Danny, >From reading your previous posts on the Moyer forum I suspect that your issues >are fuel related, not ignition or wiring. Having said that, it is not a bad >idea to have a back up ignition system on the boat and I would suggest that >you get moyer to send you a distributer base plate, points and condenser setup >along with a new spare coil. I keep a this setup in my spare parts bin on the >boat at all times, just in case. you can install the points on the base plate >and set them,swap the coil, and run a test to see if the problem continues, >then remove the baseplate without touching the points and keep it as a fail >safe. Doing this will not only eliminate the ignition system as the problem, >but will provide you with a backup system should the EI ever fail (it does >happen on occasions). In a separate test, I would suggest a thorough carb >cleaning and running the engine from a temporary fuel supply, ie a 5 gallon >outboard tank plumbed to the carb. This test will eliminate the tank, fuel and >filter as the source of the problem. If you also use a primer bulb in the >plumbing you can rule out the fuel pump too. Please be careful of fuel vapor >in the bilge, I wouldn't want you to become the first person to ever blow up a >boat with an A4!!!! As Burt said, sometimes these problems can be a challenge >to sort out, but there are lots of A4's out there that run reliably and engine >problems plague owners of every brand of engine. Rest assured that the A4 has >one of the most knowledgeable and helpful owner and supplier bases in our >field. James Delaney 1976 A4 powered C&C 38 Oriental, NC
PS Black sooty plugs mean rich mixture or weak ignition, a little on the rich side will soot them up almost immediately but will not cause an engine to shut-down. To shut an engine down, it would take multiple fouled plugs (ie, soot that goes across the gap). Most A4's are setup to run very rich and this does not cause a problem. There are some interesting threads on the Moyer forum about this and the decrease in fuel consumption with a correct mixture. ----- Original Message ----- From: Burt Stratton via CnC-List To: 'dwight' ; cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2014 6:40 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List Ok more atomic 4 issues...dammit! Dwight, I won't debate the temptation or value of a replacement engine. This is not so much a technical discussion as it is a discussion of the balance between cost, aggravation and quality of life (aboard). Danny, I will say that my 1974 A-4 runs very reliably with a couple upgrades (electronic ignition and electric fuel pump) My point is that you have options. If the cost of a replacement engine makes that an impractical option I'm sure you can get the A-4 running reliably. I don't know your mechanical acumen, experience, tenacity or courage so it is hard for me to make a lot of recommendations. With what I have read it sounds like you need to go back to some basics. When a motor fine for 3 hours under load without a problem you have eliminated a lot of potential problems like heat, vapor lock and fuel supply, Your ignition system could be suspect (low or high voltage). Also, quality of gas entering the carb can change over time. Intermittent problems like what you are describing sometimes require a great deal of discipline to find. Be sure to make only one change at a time to be sure you don't compound the problem and make it difficult to determine what you did that changed the symptom. Sometimes another set of eyes can be valuable. Sorry I can't be more specific. Skip P. S. Don't be distracted by dirty looking plugs on these motors after a few hours of run time. Unless that plug is fouled and not firing it is not your problem. From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of dwight via CnC-List Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2014 5:34 PM To: 'Danny Haughey'; cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Ok more atomic 4 issues...dammit! Think about repowering with a reliable diesel.OK you A4 enthusiasts hit me hard.but if he likes the feel of sail his Viking and I know that feel is good, just might be worth a new engine Dwight Veinot C&C 35MKII, Alianna Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Danny Haughey via CnC-List Sent: August 13, 2014 12:33 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Ok more atomic 4 issues...dammit! Alright, the saga continues. We went for a sea trial Sunday after the changes, i.e. Vent line cleared, filters changed, clamps tightened. The engine ran great all the way to Cuttyhunk. I probably ran it about 3 hours. Two of those hours I ran it a little harder than I normally do after having read Don M's reasons for having black sooty spark plugs. I thought my problems were solved. On our way home from cuttyhunk, We motored out the harbor and decided that, because the wind was a little light, we would motor home to run the engine some more. 50 minutes into our ride home, the same thing, only a bit slower. the whole, slow, stall happened over maybe a minute or two. Some sputter, then run normal, a little more sputter, then normal and then a slow stall. We then sailed home and into the mooring field. This is actually a benefit of the engine troubles, I've been a bit intimidated about sailing onto the mouth of the river due to the current and very tight channel flanked by shoals and some pretty ominous looking rocks. I've now had to sail into the harbor twice over this last weekend. At one point we were probably doing 4 or 4.5knts through the water but only 1 to 1.5knts over the ground fighting that current. On one side of the boat it a big, rocky cliff and the other shoal. it was a little adrenalin pumping! Anyway, the approach to our mooring was dead, head to wind, along with the current in the same direction, I lost forward motion under sail and started the engine. She started right up and we motored onto the mooring without incident. So, safely moored, I pulled the vent tube, it was clear. I then went below and pulled a spark plug and it was all black and sooty again after maybe 4 hours running time. I used the Moyer rebuild kit on the carb that is on there now. I'm not sure but, I think I changed the main jet to the moyer recomended one at that time. I think it came with the rebuild kit. My earlier idling issues seemed to have been solved by swapping out the carb that came with the exchange engine for the one I rebuilt off the original engine and had just sitting around as a spare. I think what I would like to do now is, clean up the carb that came with the exchange engine. and swap them back out. I'll then replace the plugs and run it some more. Unless you guys think I should maybe try another path forward. Danny P.S. Cuttyhunk was Amazing! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4716 / Virus Database: 3986/8000 - Release Date: 08/07/14 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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