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Message |
    
Brent
Visitor
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 08:18 pm: | 
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So far, I've only run my Palmer 3x for not more than 10-20 minutes or so at a time. After the engine gets going and I can open the choke, she settles down and after a minute or so starts to skip.
I'm not quite sure what is happening, but I suspect it is some sort of electrical problem. When she skips, the amp meter drops momentarily, but this could be a chicken and egg quandry; is the amp drop due to the skip, or vice versa?
In any case, I've already replaced the points, plugs, coil, resistor, condenser, rotor, and cap. I think the only things left are the spark plug wires.
My questions:
1) Anyone know of a part number (NAPA or otherwise) for replacement plug wires? Another local catboater suggested that I used only pure copper wires (not the modern carbon types), but are these still available? What do you all recommend?
2) Anyone run into anything like this before? Any suggestions for troubleshooting? |
Richard A. Day Jr.
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 340
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 08:54 pm: |
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I would look for a poor connection in the ignition circuit and possibly the alternator connections. Sounds more like a loose connection than a gas supply problem. wiggle every connection and see what happens. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 144
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 09:12 pm: |
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When ever you replace a condenser be wary of any malfunctioning afterward. Condensers are notorious for being bad, brand new right out of the box. It does not sound like plug wires although a good set of wires is nice asset. Easy to make custom wires yourself. Clean and brighten area where ground cable attaches to the engine block. I second Richard's advise about checking connections. |
Brent
Visitor
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 10:03 pm: |
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On Tuesday I put my catboat in the water; today I was getting her mast stepped when I asked a kid at the boatyard to listen to the engine and tell me what he thought. He said it was backfiring and then proceeded to play with the plug wires.
As soon as he swapped two of the wires, the engine ran like a top. Aside from feeling a bit stupid, I'm glad that is all it was.
I took her up and down the river for about 20 minutes or so and she purred like a kitten. As soon as the temp gauge got to 160, you'd see more smoke (water vapor) out the exhaust as the thermostat opened up, and down went the gauge. Oil pressure was good (about 25-30 psi on the gauge) and the amp meter was always positive.
Thanks to everyone for their advice! I was much appreciated. |
Karl Burton
New member
Username: karl_burton
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 01:20 pm: |
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"As soon as he swapped two of the wires, the engine ran like a top. Aside from feeling a bit stupid, I'm glad that is all it was."
Might not need to feel all that stupid. In my 1970 M-60 manual the firing order printed is incorrect. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 155
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 04:18 pm: |
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Hey, tell me about it. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!! |
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