desperate for some engine help....

[pdm2q]

ok how do i start - chrysler 318 in our 1968 - it starts on first turn of key everytime all the time and idles like a champ - we leave the dock and head through the "no wake" with still no problems - once we hit open water we take off and the horses kick in and it takes off, the fastest we've had it up to is maybe a little over half throttle if any at all - it runs great for about 5 minutes and then it starts to die - it will cut out for a split second and then try and pick up again and it will continue to do until it stops itself or we just throttle down - the gas tank is galvanized steel so it could be rusting but the fuel filter does not show evidence so much so what can it be? the distributer, distributer cap, rotor button, carb needing a thorough overhaul, or could it still be the gas tank? now the engine runs and would run all day long until it runs out of gas if you keep it at maybe 10 mph. thats not going to work so any help at all would be greatly appreciated

[RWS]

check your fuel pump.

RWS

[vabeach1234]

You also might want to check the fuel pick-up in the tank. A friend had a similar problem and it turned out that the pick-up tube had a screen in it and it was clogged with rust flakes. He had to stick a cloths hanger in the pick up tube and knock out the screen. This of course allowed the rust and other crap to be sucked up and caught by the filter further down the line before it gets to the fuel pump, so changing the fuel filter often after knocking out the screen is a necessity. His boat was an Albermarle so I don't know if Trojan fuel tanks had a pick-up tube screen.

FYI: I was mistaken, he removed the pick-up tube and removed the screen. He did not jam a cloths hanger down the tube while in the tank.

Ken
1972 Trojan F26 Hardtop Express
Chrysler 318 Paragon V-Drive

[Paul]

Hi Patric,

I would agree with Ken that you have a fuel blockage or restriction at the tank. I had an similar problem a few years back. The boat would run all day long @ 2000 rpm but any thing over that and it would stumble and die out in minutes. When I unsrewed the spin on fuel filter, I would hear a vacuum sound as soon as broke the seal and the filter was only half full of fuel. At the time I had a stainless steel fuel tank so it didn't make sense that the pick up tube would be obstructed with corrosion but I ckecked it anyway. When I pulled out the pick up tube, it had no screen on the end and it was perfectly clear. At the top of the tube, there was a 90° fitting leading into an anti-syphon check valve and then the fuel line. When disassembled this connection, I found a "fly" caught in the spring inside the check valve restricting the flow. There was no screen on the tank vent at the time so I figured that this was how it got into the tank. After "working the bugs out" , no more problems.

So I would suggest ckecking your anti-syphon valve at the same time that you check the pick up tube.

[Wes]

Hi Patrick,
We have the same problem on our 1983 10 meter with twin 454's. When we leave the dock at idle the starboard engine runs like a dream. When I try to raise the RPMs up she stalls out. In the past I could restart and she'd run fine the rest of the day, all the way to 4K. When we were out a couple of weeks ago she quit and wouldn't restart. The mechanic who worked on the boat before we bought it told me the tanks are less than 5 years old (Stainless steel), he replaced all the filters and fuel lines. He thought there might be a pin hole in the fuel pump diaphram. I bought 1 of the last 2 original pumps that NAPA had and was going to replace it last week but wouldn't you know, she ran fine. Now I carry the pump and tools with me, just in case.
Good luck.
Wes

[MoNaH]

I have a 1968 Bimini and replaced the galvanized tanks(found some plastic ones on the net for $100, exact replacement) and the tanks had about an inch of crud, rust, flakes, and who knows what-else in them. I was amazed the boat ran. So in short, if the tanks are original and never been cleaned, you might think about replacement(cheaper than cleaning for me)

[randyp]

Galvanized steel tanks were original in all of the older Trojans, I suspect. Our 77 F-26 had a 75 gallon galv steel tank and it started to rust on the inside (it's stored all winter, and over time the condensation forms inside the tank and that leads to rust). Same issue of nothing over 1600 rpm (under 10 mph). Rust kept on getting in the fuel filters (we have a water separator and an in-line filter) and stopping the flow. Have your tank checked and if it's rust you may be better off replacing with stainless or poly (much cheaper).

Randy

[Danny Bailey]

Had the same problem on my F-36. I pulled the gas pick-up tubes out of the tanks. There was not a strainer on the end of the tube...it wasn't a tube, it was a hose. Bottom line - the little check valves on top of the pick-up tube fittings were packed full of gray goo. Screw the valves apart and take the spring and poppet out, throw them away, and you will eliminate this problem.

[Lake Superior charter ser]

Check to make sure tank vent is not obstructed, It is probably to old to have a anti-siphon at the tank outlet but it could, and have an obstruction there. Next try blowing back into the tank with the fill cap off and listen for bubbles. Next change the fuel pump. I have gone through a few of them in the last 10 years.

[Mac32]

I had a issue a few years back that I am almost sure it is not the same problem as yours but it is a story worth telling, and rather funny when it is not in the process of happening.

I have a 1976 f32 with twin 318s and was on my way from michigan to chicago. Actually I had idled away from the docks went through the chanel and started to open her up. After a short while the port engine would loose power and drop to about 1000 rpm. So I would drop back down to idle and she would start running great........So it must be a gas issue right? .......

NOT at all.....After an hour of trouble shooting I grabbed the wire harnes going to the Engine control module and it was stinking hot.....Hmmmm what would make that happen.......

Well any sea salt worth his weight in beer would have known (but not me, it still took another 1/2 hour to figure out)...

The rear bilge pump was on a hot circuit to the port battery, and if it happens to short out in say somthing like WATER.....It grounds the circuit that it is connected to....So since the F32 sits a little bow heavey the little bit of water is in the front when idling and sloshes back when under way It would only create a short issue when on plane...

Wild huh, Surprised me too. I am just glad we found it and still got to chicago for the weekend.

Fred

[riproaringca]

Hey pdm2q,

Here's a link to a discussion that may help you out...

http://www.trojanboats.net/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=44

It talks about carbon blockages in the intake manifolds.

[rick1954]

Not sure if you got your ans for the problem, I had the same issue last year, one of the things no one ever changes is the coil. You need to replace the coil with a high vibration unit, and yes it can be one used on an auto, there is no difference between that one and a marine unit but the $$$.
What is happening is the as the coil gets hot it breaks down internally and shorts out.