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Author Topic:   1994 Rage 14 Partial Power Loss

jbrobinson33 posted 05-16-2015 06:41 PM ET (US)
You readers helped me get my Rage 15 working, now I need some help with my kid's Rage 14. Yes, I have two Boston Whaler Rage boat, and I'm apparently a glutton for punishment. You either love them or hate them and right now my son's hating his.
Today he put it in today, and it took a while to get it going because despite being on the charger, the batteries wouldn't turn the starter. After a while, the starter finally turned and the OMC 90 started right up. I rode around for about 20 minutes at about 5,000 RPM and everything was groovy.
I decided to pull into a cove to explore a new spot and I rode at no wake speed for about ten minutes when I heard the motor sputter just a bit. I decided to leave the cove and went to full throttle but the engine would not accelerate above 4,000-RPM, and [the RAGE] couldn't get on plane. It's like [the engine is] starved for fuel, but pushing the choke doesn't give it a burst.
Thinking it could possibly be heat related, I let [the engine] cool for a couple of hours, took back out [the boat]. and still could not get [the engine] above 4000-RPM.
A couple of weeks ago, the same boat blew the 20-AMperes fuse at the engine. Maybe that means something to this problem and maybe it doesn't.
Did [the engine] simply pick up some trash from the fuel line? Or, did a power pack blow? I am not sure where to start, or how to check the power pack for operation. Thanks in advance for the help.
jimh posted 05-16-2015 08:33 PM ET (US)
[Moved to REPAIRS/MODS for discussion.]
jimh posted 05-16-2015 08:40 PM ET (US)
A good technique to test the Power Pack to see it if is supplying proper ignition signals to the spark plugs: use an in-line spark tester on the individual spark plug leads to each cylinder; verify you have spark jumping the gap in the in-line spark tester.
jbrobinson33 posted 05-18-2015 02:20 PM ET (US)
Bought an in-line tester and according to it, I have spark on all 4 cylinders. Does that mean it is NOT the power pack? What's the next logical step?
EJO posted 05-20-2015 02:27 PM ET (US)
[The cause of the problem is] apparently not electric as you have spark. It could be timing related or vacuum. Otherwise look at fuel flow and air flow.
jbrobinson33 posted 05-20-2015 06:16 PM ET (US)
How does one go about checking the fuel delivery at full throttle? I installed a new electric fuel pump last year. I know the fuel pump is working well enough for the motor to start, idle well, and run at 80-percent, but how would I tell if it is not delivering enough fuel at full throttle?
Jefecinco posted 05-20-2015 06:37 PM ET (US)
If you have a primer bulb it may be useful to pump it a few times at WOT when you run into the 4000 RPM wall. This could help you determine if the problem is fuel delivery related.
Butch
jbrobinson33 posted 05-20-2015 06:51 PM ET (US)
That makes sense, and I do have a primer bulb. I'll give it a try.
jimh posted 05-22-2015 06:12 AM ET (US)
Did you check the spark at full-throttle engine speed?
jbrobinson33 posted 05-31-2015 10:16 PM ET (US)
I think it was simply a loose plug wire - after checking the spark I made sure everything was firmly connected and she runs fine now. HOWEVER, she overheated on me tonight. She ran fine for a couple of hours this afternoon, no problems at all. I decided to take a quick run this evening and within 10 minutes the warning buzzer was sounding. What's the secret to keeping these Rages from overheating?
jbrobinson33 posted 06-02-2015 06:27 PM ET (US)
Well, the overheating problem was a simple fix (I think). The connection for the garden hose came loose and was open to the air so it couldn't suck water through the block. Put it all back together and she ran okay. I'm still down about 500 RPM though, topping out around 4500 RPM instead of 5000 RPM. Any thoughts on how to restore the power? I'm still getting spark to all cylinders - would new plugs be a good place to start?
jbrobinson33 posted 06-11-2015 03:52 PM ET (US)
I went ahead and replaced the plugs and that did seem to make it run smoother, but I'm still not getting full RPM. I was thinking about putting on new plug wires while I'm doing all this and was wondering if I could (or if it's worth it) to replace the OEM plug wires with something newer for better performance. I know Accel makes "Do it yourself plug wire kits" for cars - are they compatible in the boating world? If so, which ones would I use - the ones for Points Ignition Systems or the ones for HEI ignition systems?
I found OEM replacement plug wires on line for about $12 a piece and the kits work out to about $5 a piece. So money isn't a big deal here, looking for the best performance.
Thanks guys.
jbrobinson33 posted 06-14-2015 09:22 PM ET (US)
Still only getting about 4600 RPM. I ordered new plug wires but they haven't gotten here yet. The motor starts and idles good but even with new plugs the motor is skipping (again) at full throttle. If it's fouling plugs for some reason, that's still only half the story. When the plugs were brand new it ran smooth but still only got to 4600 RPM. I tried choking it while running full throttle and I tried squeezing the primer bulb at full throttle - neither helped get more RPM out of the motor so it does not appear to be a lack of fuel problem. Any suggestions?

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Author	Topic: 1994 Rage 14 Partial Power Loss
jbrobinson33	posted 05-16-2015 06:41 PM ET (US) You readers helped me get my Rage 15 working, now I need some help with my kid's Rage 14. Yes, I have two Boston Whaler Rage boat, and I'm apparently a glutton for punishment. You either love them or hate them and right now my son's hating his. Today he put it in today, and it took a while to get it going because despite being on the charger, the batteries wouldn't turn the starter. After a while, the starter finally turned and the OMC 90 started right up. I rode around for about 20 minutes at about 5,000 RPM and everything was groovy. I decided to pull into a cove to explore a new spot and I rode at no wake speed for about ten minutes when I heard the motor sputter just a bit. I decided to leave the cove and went to full throttle but the engine would not accelerate above 4,000-RPM, and [the RAGE] couldn't get on plane. It's like [the engine is] starved for fuel, but pushing the choke doesn't give it a burst. Thinking it could possibly be heat related, I let [the engine] cool for a couple of hours, took back out [the boat]. and still could not get [the engine] above 4000-RPM. A couple of weeks ago, the same boat blew the 20-AMperes fuse at the engine. Maybe that means something to this problem and maybe it doesn't. Did [the engine] simply pick up some trash from the fuel line? Or, did a power pack blow? I am not sure where to start, or how to check the power pack for operation. Thanks in advance for the help.
jimh	posted 05-16-2015 08:33 PM ET (US) [Moved to REPAIRS/MODS for discussion.]
jimh	posted 05-16-2015 08:40 PM ET (US) A good technique to test the Power Pack to see it if is supplying proper ignition signals to the spark plugs: use an in-line spark tester on the individual spark plug leads to each cylinder; verify you have spark jumping the gap in the in-line spark tester.
jbrobinson33	posted 05-18-2015 02:20 PM ET (US) Bought an in-line tester and according to it, I have spark on all 4 cylinders. Does that mean it is NOT the power pack? What's the next logical step?
EJO	posted 05-20-2015 02:27 PM ET (US) [The cause of the problem is] apparently not electric as you have spark. It could be timing related or vacuum. Otherwise look at fuel flow and air flow.
jbrobinson33	posted 05-20-2015 06:16 PM ET (US) How does one go about checking the fuel delivery at full throttle? I installed a new electric fuel pump last year. I know the fuel pump is working well enough for the motor to start, idle well, and run at 80-percent, but how would I tell if it is not delivering enough fuel at full throttle?
Jefecinco	posted 05-20-2015 06:37 PM ET (US) If you have a primer bulb it may be useful to pump it a few times at WOT when you run into the 4000 RPM wall. This could help you determine if the problem is fuel delivery related. Butch
jbrobinson33	posted 05-20-2015 06:51 PM ET (US) That makes sense, and I do have a primer bulb. I'll give it a try.
jimh	posted 05-22-2015 06:12 AM ET (US) Did you check the spark at full-throttle engine speed?
jbrobinson33	posted 05-31-2015 10:16 PM ET (US) I think it was simply a loose plug wire - after checking the spark I made sure everything was firmly connected and she runs fine now. HOWEVER, she overheated on me tonight. She ran fine for a couple of hours this afternoon, no problems at all. I decided to take a quick run this evening and within 10 minutes the warning buzzer was sounding. What's the secret to keeping these Rages from overheating?
jbrobinson33	posted 06-02-2015 06:27 PM ET (US) Well, the overheating problem was a simple fix (I think). The connection for the garden hose came loose and was open to the air so it couldn't suck water through the block. Put it all back together and she ran okay. I'm still down about 500 RPM though, topping out around 4500 RPM instead of 5000 RPM. Any thoughts on how to restore the power? I'm still getting spark to all cylinders - would new plugs be a good place to start?
jbrobinson33	posted 06-11-2015 03:52 PM ET (US) I went ahead and replaced the plugs and that did seem to make it run smoother, but I'm still not getting full RPM. I was thinking about putting on new plug wires while I'm doing all this and was wondering if I could (or if it's worth it) to replace the OEM plug wires with something newer for better performance. I know Accel makes "Do it yourself plug wire kits" for cars - are they compatible in the boating world? If so, which ones would I use - the ones for Points Ignition Systems or the ones for HEI ignition systems? I found OEM replacement plug wires on line for about $12 a piece and the kits work out to about $5 a piece. So money isn't a big deal here, looking for the best performance. Thanks guys.
jbrobinson33	posted 06-14-2015 09:22 PM ET (US) Still only getting about 4600 RPM. I ordered new plug wires but they haven't gotten here yet. The motor starts and idles good but even with new plugs the motor is skipping (again) at full throttle. If it's fouling plugs for some reason, that's still only half the story. When the plugs were brand new it ran smooth but still only got to 4600 RPM. I tried choking it while running full throttle and I tried squeezing the primer bulb at full throttle - neither helped get more RPM out of the motor so it does not appear to be a lack of fuel problem. Any suggestions?