sudden stop

[jaysmiles32]

Hello everyone i am in desperate need of assistance, i have an 1976 75hp crystler outboard boat that i bought a year ago and spent alot of time painting it myself etc, anyhow i took it out on the water after it sat for about 3 years prior to me getting it and it ran thru the gas like no other, i cleanned the carbs and then took it to the shop in durham to have it fixed because it would not start. the guy at the shop says he cleanned and redone the carbs as well as put another starter on it. that was about $600.00 then i take the boat out on the lake and it starts up and not 20 feet out it cuts off so i take it back mad as ever and he looks at it again then calls me and says its ok now, so i go out again and the same thing happens, so now embarrassed because i took a friend out and that happens i took it back and had a nice talk with the guy who has been doing this for years etc, few days go by and he says its gonna cost me about 400.00 the power packwas bad and it was a used one that he put on it. now i take the boat out two sundays ago and it ran fine a for about 5 hours, no problem, this past momoral day i take it out and the boat just cutts off dead in the middle of the lake, and wouldnt turn over click nothing, so i disconnect the battery and connect it back and nothing so after sitting on the lake for 45 min mad and wondering if i should just sink it and swimm to shore i got a friend to get someone to come out and get me. i let the boat sit on the trailer for about an hour while my kids played in the water and decided to check all the wires and turned the key and it started. so i put it in the water and tryed to start it, it ran for a second and was popping like it was misfiring, so i took the cover off and made sure the spark plug wires were on good while it was running (maybe bad decision) and shocked myself not sure if that was suppose to happen. im wonsering if i have an short or the power pack is bad or coils is bad i really dont know this is my first boat and iif i had a repair manuel i could probably trouble shoot it. idk. any how can anyone help me any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wickware]

Re: sudden stop

What is the real problem I one sentence? I think my father-in-law and I had few choices with an old system. We had to make our choice and move on since I had no experience in the 70?s. I feel it might be just as painful and expensive today. The Pros will come in and know best. Good Luck!

 

[wickware]

Re: sudden stop

My One Sentence: Looking at your post closer, we found very similar issues and all the basic ignition parts were replaced at our good expense (with none of our used parts returned). I doubt they were all bad but what could I say with my lack of experience and time. Later, my father-in-law told me that the boat and motor did go under water during a storm but had been serviced. How do you service a water soaked wire? Try to get as much history on the motor as you can. This became very obvious and possibly part of the ignition?s problems as the wiring started deteriorating. With the intermitting. I would inspect all of the wiring for bad insulation (Crumbling Cracking or build-up under the insulation and neatly replace all (with the worst first, ?If You Think Wiring Is An Issue?). Some good close Pictures for any suspicious wiring or etc would be good to post. Be sure to try and get a good look at the wiring in the dark that might show some arcing (while the motor is running in the water to keep it cool).

Good Luck!.

 

[jaysmiles32]

Re: sudden stop

My One Sentence: Looking at your post closer, we found very similar issues and all the basic ignition parts were replaced at our good expense (with none of our used parts returned). I doubt they were all bad but what could I say with my lack of experience and time. Later, my father-in-law told me that the boat and motor did go under water during a storm but had been serviced. How do you service a water soaked wire? Try to get as much history on the motor as you can. This became very obvious and possibly part of the ignition?s problems as the wiring started deteriorating. With the intermitting. I would inspect all of the wiring for bad insulation (Crumbling Cracking or build-up under the insulation and neatly replace all (with the worst first, ?If You Think Wiring Is An Issue?). Some good close Pictures for any suspicious wiring or etc would be good to post. Be sure to try and get a good look at the wiring in the dark that might show some arcing (while the motor is running in the water to keep it cool).

Good Luck!.

ok this is what i got thus far all the wires are good i charged the battery and i crunk the motor and for some reason it is misfiring, while running not badly however you can tell it is missing ever so often. but the motor is running . i didnt put it on the lake or anything, just put the water hose to it. any ideas ?

 

[jaysmiles32]

Re: sudden stop

i have another question am i suppose to get shocked if i touch the spark plug boot while the boat is running? just asking dont know if it would help any.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: sudden stop

Check where the red, white, and blue wires to the CD box (we're very patriotic) pass under the flywheel. This was a definite problem area on the Chryslers which Mercury corrected on some Force engines by installing a sheet metal guard.

From vibration, the wire or wires can rise and touch the underside of the flywheel wearing the insulation and creating a momentary short circuit. This may or may not "pop" the circuit breaker. The breaker is usually a tin can self resetting type so if it does open, you need to wait about 1/2 hour for it to cool and reset. Before it resets, the engine will neither crank or start.

And yeah, It is common to get your hair raised by touching the plug boots. However, this would indicate either a cracked boot or oil/dirt inside and on the plugs causing a possible misfire--- so clean them well.

 

[jaysmiles32]

Re: sudden stop

The red white ad blue wires are fine wish that was the case then I could fix it and go on the water, someone metioned points or something to that effect, would that be something I would want to check and how.