Cold Starting 1271 TA's

[Hattatude]

I recently purchased a 1991 67 with 1271 engines. After purchase I had both engines re-bullt and everything has performed well. I moved the boat to South Carolina from Maryland for the winter months and the boat is sitting 3-4 weeks at a time and when I go to start the engines I experience a real struggle with them starting up. They turn over for a minute or two and then start to chase. I recently had block heaters installed of which they are always on. Once the boat starts, the subsequent starting is normal for the next few days that I am there. I am experiencing this on both engines. I was just curious if anyone else out there is experiencing anything similar. Is it just because of the temperature or could it be other issues. I'd appreciate any feedback.

 

[Genesis]

Check and make sure you're not draining back the fuel in the lines - that will cause this sort of thing.

When you say "chase", please describe the behavior you're seeing.

 

[Hattatude]

It seems like only certain cylinders are firing in the beginning. And then it chases to all 12 cylinders. I hope that clarifies my description.

 

[Capt K]

It seems like only certain cylinders are firing in the beginning. And then it chases to all 12 cylinders. I hope that clarifies my description.

Hunting, maybe?

 

[jim rosenthal]

Probably only a few cylinders ARE firing to start with; there's a lot of metal to get warm there....if you have good compression and your injector timing is set right, they should start fairly well, but DDs are cold-blooded. They don't care for the kind of temps we have right now. Some hunting is normal til they warm up, isn't it?

Karl is the expert on this, but I think I would look at the rack settings and timing before I did anything else. That, and make sure the fuel isn't gelling, which would definitely make them difficult to light off.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

You sure don't want to crank those for a full minute. Look for info about "starter duty cycles". Usually you should crank for 20 sec. then let the starter rest fo 30 sec. before another 20 sec. cycle followed by a full minute of rest. That should keep your starters from burning up.

 

[Pete]

I share your experience with my stabboard 453 in a 48 LRC. Probably 10% of the horsepower and weight of yours, but same problem. I can leave the port engine sit for 2 or 3 months and it will spring back to life in less than 5 seconds. But, leave the starboard engine sit for 2 or 3 weeks and it tries to start in the stumbling manner you describe. Exactly why, I am not sure and the experiments are continuing. What I do know is it is a drain down problem in the fuel system. My work around for now is to reprime the engines using the priming pump if it has been a while since they ran. Works every time.

Possibilities that I am considering. Do the returns to the fuel tanks have tubes that keep the open end constantly in the fuel? My boat has four tanks, two on the keel and one each in front of the engines. I have always run off the two keel tanks. I need to try running off the saddle tanks where the top of the tanks are above the engines. Also, need to try swapping the keel tank feeds and see if the problem follows the tank or stays with the engine. For now I have taken the easy way out. I always go into the engine room before starting the engines, and if it has been a while, I spend an extra 30 seconds to reprime both engines. Instant starts every time. Give it a try and see if you get similar results.

Pete

 

[Trojan]

I think Karl has got the correct idea. I would look for an air leak from the pump back. There also should be a check in the pump, but if your not losing the prime its further back than that. Maybe half way back to the tank. If you have enough fuel to start and it is firing ruff. Then maybe you have a little air going through. Check your exhaust for color. Like said DD don't like the cold. Mine smoke white 10 seconds at the start when cold and and hunt for about 20 seconds.


BILL

 

[hattitude]

I have 871's and it doesn't get too cold here, however..

Before block heaters- cranking, hunting, smoke

After block heaters- short cranking, no hunting, little smoke

I then I did an oil/fuel filter change. If started within a short time frame all was well. If they sat for over a week the port engine needed extra cranking and was hunting.

Pre-start inspection revealed that the port engine Racor filter was half full. It turns out that I messed up the seal on that filter change. There was an air leak too small to affect performance but small enough to let the filter siphon back into the tank..

Maybe not the first thing to check, but I have heard of the fuel lines siphoning back to the tank for various reasons.. FWIW

PS- Love your boat name!