Hello all, this is my first post and I'm thrilled that I have found this web site as I'm sure there is tons of help out there that will answer my question and help solve my problem. Thanks in advance for any input.
Okay, I have a 2000 Stingray, 18' bowrider with a Mercruiser Alpha One, 3.0L, 135 HP engine. I have had this boat for 3 years now and it has always ran very, very well. Yesterday, on the first trip of the season was a different story.
Before leaving home I hooked the elephant ears and garden hose up to the lower unit and ran the boat in my driveway and it seemed fine although a little rough in the idle department. Engine got up to temprature of about 170 and stabilized there. Oil pressure was good and everything seemed fine. Was able to run the RPMs up to about 4000 with no problem so I figured we were good to go.
Launched the boat and she started right up. Ran fine through the no wake zone, but once into open water and I put the throttle to her...SHE WAS A DAWG. At full throttle I could not get more than 3000 RPMs and about 10 MPH out of her. That lasted for at least 15 minutes...all the while at full throttle and nothing more than 3000 RPMs and 10 MPH. Then, she slowly started responding better and picked up speed until we finally got up to about 35 MPH and she seemed okay. So, just for a test I backed off the throttle and came to a stop before giving her the juice again. Again...she was a DAWG...although this time she did pick up speed more quickly...it was nowhere near good enough to get a skier out of the water...which I have never had a problem with before. Sitting still and in neutral I can rev up to well over 4000 RPMs, but once in gear and a "load" is on her, 3000 is max and she struggles to gain any speed at all.
So, once back at home I pulled out the fuel filter with the intent on changing it as a start and to see what happens. There was a little crud that came out of the filter bowl, but I'm not sure that was the problem. I'll change it anyway to be sure.
Any other ideas??? I'm confused that I can get good RPMs in neutral, but once I put her into gear she just runs like crap.
Before putting her away for the winter, I did change the lower unit oil, channge the engine oil, spark plugs, fog the carb and run anti freeze through the engine. Same winter lay-up procedures that I have followed before and never had a problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and now I'll show my true ignorance of mechanics. From the fuel tank to the pump there is one hose...obviously to supply fuel to the pump. From the pump to the carb there is one metal hose line (i'm figuring supply) and then a clear tube that both run to the carb. What is the clear tube for??? If it means anything, that tube had NOTHING in it once I got the boat home. Is that vacuum??
Craig
Okay, I have a 2000 Stingray, 18' bowrider with a Mercruiser Alpha One, 3.0L, 135 HP engine. I have had this boat for 3 years now and it has always ran very, very well. Yesterday, on the first trip of the season was a different story.
Before leaving home I hooked the elephant ears and garden hose up to the lower unit and ran the boat in my driveway and it seemed fine although a little rough in the idle department. Engine got up to temprature of about 170 and stabilized there. Oil pressure was good and everything seemed fine. Was able to run the RPMs up to about 4000 with no problem so I figured we were good to go.
Launched the boat and she started right up. Ran fine through the no wake zone, but once into open water and I put the throttle to her...SHE WAS A DAWG. At full throttle I could not get more than 3000 RPMs and about 10 MPH out of her. That lasted for at least 15 minutes...all the while at full throttle and nothing more than 3000 RPMs and 10 MPH. Then, she slowly started responding better and picked up speed until we finally got up to about 35 MPH and she seemed okay. So, just for a test I backed off the throttle and came to a stop before giving her the juice again. Again...she was a DAWG...although this time she did pick up speed more quickly...it was nowhere near good enough to get a skier out of the water...which I have never had a problem with before. Sitting still and in neutral I can rev up to well over 4000 RPMs, but once in gear and a "load" is on her, 3000 is max and she struggles to gain any speed at all.
So, once back at home I pulled out the fuel filter with the intent on changing it as a start and to see what happens. There was a little crud that came out of the filter bowl, but I'm not sure that was the problem. I'll change it anyway to be sure.
Any other ideas??? I'm confused that I can get good RPMs in neutral, but once I put her into gear she just runs like crap.
Before putting her away for the winter, I did change the lower unit oil, channge the engine oil, spark plugs, fog the carb and run anti freeze through the engine. Same winter lay-up procedures that I have followed before and never had a problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and now I'll show my true ignorance of mechanics. From the fuel tank to the pump there is one hose...obviously to supply fuel to the pump. From the pump to the carb there is one metal hose line (i'm figuring supply) and then a clear tube that both run to the carb. What is the clear tube for??? If it means anything, that tube had NOTHING in it once I got the boat home. Is that vacuum??
Craig
