Odd Engine Situation

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Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

.
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I was motoring home today (no wind) and I decided to stop the engine for a second to check a few things in the boat (not engine related). I didn't touch a thing with the engine. I had it off for about 4 minutes and I went to start it. It turned but it didn't start (never sputtered). At first I was thinking a battery situation. I checked my batteries and they were fine. The next thing that I thought that it could be was something in the fuel. Knowing that I had recently (about 6 hours ago) changed the fuel filter I was puzzled. I moved the throttle lever a few times to throttle up and then I left about 1/2 power. I then tried the starter and the boat started right up. I ran it home. When I was back in the slip I let it sit for about 25 minutes and I then attempted to restart it. It started back up with no problems. During this situation the engine never sputtered or did anything else. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
maybe the shutoff

control? I would think the shut off cause once I did not push the control back (manual push for run and pull for off)all the way and the same thing happened I pulled it out and pushed it back and pressed the start button and Varoom the red iron jib came to life,I seem to remember it happening a couple of times.I have since replaced the control cable and always push the control back after shut down to ready the engine in case I have to fire it up quickly
 
Tom s/v GAIA

Tom s/v GAIA

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Jul 19, 2005
113
- - s/v GAIA Great Lakes
Could be.....

Vapor lock, could be the engine loading up when you shut it down (when you restarted it you gave it 1/2 throttle = more air) could just be a querk (sp) of the engine. Is it an inboard, outboard, gas, diesel, were you running it hard? I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it at this point. How long have you had it, set up the same situation and open the throttle 1/2 way then restart it. Keep us posted. Tom s/v GAIA
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

.
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
More Info

I have a Universal MX-25 diesel for power. This has never happened before. My boat is a 1990 Catalina 30. I have had it since April. I would love to take a Diesel course.
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Stuck shut-off

My guess is the shut off lever didn't get all the way back to "on." I have the same engine, and I think it's great. The only poor engineering on it was done by Universal; the basic Kubota engine is superb.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Sounds like the fuel rack needed resetting.

My Volvo can be difficult if I don't pull the stop cable and push it back before attempting to start. If I follow the reset the fuel rack proceedure it starts on the second compression stroke.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Read the manual

A hot start is not a cold or warm start. There are different procedures for each. Just like you don't have to hit the glow plug switch once the engine is hot you have to set the throttle in a different position when warm and hot.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,335
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Connections

Check the wiring to the starter, and the ground(s) to the engine. You may be very surprised at the condition of the wiring connections to the lugs. Also check same at your 1-2-B switch.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Shut off

I think that those who have suggested the shut off didn't quite go in all the way hit it on the head.I had this happen once on my boat, and like you I was looking for all the more complicated things. I have been fooling around with boats for many years, and one of the few things I have learned is that most problems are something so simple you overlook them.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Check the solenoid/starter circuit.....

On most marine diesels there should be a fuse in the circuit that energizes the starter solenoid. If the connections on this circuit become corroded the heat of the engine will increase the resistance in the circuit; let the engine 'cool down' a few degrees and 'everything is now fine'. Many times this heat related increase of resistance will not allow the solenoid to be energized (turn the key and nothing happens). Remedy - replace all the wiring with 'marine grade' tinned wire and replace the fuse mount with a 'marine grade' one. Most boat builders use non-tinned wiring for the engine control circuits which easily corrodes at the terminals/connections. Replace all this 'cheap crap' with marine grade (tinned) stuff. . :)
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Not solenoid:

From the original post: "It turned but it didn't start."
 
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