OMC 3.0 timing issue backfires thru carb.

[joeski3]

I'm a little stumped her so before I go deeper I am hoping to get a better opinion. I have an 1986/87 3.0 OMC. Just changed plugs, rotor, cap, wires, and coil. She starts right up however when I throttle up she bogs and pops thru the carb eventually stalling. I put a timing light on it and the hash mark on the pulley (which I painted white) is nowhere to be seen against the timing marks on the plate. So before I go messing with the distributer I want to ask could the timing be that far off and the motor still start like it does? I have not done a compression test yet. Should I turn the dist. anyway until I get that mark where it should be? BTW I had the boat on the water before I changed anything and she had a hard time starting but ran good..at least I thought so.
​Thanks in advance!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Howdy,

Sounds like your timing is WAY off! You might double check the firing order and ensure you have the plug wires on the "right" plugs.

Also, (Cobra, right?) check that ESA and make sure it's NOT activating on throttle up! In addition, check the inside of your dist cap. Any carbon lines? wouldn't be the first time for a defective cap. Especially considering where those caps come from these days!

But initially, I would vote for timing being way off (plug wires in the wrong position on the cap) which might explain why the timing light mark is "gone".....

Cheers,


Rick

 

[joeski3]

Thanks Rick...I just adjusted the dist. holy cow it was way off! She idled right up and after a few adjustments she runs great! I know what you mean as where these parts come from now. The rotor that came with the dist cap broke right off the stem when I ran the boat while back! I have since ordered 2 just to have an extra on hand. Thanks again for the quick response, I just needed to hear what I thought from someone else.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Thanks Rick...I just adjusted the dist. holy cow it was way off! She idled right up and after a few adjustments she runs great! I know what you mean as where these parts come from now. The rotor that came with the dist cap broke right off the stem when I ran the boat while back! I have since ordered 2 just to have an extra on hand. Thanks again for the quick response, I just needed to hear what I thought from someone else.

:thumb::thumb: