98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

[FishHunt23]

I recently purchased a 1998 Faststrike 115 V4. I had a shop check out the motor before I ran it today, which was the first time.

The shop checked compression, spark, etc., and rebuilt the carbs. The shop reported that there was an air leak causing a high idle, and replaced virtually every seal in the carbs to correct that. I picked up the boat and they felt the motor was in good shape and simply needs to be run after only being used once or twice a year for the past several years.

The engine started and idled very well today. Idle is 900-1000rpms, and drops to 600-700 in gear. No hiccups. When I hit the throttle, the engine accelerates smoothly until it gets to roughly 2,800 rpms, maybe 3,000. At that point the motor bogs, drops 100-200 rpms and runs rough. When I back off the throttle the engine smooths back out.

I tried a couple of things on the water. First, when I pushed in the key the motor slowed down/bogged more. Also, the fuel bulb was the right firmness and squeezing the bulb didn't make any difference. Based on that and the way the engine sounds when the bogging occurs, I don't think there is an air leak or fuel supply issue. I also confirmed that all cylinders in fact have spark.

My initial reaction is that there is something up with the timing -- not advancing properly or something. I've never done it before, but I may attempt a link and sync (I have the shop manual). In researching the issue, it seems that the high speed jets could be clogged, but with the carbs just being rebuilt that seems somewhat less likely. I also read somewhere that the throttle roller timing arm frequently gets set improperly, so I'll check that.

I really don't want to take the carbs apart after all the work I just had done on them. Any advice? I appreciate the help.

 

[willard887]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

I recently purchased a 1998 Faststrike 115 V4. I had a shop check out the motor before I ran it today, which was the first time.

The shop checked compression, spark, etc., and rebuilt the carbs. The shop reported that there was an air leak causing a high idle, and replaced virtually every seal in the carbs to correct that. I picked up the boat and they felt the motor was in good shape and simply needs to be run after only being used once or twice a year for the past several years.

The engine started and idled very well today. Idle is 900-1000rpms, and drops to 600-700 in gear. No hiccups. When I hit the throttle, the engine accelerates smoothly until it gets to roughly 2,800 rpms, maybe 3,000. At that point the motor bogs, drops 100-200 rpms and runs rough. When I back off the throttle the engine smooths back out.

I tried a couple of things on the water. First, when I pushed in the key the motor slowed down/bogged more. Also, the fuel bulb was the right firmness and squeezing the bulb didn't make any difference. Based on that and the way the engine sounds when the bogging occurs, I don't think there is an air leak or fuel supply issue. I also confirmed that all cylinders in fact have spark.

My initial reaction is that there is something up with the timing -- not advancing properly or something. I've never done it before, but I may attempt a link and sync (I have the shop manual). In researching the issue, it seems that the high speed jets could be clogged, but with the carbs just being rebuilt that seems somewhat less likely. I also read somewhere that the throttle roller timing arm frequently gets set improperly, so I'll check that.

I really don't want to take the carbs apart after all the work I just had done on them. Any advice? I appreciate the help.

I have the same problem with mine. Whenever it does that I reach back and turn manual primer lever up and it picks up and runs. I've pulled carbs of 3 times and nothing and I've changed all fuel lines and fuel pump. If you figure it out please post answer I need to know what's going on

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

I recently purchased a 1998 Faststrike 115 V4. I had a shop check out the motor before I ran it today, which was the first time.

The shop checked compression, spark, etc., and rebuilt the carbs. The shop reported that there was an air leak causing a high idle, and replaced virtually every seal in the carbs to correct that. I picked up the boat and they felt the motor was in good shape and simply needs to be run after only being used once or twice a year for the past several years.

The engine started and idled very well today. Idle is 900-1000rpms, and drops to 600-700 in gear. No hiccups. When I hit the throttle, the engine accelerates smoothly until it gets to roughly 2,800 rpms, maybe 3,000. At that point the motor bogs, drops 100-200 rpms and runs rough. When I back off the throttle the engine smooths back out.

I tried a couple of things on the water. First, when I pushed in the key the motor slowed down/bogged more. Also, the fuel bulb was the right firmness and squeezing the bulb didn't make any difference. Based on that and the way the engine sounds when the bogging occurs, I don't think there is an air leak or fuel supply issue. I also confirmed that all cylinders in fact have spark.

My initial reaction is that there is something up with the timing -- not advancing properly or something. I've never done it before, but I may attempt a link and sync (I have the shop manual). In researching the issue, it seems that the high speed jets could be clogged, but with the carbs just being rebuilt that seems somewhat less likely. I also read somewhere that the throttle roller timing arm frequently gets set improperly, so I'll check that.

I really don't want to take the carbs apart after all the work I just had done on them. Any advice? I appreciate the help.

with out a doubt the first and best course of action for you, is to take it back to the people who you paid... and tell them the issue. they have the experience and the responsibility to fix it.bob

 

[Greg_E]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

there are small passageways in the throttle bodies that can get clogged. When they did the rebuild did they just pull off the carbs and rebuild them or did the remove the throttle bodies as well to check and clean them? if you do a search you will find threads covering that subject.

 

[FishHunt23]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

I did a bit more work on the engine today before I take it back to the shop. Very frustrating. Here is some additional info:

I pulled the plugs out of curiousity. The bottom plug on the port side (#4) is very clean while the others are black with some deposits on them already. I attached a pic of the plugs from the port side to show what I'm talking about. The plugs on the starboard side both look like the black plug (meaning,#1, #2, and #3 plugs all look the same). All plugs were new before yesterday when I ran it quite a bit trying to break through the bog at 3000 rpms. The fact that they're black doesn't surprise me because I did a lot of idleing and obviously never got it to run hard. Made me wonder if it's a coil or power pack issue.

So I checked the coils with a multimeter. The primary ohms came in at .4 on all four which is outside the specs according to my shop manual, but they were all identical so I'm confused. Could the primary ohms all be out of range (i.e. bad coils) but still somehow identical? The secondary ohms came in at 269 exactly on #2, #3, and #4. #1 came in at 274. The range in the manual is 225-325. I guess I expected the same result for all four. Is the fact that they're not the same a potential problem, even though they're within range? Note that the suspect cylinder (based on reading the plugs) is #4, and the plug with a higher secondary ohms reading is #1.

 

[FishHunt23]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

Willard - from everything I've read it sounds like air leaks can be temporarily corrected in terms of how the engine runs by priming/choking the engine. I've also been told that certain components in the faststrikes are prone to warping, which can also cause air leaks even if the seals would otherwise be OK. You can check the faces of the plastic parts on the carburetor with a straight edge to see if they're warped. Anyway, I can't get mine above 3,000 rpms even when I do prime the engine.

 

[Greg_E]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

Black sooty deposits usually indicate too rich fuel mixture.
Check the spark on all cylinders to make sure you have good spark on all cylinders. If you do, it's a fuel problem.
I doubt very much that you have four bad coils. If you hold the two meter leads together what does that read? Your meter should be zeroed before you do a measurement. If it's a cheap meter, it probably doesn't have that function and probably lacks the resolution to measure 1/10 of an Ohm.
Fuel, Air, Spark. Eliminate one of them as a problem, and work your way down from there. Spark is the easiest to check.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

Willard - from everything I've read it sounds like air leaks can be temporarily corrected in terms of how the engine runs by priming/choking the engine. I've also been told that certain components in the faststrikes are prone to warping, which can also cause air leaks even if the seals would otherwise be OK. You can check the faces of the plastic parts on the carburetor with a straight edge to see if they're warped. Anyway, I can't get mine above 3,000 rpms even when I do prime the engine.

airleaks would seem to make the plugs burn cleaner and hotter....not a condition he is experiencing....id guess he burning rich....but I find it hard to believe just that would restrict the rpms...the factory manual says this about running rich at high speed( possibly your issue)1. fuel primer leaking gas through to anifold, 2.float valve stuck open, or float set incorrectly orfloat install incorrectly, 3. plugged high speed nozzle vent. 4. incorrect orifice size in high speed jet.he loss of WOT rpm, can be a choice or combo or 25 different things!!!! its in the manual!!bob

 

[FishHunt23]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

I received advice to check behind the plugs in the carburetor bowls for the high speed jets. Guess what ... the shop that did the work installed new bowls as part of the rebuild, and forgot to install the high speed jets in the new bowls. Fortunately, they gave me the old parts when I picked up the boat and I kept them. I just finished installing the jets and will be heading for a water test soon. I also found that one of the gaskets between the carburetor and the throttle body was not seated properly when installed and was cut/crushed. Fortunately, the pieces didn't get sucked into the throttle body or it could have been a pretty bad deal. Needless to say, I'm not impressed with the shop I had the boat at. Hopefully there are no other issues I'm unaware of. Will report back after the water test.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

id say that falls under the catergory of incorrect orifice size!!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha

i have heard of guys posting here that did that, BUT a professional shop????? they let someone with little experience work on your motor...

no way an experienced mechanic thinks the bowls already have those parts in them!!!

did ALL the carbs have missing high speed jets?

bob

 

[Greg_E]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

I received advice to check behind the plugs in the carburetor bowls for the high speed jets. Guess what ... the shop that did the work installed new bowls as part of the rebuild, and forgot to install the high speed jets in the new bowls. Fortunately, they gave me the old parts when I picked up the boat and I kept them. I just finished installing the jets and will be heading for a water test soon. I also found that one of the gaskets between the carburetor and the throttle body was not seated properly when installed and was cut/crushed. Fortunately, the pieces didn't get sucked into the throttle body or it could have been a pretty bad deal. Needless to say, I'm not impressed with the shop I had the boat at. Hopefully there are no other issues I'm unaware of. Will report back after the water test.

I almost mentioned that, but said no they wouldn't forget to put the high speed jets in. Bird33 had a thread a while back where he replaced a bowl and didn't realize it didn't come with the main jet installed. With one carb it ran, but poorly. He is a noobie here and just made a beginners mistake, as we all do. I wouldn't expect that from a trained mechanic.

 

[FishHunt23]

Re: 98 Faststrike Bogs at 3000 rpms

I took the motor out and I'm happy to say that it ran great!

None of the new bowls had a high speed jet inside -- they were all still in the old bowls. Thank goodness they sent me home with the old parts (which I always appreciate).

I have to say, I'm no mechanic, but I do have some experience with outboards and I do own a shop manual for the motor. I only had a shop rebuild the carbs because I didn't want to spend a whole weekend at it and/or do something stupid like overlook the high speed jets or not seat a gasket properly. How perfectly ironic (and disappointing).