Boat Won't Start, Help!

[brivander]

So I got my boat back from service, after, well forever, go to start it in my driveway and what the hell, nothing. Cranks fine, the only sign of life (if you can call it so) is a backfire through the carburator...(note: do not have your face above the carb when you look to see if it is getting fuel)

This thing fired amazingly easy before I took it in, any ideas? They did mostly outdrive work, but were supposed to check the timing for me, this makes me wonder if they ever fired it...or what they messed up.

Just a heads up, if anyone else asks me if there is gas in the boat I may lose it . I'd like to get out tomorrow, but it ain't looking good. After HOURS of wheeling compound, then polish, then wax and all the other BS this thing has caused me so far, I feel I deserve it

1992 502 OMC is the powerplant, am I missing something completely retarded????!!!!!

 

[Monte1961]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Backfiring up through carborator is Either timing or lack of fuel to engine causing a lean start condition. Even though you have fuel, doesn't mean your getting fuel! Open choke butterfly and look down as you rachet the throttle plate and see if it is squirting fuel? If so, sounds like electrical. If not, make sure your getting good spark. Post back and let us know!

 

[brivander]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Backfiring up through carborator is Either timing or lack of fuel to engine causing a lean start condition. Even though you have fuel, doesn't mean your getting fuel! Open choke butterfly and look down as you rachet the throttle plate and see if it is squirting fuel? If so, sounds like electrical. If not, make sure your getting good spark. Post back and let us know!

I agree - I thought the same thing, before I took the flame arrestor off the first thing out of my mouth was "WTF, is it lean popping??" would there be a separate fuse somewhere for the fuel pump? What am I missing here? This is going to be so simple I am going to want to choke myself...something I can reset somewhere? I tried control-alt-delete but those buttons weren't on the dash

 

[Monte1961]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Electric or manual fuel pump? and are you getting fuel to carb?

 

[brivander]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Electric fuel pump, getting some fuel to the carb, or at least enough to almost blow my face off...it just dawned on me, I should have a breaker in the engine compartment somewhere, right? I was crawling all over in the engine compartment cleaning my bilge out, wonder if I bumped it or something, but all of my other electronics work on the dash etc. What are those breakers even for?

 

[Monte1961]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

unknown for I can't see them. You can trip and reset them i think. So do you have fuel to carb or?

 

[brivander]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Honestly I stated to see it drip, my wife turned the ignition, and it damn near blew my face off, so didn't get a very good look. At that point I decided to stp for the day before I poured fuel in the boat and threw a match at it . I'm thankful I still have eyebrows and I'll get a better look tomorrow, do you think the fuel pump is on that breaker?

 

[Monte1961]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Ok well heres something you can try to see if pump is working. Disconnect fuel line somewhere after the fuel pump, and see if its getting fuel. Be sure someone helps you! While you watch, have helper turn ignition switch for a split second and watch for fuel. Don't turn engine over! If you have fuel, Sounds like it may have jumped time.?

 

[rboating]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

apparently your getting spark or you wouldnt be suffering from smoking nose hair syndrome... my best guess is your either outta time or you are not getting enough fuel.... probably the latter...check and or replace your filters..ill bet your problem is there.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Do you have a safety lanyard kill switch? Is it in the run position?

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boat Won't Start, Help!

Checking the timing is not a real difficult thing to do.