Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

[saltydog1973]

Hey guys...I have a few questions/issues I'm trying to work out before this weekend as my father is visiting and wanting to go fishing for a week. So before I start throwing parts at it I thought I'd check here.

Boat: 1987 Bayliner Trophy
Engine: aq131a
Outdrive: Volvo Penta 275

Over the winter here is what i had done.

Electronic ignition
Timing belt replaced
Oil change
And pretty much had him go over everything major

Here's the issue:
Won't go over 14 mph on gps (tach is inop so can't check rpms)
While trolling it will idle rough after a few minutes and stall then has a hard time firing again unless it sits for a few minutes
It has no fuel filter or water separator so I drained the entire tank and plan to install one and new fuel line
I checked to make sure it was getting fuel last time out when it wouldn't start and it was squirting in the carb fine...

I'm very puzzled as its a pretty simple fuel system/carb set up. I have been scanning the forums for a week or two now and see similar issues but not quite the same, and also don't see end results/solutions and the end of the posts...any help would be appreciated!!

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Today I replaced the fuel line and added a fuel filter/water separator but haven't trout fuel to it yet. I'm replacing the fuel pump tomorrow. I read in another post that the springs and weights in the distributor could cause the issue but need a little guidance on what to do there??

 

[captmello]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

If you have a timing light, you can check to see if the timing is advancing by hooking up the light and reving the motor. The timing should advance as the RPM's raise. A working Tach is mandatory, imo.

I would do a compression test as well.

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

All cylinders tested between 175-180

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Super frustrated!!! New fuel pump, etc...won't fire! Was running at least half way descent before I replaced new parts....I checked the spark, etc...even tried squirting a little ether...I know not good, but nothing...only thing I did do is pull the coil wire so it wouldn't fire while I did compression test...totally confused. Any input??

 

[sqbtr]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Re: Help with AQ131a/275

Wich electronic ignition system did you install, did you check static timing after install. Some conversion kits can be as much as 30 degrees off from the point systems.

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

Not sure which ignition, I had a boat shop install it...I pulled the plugs last night and they were dry, I unscrewed the fuel filter I put in to make sure it wasnt empty and it sounded like it was releasing pressure when I broke the seal...not sure if that's normal, I also used a test light to make sure the cool was getting juice and it was..what's next?

 

[captmello]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

Has it run since you got it back from the mechanic???

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

Yeah it ran good with the exception of stalling out while trolling....this issue started after I put new plugs, drained the fuel and added fresh, and installed new fuel pump and ethanol resistant fuel lines, tried to fire it yesterday and nothing...can a coil go bad? I thought the spark seemed a little weak, but I thought they either worked or didn't

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

Ok still going crazy....especially after getting stuck in 6/8 footers on lake Erie.

Here's a list of what's been done again:

New fuel pump
New fuel lines
Rebuilt carb and is working properly
New plugs
New fuel and inline filter
New alternator
Compression test: all between 175/180
Still can't get past 7/8 mph
Electronic ignition, but original coil, went to auto parts store and grabbed a coil

I was told that when you switch to electronic you have to change the coil to 3 ohm, but there was no way to check it at the autoparts store....the advance seems to be working fine in neutral and also seems to move when we reved it to check timing...I was reading a thread earlier today with exact same issue but no end result posted....help!!!!!

 

[captmello]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

Quit throwing parts at it and bring it in, boating season is half over!!!! It's probably something simple and you are not diagnosing it properly.

 

[saltydog1973]

Re: Help with AQ131a/275 won't start

I would agree..I've already paid someone to fix it and still the same problem, it's gotta be weak spark or a cylinder or two not firing. Does the mechanical advance operate differently under load? I guess what I'm asking is the advance work the same in neutral and in gear?