuel delivery issue. So if you can't get so much as a bang out of this motor the next thing is to make sure spark is happening at the right time. You need to put a timing light on the #1 plug wire and aim it at the balancer while somebody else turns the key (or use a remote starter, thats what I do). You should be seeing the line on the balancer light up at right around 8BTDC. If you get no light from the timing light or if the mark isn't at 8 then you have some ignition troubleshooting to do.

 

[706wake27]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

Ok the motor will not spin fast enough to use the timing light.... But I turned the distributor and I got the motor to sputter and it tried to run for a sec then died... I tried to start it after the sputter and now back to getting nothing.... I move the distributor in both directions and still nothing.... the weird thing is every time I pull #1 plug and the one beside it.... it's soaking wet with gas.. The other plugs are dry... the boat is kind of leaning to that side of the motor..

What now???

 

[drrm123]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

If the engine spins normal like when cranking it's spinning fast enough to use a timing light. it might be too bright outside to see spark good, in bright light. take out #1 spark plug and stick your finger of hole and have someone tap engine over till puff of air push it away, ysou should be close to TDC. look at timing marks and turn crank back to around 8 degrees BTDC and take off distributor cap and make sure rotor is pointing at plug wire that goes to #1 plug. turn distributor if necessary. that should be close enough to get started. make sure you have muffs on when doing in case engine starts. if you have compression ignition and fuel it should at least start. If engine is not spinning fast enoungh you need to charge battery. timing light flashes when ignition fires.

 

[706wake27]

Re: 260 Mercruiser just quit running

it ended up being a weak coil ... I was getting spark but not enough
thanks