Hello Everyone,

I hope all is well. I'm new to this forum and in need of some help... I'll start off with information on my boat.

-1995 Eliminator 207Ski Jet Boat
-Marine Power 454 Big Block
-Carter Electronic Fuel Pump to Rochester Carburetor
-Dual Optima Two Year Old Batteries with plenty of cranking power
-Engine was rebuilt in 2013 and ran maybe 4-5 hours so far. I never take this boat out for some reason...

Anyways, I'll just get to the point from here. My boat just cranks but won't fire up and run. I tried spraying starter fluid in the carburetor I purchased last year and had no luck. Last time I ran the boat was last year for about an hour. I haven't checked but I'm pretty sure there's plenty of spark. I believe its a fuel issue going into the carburetor because I really didn't smell any fuel when I was pumping the throttle. I did smell the starter fluid but not much fuel. Fuel tank was filled to full from empty last year with fuel stabilizer. I've also tried to just stepped and hold on the throttle while cranking (which always worked before without starter fluid) but it won't fire up. Now even if there's no fuel going in the engine, wouldn't the starter fluid at least fire up the engine and then cut off? Am I not spraying enough, or spraying too much, or just spraying in the wrong area? I don't know what it's called, but I sprayed in the front two port of the carburetor underneath the air filter. I even let the boat sit for 20 minutes thinking I flooded the engine and when I cranked, all it would do is just crank and won't fire up. I checked the fuel pump and it's pumping out gas. This boat does not have a choke for some reason. I'll check for spark later today but like I said, I'm sure there is spark. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

One thing I'm curious about. If I have an electronic fuel pump, why do I have to pump the throttle to bring gas to the carburetor? I've always wondered that.

Also.. Your electric fuel pump is filling the bowls on the carb. Not priming the engine to fire..  Pumping the throttle is causing the accelerator pumps to squirt fuel into the intake priming it to fire!  Think of it like the lil primer pump on your lawn mower,  you can pull the rope all day but until you give it a couple pumps it won't fire....  But x2... Check spark..  Probably has none..

your friendly local v-drive owner

Pull a plug and leave it clipped into the spark plug wire boot hold it near a good ground. It should arc from plug to ground when cranking showing you have spark. From there I'd stop using starting fluid completely. A cup of gas will do fine instead. If your doing this alone pour a small amount into the carb like 4oz. Or so, this will let you better judge how much fuel your really putting in. Then crank the motor, you should get something from that. Btw I'd imagine you can hear your electric fuel pump running when you turn the key to accessory. We'll worry about that after it starts though




Let's dance

If you have HEI ignition may want to check to see if you have enough power to the distributor. I had that issue had to run a new ingnition wire from the key switch to the box on the engine, fires every time. But it is a Ford 460 too lol

1977 Challenger

I'd start with turning the key to the on position. With the test light probe the power wire going into the coil to see if you're getting a power signal. Check the distributor as well.

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Dumb question but is this the coil?

Back to fuel delivery for a minute (because I know absolutely nothing about ignitions). You mentioned not smelling any fuel. I have Holley double pumpers and when I pump the throttle, you can see fuel squirting down the carb. I would think a Rochester is the same. Are you able to see fuel down the carb when you pump the throttle?

Most jet boats with a carbed big block don't have a choke. Not saying there aren't any, but it's not that common.

I can't see if fuel is shooting down the carburetor because I'm doing it by myself. Can't pump it by hand because it will not move. I'll disconnect the throttle cable later today to see if I can pump it by hand a watch for fuel going down the carburetor.

👍👍👍 glad you got it fixed

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