Troubleshooting Gasoline Marine Engines

After many years in the boating industry and writing countless articles for your favorite boating magazines, John Fleming has put his wealth of knowledge into his new book, Troubleshooting Gasoline Marine Engines.

This book is not limited to the routine maintenance tasks or simple repairs that many engine books detail. These pages take the reader through the troubleshooting and repair process in a thorough step-by-step format. The book's design allows the reader to start with the basics and progress through each skill level until the repair of the engine is complete.

Although this book delves deeply into the troubleshooting and repair aspects of an engine, the information remains extremely easy to understand and follow throughout each phase. You will not find another book that will explain the troubleshooting and repair process of gasoline marine engines as completely or easily as this book.

One fact is clear; when you read this book you will know more about Troubleshooting Gasoline Marine Engines than you ever thought possible.

Illustrated

Author Bio: John Fleming has conducted a 60 year love affair with engines and never met one he did not like. There have been a few that were so exciting he remembers them like an old flame but they all serve a purpose and they are all a part of my memories.

The first engine he built was a 1948 model, 4.2 horsepower, Champion outboard engine. He was 9 years old which made it monumental task. To see and hold the parts his father had described was fascinating.

He held a United States Coast Guard, 500 ton masters ticket and has a total of more than 3,000 days at sea.

John has run boats of many types and varieties in 44 States and 3 countries: crossed the Okefenokee in an airboat and canoe, ran the Everglades from Flamingo Park to Chokloskee Island and from Whitewater Bay to the head of the Little Shark River.

For eight years he held a State of Florida Teachers Certificate to teach engine repair in the State.

John and his wife have run delivery charters across the Gulf of Mexico from Brownsville, Texas to Key West, Florida and up the Atlantic Seaboard as far as Barnegat Bay. They have owned vessels which they have operated for dive charters, fishing charters and towing services.

He has written more than 3,500 articles for magazines and newspapers.

Author Comments: Diagnostics is the most difficult job for the medical doctor. It's also the most difficult job facing the engine tech. Virtually any doctor can treat the patient if he/she can diagnose the problem. Not every doctor can do this. Neither can every engine technician.

Today, many engine systems are electronic in nature, and diagnosis is largely done by laptop computer. Yet, many aren't electronically controlled. Starters, alternators, manifolds and even the entire engine assembly are still mechanical in nature.

Problems that attack these systems and assemblies are still approached in the same manner as they have been for decades. Many engines have no electronic controls at all. I doubt there will ever come a time when basic skills aren't required of the marine mechanic.

If mechanics are to be complete in knowledge and understanding of their chosen career, they must be able practitioners of the diagnostic science. There's no instrument on earth that can replace human intelligence.

What are the elements of a good diagnostician? First and foremost, you must understand why the engine works. Service manuals are available to describe in detail the separate operations required to repair or service any given part of the engine. These are the skills that a majority of mechanics possess.

The challenge is to decide which of these common skills are needed to restore the ailing engine to proper condition. Happily, the well-trained mechanic has many skills ready to employ, yet must decide which of these skills to use. In making this decision, you'll use the senses of sight and sound, smell and feel. When you have a complete grasp of the engine and its many moods, you'll literally be able to hear it talk and feel its pains.

One who knows how to perform these functions will always have a job. However, the mechanic who knows which of them to use at a given time will always be the boss!

This book will not tell you to set the ignition points at .020", nor to open the air screw on the carburetor 1-1/2 turns. It will advise how to decide if the points should be opened or closed, and whether you should turn the air screw or leave it alone.

I've proposed many problems and offered my own solutions. The mechanic, amateur or professional, may have alternatives. If they work for you, and you're more comfortable in their use, employ them. If you have no solutions or simply wish to add options to your arsenal, I hope my offerings prove helpful.

John Fleming