SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: Stevecat on July 07, 2009, 07:42:11 AM

Title: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: Stevecat on July 07, 2009, 07:42:11 AM
Hi all! I have a friend with a tournament ski boat who is having trouble. Here's his story:

"It’s an 88 Sanger Comp Ski Boat 21’ with a 351 PCM engine.

The tach is reading double while idling nicely and runs smooth up to around 4000 (2000) when the engine starts to sputter and cut-out. We put in new points, cap, plugs, coil, fuel filter, fuel, oil filter and oil.  I checked the voltage on the shunt resistor and it was 4v, so the coil’s running about 9.  I just ripped the carb out to give it a good cleaning.  It’s a Holly 4bbl single pump with vacuum actuated secondaries.  The actuator had a split diaphragm, so it wasn’t working, but it’s rare that we get to that point, and gagging way before that.  I gave the carb to a repair shop. I’ll have the carb back in this weekend to see if that clears things up, but it still seems electrical to me."

Do any of you have opinions on what the tach reading 2X might indicate? This is not a situation where he changed the tach settings or bought a new tach - it just up and started reading 2 times higher. Thanks for any suggestions!

Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: riser39 on July 07, 2009, 08:35:03 AM
normally aftermarket tach's are set up for 8cyl, 6cyl, or 4cyl.  You may have bumped it or the wiring may have come undone.  I would google the owners manaul for the tach and see if it can be corrected.  If it is reading exactly double this would be my w.a.g.

hope this helps,
Steve
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: GT Jets on July 07, 2009, 08:49:56 AM
Sounds like you may have forgotten to put the proper spring in the points, sometimes the points have a removeable spring and I have seen this spring either installed incorrectly or not at all, it causes the points to bounce at anything above about 1600-1700 rpm but will idle and sound OK, that would be where I would start.... :thumbup:

You can try disconnecting the grey tach wire from the coil on the engine to see if that is where your issue is, but I doubt it seriously, I think they are related. ;)

Good luck!

GT
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: riser39 on July 07, 2009, 09:11:46 AM
Nice work GT!
I will bow out to an excellent answer.  ;)
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: GT Jets on July 07, 2009, 07:37:34 PM
Nice work GT!
I will bow out to an excellent answer.  ;)


Thank you!

Once and a while I can pull one out of my ass, curious to see what he finds now... ;)

GT
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: GT Jets on July 10, 2009, 11:52:44 PM
Hey Steve,

Updates?  :-\

GT
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: Stevecat on July 11, 2009, 08:02:54 AM
Hey Steve,

Updates?  :-\

GT
Nothing yet. He'll let me know once he solves it.
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: Stevecat on July 12, 2009, 01:53:19 PM
As usual, GT gets the prize!  :thumbup: :thumbup:
Here is what he wrote:

"Well that worked!   The spring for the points was with the parts we didn’t install!   After rebuilding the carb on Saturday, I put the spring in, set the gap, and fired it up.   No more doubled tach reading, and it ran up to  4K just as smooth as ever.
Today is the wet test.  We are heading to the lake as I type…
Thanks!"

GT, which bank account do you want the gold bullion deposited in?

Steve
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: GT Jets on July 12, 2009, 02:23:47 PM
As usual, GT gets the prize!  :thumbup: :thumbup:
Here is what he wrote:

"Well that worked!   The spring for the points was with the parts we didn’t install!   After rebuilding the carb on Saturday, I put the spring in, set the gap, and fired it up.   No more doubled tach reading, and it ran up to  4K just as smooth as ever.
Today is the wet test.  We are heading to the lake as I type…
Thanks!"

GT, which bank account do you want the gold bullion deposited in?

Steve


Thanks for the update Steve, you are very welcome!

Proof positive, even a stopped clock is right twice a day  :thumbup:

GT
Title: Re: Helping a Friend - Tach Reading 2X and Motor Gagging After 2000 RPM
Post by: Stevecat on July 30, 2009, 07:37:17 PM
Had to revive this thread. Just got an email from my proppy assed friend:

"You would be interested to know I had another McGiver adventure with the boat this weekend…

Boat was hard to start.  Eventually did start, but no acceleration action.  Broken throttle cable, 7 kids wanting to wakeboard, hmmm.   Shifter cable!

I swapped the shifter cable into action, opened up the little hole in the engine cover where a drink holder was, lashed an alumninum oar piece to the shifter on the transmission, and hired an engine room assistant!

Another one for the books!"
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