New Long Block, Cranks and Won't Start

[Mike1004]

Hello all,

I have just finished dropping my engine back into my boat after getting a new Long Block (project boat, previous owner cracked block).

Its a 2012 Bayliner with a Merc 3.0 SN of the original engine was 1A648581.

It cranks but won't start. It sounds like it wants to, it just won't go.

There is fuel to the carb (was also rebuilt) and new plugs. I have confirmed compression on all 4 cylinders is about 120.
The new plugs are slightly dark suggesting to me they're sparking. When I pulled them to check cylinders, 2 and 3 were slightly wet.

I've double checked the timing on the dist. And seems good. I've confirmed it's not the kill switch.

I have new fuel.

Seems to be spark... I checked for spark by pulling the centre wire Frome the cap and checking for spark and I had a timing light with tach on all 4 wires and they registered about for the RPM.

Any suggestions?

 

[dubs283]

-verify distributor is at #1 tdc compression (might be 180 off)
-verify firing order is correct
-verify good spark with a spark tester

 

[Mike1004]

-verify distributor is at #1 tdc compression (might be 180 off)
-verify firing order is correct
-verify good spark with a spark tester

For verifying the distributor, what more can I do to check it? I pulled the plugs and stuck my finger in hole 1 (closest to front of boat) until I felt it building pressure. I then turned the crank until the notch on the pulley was at the 0 timing mark (this is what I interpreted from the manual). Once there I dropped the distributor in with the rotor contact at the top right when the cap went on it would have had #1 lining up with the rotor contact. Have I missed the procedure on this one?

I have double and triple checked the order.

I will have to order a spark tester.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[dubs283]

sounds like you got the distributor installed correctly, keep in mind exhaust stroke will produce a bit of compression but should be noticeably different on the compression stroke

wet plugs indicate too much fuel/flooded, you can try cranking the engine with the throttle at WOT to clear the flood

 

[Bt Doctur]

firing order? Its 1,3,4,2

 

[Mike1004]

firing order? Its 1,3,4,2

Yep. The cap labelled in that order and I've confirmed that each wire goes to the corresponding cylinder number.

Not sure if it makes a difference... When I'm cranking it does sound like there is some combustion (kind of like a soft thuds as it cranks) and the exhaust does have the regular exhaust smell to it.

 

[poconojoe]

This might be a stupid question, but if you have a lanyard safety switch at your helm, did you check that?
Your description sounds like what I experienced once when someone accidentally tripped it while we were anchored out.
It cranked and sounded like it almost wanted to start.

 

[Mcfltfyter]

You can check timing with a light while cranking too. Obviously you'd want to do a final with it running, but it takes the guesswork away.

 

[Mike1004]

So since the strong consensus here was timing, I took another shot on timing... It was being set on the correct stroke but the cap was off from the rotor. Reset that and it started right up. Got it idling, set the timing and seems to be running good.

Thanks for help!

 

[poconojoe]

So since the strong consensus here was timing, I took another shot on timing... It was being set on the correct stroke but the cap was off from the rotor. Reset that and it started right up. Got it idling, set the timing and seems to be running good.

Thanks for help!

That's great!