Fuel/Spark/What am I dealing with, kinda, issues.

A

Abe460

New member
I hope this is the right forum to post in, but if not let me know.

To the point. As I posted I have a 1979 V20 cuddy with the in/outboard. I'm not getting any spark or enough fuel to the motor. I'm pretty sure the fuel issue is caused by the lack of motor running as I can smell fuel in the carb, but doesn't seem enough to run off of. All that aside It's really hard to know anything if you're not sure what it is you're looking at.

How do I identify the engine in this boat? I'ts blue/black/rust/clear caulk, colored. V8, has these weird (removable) caps on the valve covers, opposite of two hoses from valve covers to the carb filter. I know it sounds bad, but this craft ran in Oct of 2007. As you can tell I'm not the mechanic person, but I can fix anything ,engine wise, if I know what I'm looking at.
 
Well, is the dizzy in the front or back, I'm guessing the back. If so, then its a chevy. Thats about the right year for a Merc 898, which was a 305.
 
I'd start by checking for spark as I have a 350 mercruiser and every year I have trouble with spark and it generally winds up being the points. Borrow a timing light to see if you have spark at the plugs while you crank kit over, if you don't have spark clean the points and try again. If you do have spark pour some gas in the carb to see if it will start. If it starts and stalls repeatedly it could be a number of items, fuel pump, clogged filter, water in your gas, stuck float. good luck be patient
 
regidog said:
I'd start by checking for spark as I have a 350 mercruiser and every year I have trouble with spark and it generally winds up being the points. Borrow a timing light to see if you have spark at the plugs while you crank kit over, if you don't have spark clean the points and try again. If you do have spark pour some gas in the carb to see if it will start. If it starts and stalls repeatedly it could be a number of items, fuel pump, clogged filter, water in your gas, stuck float. good luck be patient
Click to expand...

I have no spark at the plugs. I'll try cleaning points, but never done it before on anything other than an old go-cart I had as a kid. I already poured gas in the carb...got nothing.

I apologize in advance for more questions, but as far as working on boats... this is my first rodeo. Other than a 1977, 14' glasstron with the 1977, 50hp merc outboard...retired due to transom rot and low compression. I rebuilt it from the floor up. Gave me about 5 years good before the transom was beyond the aluminum braces.
 
Once you figure this out, get a kit and get rid of the points! Best thing both you guys could do!!
When I had the I/O the points went a few times do to rust, Don't forget the Coil either, I had that go also!!
 
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