I have a 1998 Catalina 36 with a Universal M35b engine. Here's the issue:
About a week ago I took the boat out. By the time I got back to the dock the fuel gauge registered about 1/8 tank, but my experience is that the gauge isn't that accurate so it might have been less, but there were no problems. Anyway, I put 12 gallons in.
About a week later, my boat partner took the boat out. She reported that on two separate occasions the motor died but started right back up again.
Yesterday, I was going to go out, but the engine wouldn't start at all. At one point it started up for about one or two seconds and then died. Other than that, it would cough a little but not start.
I checked the sediment bowl, and there was some sediment (not a whole lot) in the bottom of the bowl, which I emptied. I'm planning on going to change the two filters. Could that be the problem? One thing: I do know that fuel is going through the first filter - the one above the sediment bowl. If that doesn't resolve the problem, do you have any suggestions for what else it could be? Is it possible that sediment got trapped in the valves? Also, I asked and my partner said she had not checked the temperature gauge, but the fact that the engine started right back up again leads me to suspect that it wasn't overheating that caused it to die on her. Does that sound right?
Finally: To prevent sea water from running back up into the engine from cranking too long, can I just shut off the raw water through hull while cranking until the engine starts up?
Thanks for any suggestions.
About a week ago I took the boat out. By the time I got back to the dock the fuel gauge registered about 1/8 tank, but my experience is that the gauge isn't that accurate so it might have been less, but there were no problems. Anyway, I put 12 gallons in.
About a week later, my boat partner took the boat out. She reported that on two separate occasions the motor died but started right back up again.
Yesterday, I was going to go out, but the engine wouldn't start at all. At one point it started up for about one or two seconds and then died. Other than that, it would cough a little but not start.
I checked the sediment bowl, and there was some sediment (not a whole lot) in the bottom of the bowl, which I emptied. I'm planning on going to change the two filters. Could that be the problem? One thing: I do know that fuel is going through the first filter - the one above the sediment bowl. If that doesn't resolve the problem, do you have any suggestions for what else it could be? Is it possible that sediment got trapped in the valves? Also, I asked and my partner said she had not checked the temperature gauge, but the fact that the engine started right back up again leads me to suspect that it wasn't overheating that caused it to die on her. Does that sound right?
Finally: To prevent sea water from running back up into the engine from cranking too long, can I just shut off the raw water through hull while cranking until the engine starts up?
Thanks for any suggestions.