Larry, I'm not an expert on this, but one issue could be your fuel pump. If you have an electric fuel pump (Universal started using these in the late 70s, and many people have installed them on older engines to replace the mechanical ones) and your battery was dead-dead-dead, it could be that you are not getting any fuel - particulatly if you hadn't started the engine in a while. If you have a mechanical pump, there may be a priming lever on it that you can work before cranking.
Also, if the batteries are completely dead, you may not be getting enough spark to start it if your alternator is tired. But I'd look at the fuel first. The times that I've started mine with the crank, I did have some power from the battery - just not enough to crank it. If you are getting any 'clicks' out of the solenoid when you try to start it, there should be enough power to give you initial spark, and certainly enough to jog an electric fuel pump. Chris -----Original Message----- >From: Lawrence Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Jul 25, 2008 11:13 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: 1976 C 27 Std rig Atomic 4 > >Chris: > >Could you expand on starting with the crank. My batteries were dead >earlier this year when I showed up after not using the boat for about a >month, and I simply couldn't start the motor with the crank. I couldn't >even get a cough (from the motor, I coughed plenty). The motor is >typically easy to start, and in fact, once I charged up one of the >batteries, it started right up. But I used to be confident carrying >that crank that I could always start the motor if the batteries went >dead, but I'm not confident any more. > >Maybe I didn't do something I was supposed to? I just turned on the >ignition and cranked..and cranked...and cranked. It was not easy and I >thought I was in pretty good shape for an old fart. Any advice? > >Larry Pinto >Hardtack >Calvert Marina >Solomon's Island, Maryland >27' Catalina (#3401M77H) >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >On Jul 25, 2008, at 9:17 AM, Chris Maddox wrote: > >> Pat, >> >> I can comment in general on this, let me know what specifics you might >> want. >> >> Reliability: Good, if it has been well maintained and the cooling >> passages are not crudded up. Mine is RWC and the latter is currently >> not true - I plan to pull it this fall, disassemble it, and give it a >> good cleaning since it's gone beyond the capabilities of an acid >> flush. FWC kits are available. >> >> Spares I carry: Ignition parts (mine is still points/condenser, >> electronic ignition is available), RWC pump impeller and gasket, >> carburator jets, manual start crank (this has come in really handy and >> is one of the nice things about the installation in the C27 - no >> juice, no problem). >> >> Typical problem areas: Jets, ignition coil, thermostat, cooling >> passages. >> >> Speed at full throttle: Hull speed easily (call it 6.5kt), power in >> reserve. When I motor I'm probably at half throttle (no tach so I >> can't quantify). The engine's rated HP is 30 but where it operates on >> the curve in a C27 (no gear reduction) is about 15. >> >> Fuel consumption - about .75-1.0 GPH at cruising speed (5+kt). >> >> I've been contemplating trading the engine out for an outboard but I >> would really miss the reserve power. That has saved my bacon in the >> 'pop-up' thunderstorms that we are prone to on the Chesapeake (60kt >> winds and hail, anybody?). >> >> Hope that helps. Let me know what else I can tell you. >> >> Chris >> "Aria" #2373 1976 SR A4 >> www.ariasails.com >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Patrick R Ford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Sent: Jul 25, 2008 9:03 AM >>> To: IC27A <[email protected]> >>> Subject: catalina27-talk: 1976 C 27 Std rig Atomic 4 >>> >>> Listers, >>> Anyone have a 1976 C 27 with an Atomic 4, or have knowledge of same ? >>> ?? Reliability of Atomic 4--speed at full throttle--performance--etc >>> ?? >>> Pat >> >> > >
