i just got my first jet boat its a 78 ranger with a 460 the motor runs if i stay on the gas but it wont idle 

does it sound like its running on all cylinders?  make sure you dont have any vacuum leaks, intake manifold gasket, breather tubes, vacuum ports plugged/capped, etc.  what rpm does it die at?  whats your idle mixture screws and idle set screw set to?  timing set to what at idle?   does it spit and choke and bump or does it just die like its running out of fuel?

Is it not idling in the water or it just does not idle

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Also I have only been running it on the hose

check the gas! make sure its good! maybe time for a tune up!  look at the fuel filters.  start there.

Is your idle screw adjusted right? Could be the idle adjustment is all the way out and not crackin the butterflys to let it idle

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I'm not sure about the idle screw ill check that when I put the carb on tomorrow

Okay so this weekend I had hoped to fix my idling problem all I did was brake a starter and figure out that I need to run 2 battery's because of the cam stopping at top dead center. But as for the idling problem I've narrowed it down to the carb just isn't getting fuel next problem is I'm past my ability to fix it does anyone know of someone good and reasonably priced in the Ie I'm out of Rancho Cucamonga so the closer to me the better

Basically when I had one battery hooked up it didn't have enough cranking power to start it but when I hooked up the second battery it cranked fine a friend of my dads said it was because the cam was at TDC and in just needed more cranking power to spin it

Okay well at this point it's kind of beyond what I can do do you have a recommendation on a good shop ? 

Sounds like your timing is way off not a batt or starter and thats why it will not idle

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Basically when I had one battery hooked up it didn't have enough cranking power to start it but when I hooked up the second battery it cranked fine a friend of my dads said it was because the cam was at TDC and in just needed more cranking power to spin it

And this. Could be something as simple as a junk battery. I've run single batteries has high as 13:1 compression, or 9:1 compression and blown and never heard of this! Chris (88Carrera) should be able to help you diagnose this easily enough.

Could be cam timing is way off, but I kinda doubt that unless the timing set is junk. This would explain the idle condition as well, maybe. dunno.

Personally, I'd be looking at a junk battery and a junk throttle cable as the probable cause for 99% of your issues. Rest assured, it's almost ALWAYS the simple chit that we overlook.......... 

Ray

Yeah I'm kinda hoping its something simple and I just don't know enough to realize what the hells going on

Well, Just cause your dad's friend said this, I wouldn't put a lot of faith in that. My Moo boat had a brand spankin' new battery, and had to be jumped and towed several times in one weekend (Brad towed it, Chromey towed it, and I think both and others jumped it more than once in the course of one day). Ended up ripping one of the batteries out of my F350 for the rest of the weekend, using vice-grips for a battery clamp on it........

Not that unusual....... 

Ray

Im out of Moreno valley and would have no problem giving you a hand, only issue would be you'd have to tow it to my place. Im down to one vehicle at the moment and wont leave my wife without a vehicle. Other than that my work will only cost you a tank of gas to my place and back

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