Thread: weird starting problem

I got a older Chrysler boat and motor from my uncle used very little always ran great. I took it to the ramp and put it in the water and tried to start it, it will crank but no fire at all, pulled it out of the water and tried it and it started first turn backed it down in the water no start again, pull it out start first turn over. It did this eight times in a row, what could be the problem. Thanks for the help.

If you can find a spark checker or spark light( a small bulb looking thing that goes between wire and plug ) put them on then while on the trailer in the water crank the motor over and see if it has spark, I would have to guess that there is a back pressure problem in the exhaust housing , maybe an idle relief hole plugged up not allowing the engine to draw in fuel while cranking over, I have also seen a few cases where a starter or battery didn't turn the motor over fast enough in the water, back pressure thing again but on dry land , no back pressure it would run. Take the battery to an auto parts store and have them load test it, if good, try a small squeeze bottle with a little gas into the carb with the throttle cracked open a bit to see if it will light