Engine just quit running
 

My family and i were at the lake this weekend, my boat ran great friday, and fair saturday, and went down completely on sunday... it started on sunday was running fine until i put it in gear, never started again, it tried but was not successful. ive had to replace the coil in the past for this very thing, and was wondering why it seems to eat coils...

Re: Engine just quit running
 

Need a little more info. When it started running fair, what were the exact symptoms....wouldn't rev, hard to start, engine temps high, stalling, wouldn't plane well, running rough? When it wouldn't start... does it turn over properly. Just need more info before anybody can give good advice. Post the descriptions and I am sure forum members will be happy to help.
Happy Boating
Dan

Re: Engine just quit running
 

Thanks DFZ272, it was running great saturday, not running hot, not hesitating, had about 8 adults and 4 kids aboard and was planing out just fine, all of a sudden i pulled it back to neutral and it shut itself off, i had to wait about 30 minutes before i tried to start it, then it ran fine. we pulled it out of the water that evening. Sunday morning i dropped it in the water and it started right up, i put it in reverse and it quit running, it was coming close to starting a couple of times, but then the starter went out. I have replaced the coil in the past and it runs great for about 6 months and it starts acting up again..
A friend of mine said his boat was doing the same thing so he relocated his coil from the engine to one of his sidewalls and it solved his problem, i am wondering if the coil is getting too hot on mine as well...

Re: Engine just quit running
 

Could be a couple of things. I assume that your engine has a carb. Easiest check first, what is the engine idle speed. I know you have a tach in your dash, but sometimes they can be a good bit off. An external tach from an auto parts store would be the best way to check it and verify the accuracy of the dash tach. Your idle speed could be low, which on a carb engine is adjustable. If it is low it will cause a stall. There is also a shift interrupt circuit which momentarily turns of power to the ignition system when the engine is taken in or out of gear, this is somewhat adjustable with the shift cables. The shift interrupt is activated by switch on the side of your carb. These could be sticking, worn, or out of adjustment. Those are 2 thoughts, but I would check the idle speed first, because it is easy to check.
Happy Boating
Dan

Re: Engine just quit running
 

My 2 cents, if your coil is failing then it is most likely due to high voltage. Use a voltmeter to check the voltage on the + side of the coil. There is usually a ballast resistor or a ballast wire in series with the coil. Has someone rewired this circuit? Have you checked the output of your alternator, is the voltage high?

Re: Engine just quit running
 

i will check both of your ideas, and nobody has rewired anything on my boat, i'm the second owner on it and all the maintenance has been done by me or a professional repairman

Re: Engine just quit running
 

After thinking about it, I believe that Steve's idea is more likely than mine. Be sure to let us know how it turns out.
Happy Boating
Dan

Re: Engine just quit running
 

Another question, i want to know if i can replace the cannister type coil with the one that looks kind of (square) for lack of a better explanation, will it work or is it different or better?
Thanks