On Jun 24, 5:21*pm, fzbuilder wrote:
On Jun 22, 11:10*am, "Calif Bill" wrote:

"fzbuilder" wrote in message

....

Hey all, I have a issue with my starter cranking the engine so slow
that it will not start, then drains the battery. This happens with any
battery I put in it. I even had a Snap-on starter boost charger on it
and still not enough cranking. I ended up wiring 2 batteries in seires
for 24volts and it would crank fast (but still not start), then kill
the batteries after a few times. I am wondering if I have a dead short
somewhere and if anyone has any ideas before I start replacing stuff.
I just replaced the coil and after doing some tests per the Penta Book
and now I have spark, but I am worried to put the 24volts back on and
damage anything. I orginaly put the 24volts on from some advise and
now I hear that can mess up your system. Help Please!!

Ok...here is the latest. I took the starter off and took it to the
auto store. They tested it 3 times in a computerized machine and it
tested fine (passed) on all levels. Went *home and put the starter
back on then double checked all the electrical and conections. Tried
to start it, but same thing. Pulled all the plugs and wammmm...spins
like crazy. My next step is to pull the valve covers and make sure all
valves are moving. Any thoughts?

YES! leave thevalve covers alone. why do you want to get radical with
valve covers? why not pull the engine and take off the oil pan and see
if the crankshaft is turning?

Pardon me, I dont' want to come across like a smart -alec, but . look
at the bigger picture, Are you sure the ignition timing is correct?
too far advanced timing and the starter will act like it's hitting a
brick wall because the cylinders are firing too soon. You said you
replaced the coil. so I'm wowndering inf you did any thing else to the
distributor, by chance?

OK so you took the starter to the parts store and had them "test it" .
like most part stores, they possibly will hook it to to a fancy-
schmancy machine and let it free spin and scream at the top of it's
lungs. did anyone ever think to take it apart and see what kind of
shape it looked like inside?
HECK NO!

But it sure spun good. so test passed.

On Jun 24, 6:21*pm, fzbuilder wrote:
On Jun 22, 11:10*am, "Calif Bill" wrote:

"fzbuilder" wrote in message

....

Hey all, I have a issue with my starter cranking the engine so slow
that it will not start, then drains the battery. This happens with any
battery I put in it. I even had a Snap-on starter boost charger on it
and still not enough cranking. I ended up wiring 2 batteries in seires
for 24volts and it would crank fast (but still not start), then kill
the batteries after a few times. I am wondering if I have a dead short
somewhere and if anyone has any ideas before I start replacing stuff.
I just replaced the coil and after doing some tests per the Penta Book
and now I have spark, but I am worried to put the 24volts back on and
damage anything. I orginaly put the 24volts on from some advise and
now I hear that can mess up your system. Help Please!!

Ok...here is the latest. I took the starter off and took it to the
auto store. They tested it 3 times in a computerized machine and it
tested fine (passed) on all levels. Went *home and put the starter
back on then double checked all the electrical and conections. Tried
to start it, but same thing. Pulled all the plugs and wammmm...spins
like crazy. My next step is to pull the valve covers and make sure all
valves are moving. Any thoughts?

Double checked connections? Or disconnected and cleaned them? Visual
inspection will not reveal a bad connection. You must either
disassemble and clean it with a wire brush or put a volt meter across
it and measure the voltage drop when the starter is engaged. Taking
it apart and cleaning it is easier. Trust me, on a 1987 boat you have
wiring corrosion. It may or may not be your problem but you do have
it.

How long has it been since the boat ran normally? What exactly have
you done to it since it ran normally? Any of that done before it
became hard to start?

Also the water question is valid. Did any water come out of the plug
holes? Any of the plugs look like they may have been wet with water?
Unsure? Put the plugs back in, leave the wires off, crank it. If the
wires are off then it should crank normally. Timing issues will not
affect it with the wires off. If it still does not crank normally
then you still have starter issues.

On Jun 25, 12:33*pm, Gene Kearns
wrote:
On Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:21:02 -0700 (PDT), fzbuilder penned the
following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:





On Jun 22, 11:10*am, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"fzbuilder" wrote in message

....

Hey all, I have a issue with my starter cranking the engine so slow
that it will not start, then drains the battery. This happens with any
battery I put in it. I even had a Snap-on starter boost charger on it
and still not enough cranking. I ended up wiring 2 batteries in seires
for 24volts and it would crank fast (but still not start), then kill
the batteries after a few times. I am wondering if I have a dead short
somewhere and if anyone has any ideas before I start replacing stuff..
I just replaced the coil and after doing some tests per the Penta Book
and now I have spark, but I am worried to put the 24volts back on and
damage anything. I orginaly put the 24volts on from some advise and
now I hear that can mess up your system. Help Please!!

Ok...here is the latest. I took the starter off and took it to the
auto store. They tested it 3 times in a computerized machine and it
tested fine (passed) on all levels. Went *home and put the starter
back on then double checked all the electrical and conections. Tried
to start it, but same thing. Pulled all the plugs and wammmm...spins
like crazy. My next step is to pull the valve covers and make sure all
valves are moving. Any thoughts?

Sounds like a plan. If one or more valves aren't moving, you'll have
some damaged pushrods at least. If all of the valves are moving, you
may have some serious valvetrain issues....

Does it even try to fire? IF you're getting firing or backfiring....
I'd look for ignition issues. Does it have a distributor? If so.... it
might be a carbon track.

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepagehttp://pamandgene.idleplay.net/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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- Show quoted text -

If it has valve train issues that are a cranking problem it would not
have cranked with the plugs out. And valve train issues are not
likely to cause a starting problem either as they would most likely
affect just one or two cylinders. It's not time to remove the valve
covers, the symptoms don't suggest that.