Active Active   Unanswered Unanswered

Too much steam

Keeping your powerboat under power is a lot easier with good advice. Post your power systems questions here.

Moderators: Don Ayers, Al Benton, Don Vogt

Kade06
Posts: 87
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:58 am
Location: Whitesboro, Tx (Lake Texoma)
Contact:

Re: Too much steam

Post by Kade06 » Wed Aug 03, 2016 3:29 pm

I thought I would check back in and update. Had the manifolds baked, blasted, magnifluxed and pressure tested and all checked out. Put a impeller driven water pump on which flowed more water. Blew the head and block out to make sure there were no blockages Last night I switched the hoses where the starboard manifold cooled the port side and vice versa. Steam didn't move but was improved slightly. There is a small amount on the port side. When I did the top end rebuild on this motor (automotive motor) I put marine head gaskets on. For some reason I've never been comfortable with these and now I'm back to those. Heads were checked last year and in good condition and the block hasn't been changed. Compression is great but if a passage to the head is blocked by the gasket wouldn't that create more heat, raising exhaust temps thus raising the water temps. Water entering the block and leaving the head is appx. 10-20 degrees warmer than the port side. Open to any thoughts you guys have.
Thanks,
Kristian
Chris Craft Cavalier Futura
1965 27 foot "Kristi D"

Kade06
Posts: 87
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:58 am
Location: Whitesboro, Tx (Lake Texoma)
Contact:

Re: Too much steam

Post by Kade06 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 5:53 pm

UPDATE
Alright so I've had a hell of a last couple years but I think f I can get this problem fixed I may be out of the woods for at least a bit. So back a year and a half ago one of the tabs holding the springs in my prestolite distributor 4301-bb broke. I contacted a person ( who will rename nameless) with knowledge and experience rebuilding these distributors. I traded out for one I thought was rebuilt (more on that later) and when I received it the advance/springs seemed pretty damn tight compared to the previous distributor. Anyway boat ran but had steam which I thought could be related but chased other causes for the steam thinking the distributor was fixed. Fast forward to this year and after carb rebuild, exhaust manifold rebuilds and a list of other things the boat wont run over 1700-2000 rpm without falling on its face and still has steam. Did this before and after carb rebuild. When back to idle its loading up and will clear out and go back to idling and cruising fine up to the 1700-2000 rpm range. Took distributor off today and disassembled... if thats rebuilt I'd hate to see one that isn't....rust, old grease or lack of. Cleaned and greased whole thing and seemed a little looser this was after lighter springs a couple weeks ago because the advance seemed extremely tight. Anyway ran it today and same thing. Used timing light and mark on flywheel while running and mark didn't move telling me it's not advancing so I advanced by hand at the distributor and it picked up and ran smoothly up to 2200 before leveling out ( figured I was out of advancement by hand). So I think the distributor is not advancing because of a faulty distributor or too tight of springs but they came out of a advance curve kit and are the lightest springs of the three. So before I bought a used or new old stock distributor wanted to see if I'm missing something or if anybody has had similar issues. Thanks in advance.....Kristian
Chris Craft Cavalier Futura
1965 27 foot "Kristi D"

jfrprops
Posts: 2092
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:41 pm
Location: Powhatan Courthouse Virginia
Contact:

Re: Too much steam

Post by jfrprops » Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:17 pm

nice thread, full of good info.

I ran cruisers for years and years that constantly emitted the amount of steam shown in the pics....just sayin....

Know you guys are tired of me suggesting that maybe the culprit is a coil resistor...if you have one....
because your real problem is not getting near the high end rpms. I have had lots of engine problems with those little old ceramic coils resistor deals.....at higher rpms if they fail is can burn out the points...ok...you have petronics...and hopefully their coil as well.... I should read back and see....BUT point is if someone left one of those buggers in the loop....won't rev up....

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

Kade06
Posts: 87
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:58 am
Location: Whitesboro, Tx (Lake Texoma)
Contact:

Re: Too much steam

Post by Kade06 » Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:00 pm

Where would those be located John?
Chris Craft Cavalier Futura
1965 27 foot "Kristi D"

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests