I've got a Stock 12' GTR 35, 1754 Gatortail extreme hull, 200 hours. That will run in neutral OR in-gear up against the rev limiter (4300 rpm) while on the trailer, same thing if you lift the prop out of the water, but as soon as you put it under load it will bog down.

I ran the boat 2 days ago and it ran great…normal as always. This started first thing after i did normal maintenance I've done 100 times. Changed the oil, prop shaft grease with AMS Lithium Grease, reverse transmission oil, used full synthetic valvoline 10W-30, oil level is good both cold and hot, prop shaft is packed.

I also refueled 87 ethanol fuel

Observations:
1. grease on prop shaft is coming out behind prop slightly with the last pump.
2. there is a noise in the muffler (stock) that sound like a rock rolling around (i know that's not it) when I shake the motor. Maybe baffles broke?
3. I'm not sure if the vibration is worse, but the tabs on the rock guard are vibration to where I can hear them slightly.
4. no bubbles in my fuel filter
5. The fuel filter was not WIX or briggs , it was a parts # cross match from advanced auto parts

Anyone have any ideas? We have no gatortail dealers in the area and I want to rule out all obvious problems before dragging it in somewhere.

My plan is to:
- change gas to 93 ethanol free
- double check fuel connections

Any other ideas?

first thing you need to do if you hear something in your muffler if yank that damn thing off before you end up with a chunk in your motor and it goes boom

I bent a push rod last week and mine would do similar

Sounds like you may have a valve issue
I'd pull the muffler and get a magnet on a string or something like that and see if u can get what is in it out and identify it

Also pull valve covers and check your valve lash and rocker arms etc and make sure everything is in order

Clean the carb. Happened to buddy. Ran like a top oow but under load, wouldn't hardly stay running. Took bowl off and found one of the jets plugged with varnish. Ran a piece of wire through it. All was good.

baffles are broke in the muffler.

pulled valve cover all push rods look good, i have one rocker arm that has some play in it, the others are snug…where to next?

Since the valve covers are off already might as well check the valve lash and reset if you need to. Then pull the carb off and clean the jets. It boggs down under a load like all the way through the power band or off idle or at wot or where at? Or like it won't get on plane at all?

First off run it until the muffler is warm. Touch both exhaust outlets where it comes out of the head. Which ever one is not hot is the problem side. If you are to pussy to do that pull one spark plug at a time if the engine dies it the other side.


1) Check your fucking spark for fuck sake before anything

2) Next clean your carb. I don't care if you already did it do it again.

3)Pull you valve cover of. Turn key on (do not start)engage clutch. Reach down grab your prop and turn it while watching your valves. Are all 4 valves opening and closing?

4) reset your valve lash

5) run a leak down test

I said check check check your fucking spark. Never said change. Did you unplug each side one at time.

really sounds like it is running on one cylinder
where are you located

Got it Rollin thanks for all the help.

Reset valve lash and both cylinders started firing. Also pulled exhaust and gutted it. Is there any risk in running gutted stock exhaust?

Got it Rollin thanks for all the help.

Reset valve lash and both cylinders started firing. Also pulled exhaust and gutted it. Is there any risk in running gutted stock exhaust?

there are plenty of people running gutted stock muffler's u will be fine!

Good deal

So your valve lash was so far out that it wouldn't fire on that cylinder?

I sure did…welded the cap on today…running like a top.

AWESOME!!!