Need help.Lost our manual and can't find out why it won't start only turn over.Getting tired of replacing one thing after another to find it.Please help if you know.Thanks
Hi Kimberly.<br />You should post this question in the Mercruiser i/o forum.<br />The guys that hang out there know this stuff better than us guys that hang out here on the bs dock and chat.<br /><br />What specifications were you in need of?<br />Also, they will do better if you post the model and year of your engine.<br /><br /><br />The first thing I check when an engine won't start is the safety lanyard/kill switch. Make sure its in the run position.<br /><br />Then check for spark, and then fuel to the cylinders.<br /><br />Once you narrow it down to a specific problem, then we can help trouble shoot and suggest likely causes.
Thanks We have fire to the points,no fire to the spark plugs.The engine is a 1986 170hp mercrusier engine 3.7L cyl.What can we check next.Do the spark plug wires need to be changed again only 5 trips on them?
Do a full tuneup (Should be done yearly on boats), and should include points, condenser, cap, rotor, sparkplugs, setting dwell, setting intial timing, adjusting idle mixture and speed, checking advance timing, and even a compression check is good information.<br />I would bet money it will run great after the tuneup.
Thanks guys! I hope someone out there knows what to set the dwell at.For a 170hp mercrusier engine 3.7L 4cyl.engine.Any settings you could give could help us to hear her run again.like to take the kids out.
That's what I was trying to avoid. Great information if she has a Delco distributor, but if she has a Prestolite, it's not going to run right.<br />With a Prestolite distributor use:<br />Initial Timing 4° BTDC<br />Total Advance 31° @ 3100 rpm.<br />Point Gap .016<br />Dwell 39° to 45°
Hey guys great info.We have a Delco remi from what I'm told.Wanted to get it tuned up. Put on new battery,new points,condenser,cap,rotor button.Only have to do spark plugs and wires.On order will have by Tues.If she doesn't fire up then,what else to check?I am writing for my husband,he's out riding his other toy the dirt bike.I am very interested in why it would only crank over and not start.We lost fire to new points and now it's okay there.No spark to the one plug we checked.Too hot in Jersey right now to work on it.Will try again when we get the wires.After we put them on,what should we do if still no spark.All voltage readings are okay at the points.What is the dwell used for.And it seems like it plays a big roll to have all the specs. just right.Sure wish we had the other book.Only have installation manual right now,not much help.Let you know what happens after Tues.Thanks
A dwell meter actually gets the points adjusted to the proper degree. The breaker points gap setting is just the beginning setting. You adjust the gap then you run the engine and with a dwell meter you get it "tuned" to the exact setting needed.<br /><br /><br />Those little 170hp are a little troublematic at times. Keep a watch out for water leaking from the front cam/waterpump area. Those seals like to go and either start dumping water into the crankcase or into the bildge. Also the water cooled voltage regulator is pretty costly. Its cheaper to install the kit for an external alternator it you have room in the doghouse.
