Crusader 350 Problem

D

damaib

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May 3, 2013
RO Number
33232
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46
I posted this on the engine forum, but thought I would put it over here as well.

New to me 1997 Carver 325 Aft Cabin with Crusader 350's. Boat has been starting and running fine for about 35 hours since purchase 3 months ago. Last night started the engines to go on a short local sunset cruise. Both started easily and normally. After about a minute the starboard engine died. I tried to restart, but no success. The engine would fire a bit, but would not keep running. Pulled off the flame arrestor to look for any obvious carb issues. Nothing to my untrained eyes.
This morning I went back to the boat and got it started, but it took lots of throttle and cranking. Once running, it was running rough and putting out some white smoke from the exhaust. After a minute or two it got smoother, but still not nice and smooth like the other engine. Still putting out white smoke. Moving the throttle to full idle, the engine would die after a few seconds of continually declining rpm.
Any thoughts about where to start?
 
Sounds like a similar problem that I just dealt with.m,it turned out to be the anti siphoning valve on the tank. Hope that helps. Please let us know.
 
One other point...do you have an auxiliary tank on the boat? If so, switch to that tank and see if the engine runs. Also check the fuel filter for any water in the gas.
 
Are they EFI or carbureted? As suggested, change out the fuel filter. If that doesn't free up fuel flow, then it may be clogged jets on your carb. I've gone through that, especially with the crappy fuel nowadays, and a rebuild of the carbs usually helps a lot. Although it doesn't sound like it would matter much, check your idle screw to make sure it's high enough; at least like 600 rpms. Secondly since the boat is new to you, your two carb set screws may be off. You have a set on each side. You could try tightening both, then unscrew by 1 1/2 turns if a Rochester or Holley carb. Each side must be out the exact same amount. 1 1/2 is the initial amount out, and then incrementally you can fine tune as long as each side is out the same amount. You could also check that all your pistons are firing and possibly change out your plugs and wires. We've also had our distributor go bad with symptoms like you described above.

Let us know how it turns out. We're on the hard awaiting a new port block to be installed through insurance, again due to Sandy; seawater in piston 3 through the exhaust.
 
do you know how old the fuel is? does it contain stabilizer? did you have the boat surveyed? if so, how did it perform?
 
Pulled the carb off and found some junk in one of the needles. Overhauled the carb and it goes back on today. Will let the forum know if that was the problem.
To answer some of the questions, yes I had a survey and it was very complete. As I mentioned in the first post, I have put about 35 hours on the boat since I bought it three months ago. I am on my third or fourth tank of fuel, so I don't think stale fuel was the problem. Fuel filters were changed back in Feb. with oil and filter change done by the previous owner.
No auxiliary tank. It seems like the severe flooding I was experiencing was most likely the carb issue. I will report back once we get the carb back on.

Any recommendations for the use of fuel stabilizers? I am new to this type of boat. Anticipate running it once a week or so, but I am realistic enough to know that the boat could end up sitting for a few weeks at a time. Should stabilizers be a part of every fill up?
 
Installed overhauled carb and the engine started immediately and runs smooth.
Thanks to all for suggestions and help.
 
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