NEED HELP! OMC 2.3 loses power under load...

[Mark&Holly]

Hey, I am new to boating me and my wife just got a 1989 bayliner capri with a 2.3 omc cobra. I have changed the fuel water separator. I have been trying to track down my problem but haven't figured it out. We can get going just fine but when we get the motor above 4000 rpm it starts getting sluggish and stalls. I can throttle back to about 2500 rpm and it smooths back out but when I give more throttle it's stalls. I adjusted the screws on carburetor and thought I had it got it up to 4300rpm with no stall. We decided at that point we would do some wake surfing and tubing well when we started pulling the tube the boat wouldn't plane or get above 3000rpm. We tried for about 15 min and gave up pulled the tube in and tried to head back in got the boat up to 3400 rpm and it just died with no warning then it wouldn't crank had to paddle back in then just before getting back to dock I turned it over and it started right up. Need help and advice. Thanks.

 

[alldodge]

Pull the fuel filter and dump the contents into a biggie. Check the anti siphon valve on the tank

 

[Mark&Holly]

Where is the anti siphon valve located?

 

[alldodge]

Where is the anti siphon valve located?

Is on the tank, looks like a barbed fitting which the fuel line is attached to. There is a spring loaded ball bearing in side. Looks like these

http://www.iboats.com/Moeller-Anti-...9556815--session_id.651615638--view_id.392106

 

[Mark&Holly]

Ok thanks, just found out that the last owner put all vinyl lines in for the fuel system looks like they're dry rotted going to replace them.

 

[alldodge]

Get USCG type A1 fuel line

 

[Mark&Holly]

Could a bad shift cable cause the issue as well?

 

[alldodge]

No, your not slipping out of gear

 

[Mark&Holly]

I didn't think it would be, just asking because I have seen a bunch of topics on omc motors but none seem to be having the issue at around 4000 rpm under load.

 

[Mark&Holly]

If anybody else has any ideas please let us know.

 

[Scott Danforth]

see post #2

 

[Mark&Holly]

Thanks for the information, but we have bigger issues than I first thought. Was working on it tonight and decided to check the oil even though the dealer I got it from said it had just been changed and it was milky as it could be. Hope it's just the head gasket.