We are getting ready to head down to the Keys for a week. I filled the motor with oil, changed the plugs and started it up to warm it up since it had not been run in a few weeks. It took a couple of tries to get it started (little cold natured) but finally started up and settled down to rum smoothly. I then noticed gas dripping out of the bottom of the motor so I pulled the breather? off and see gas pouring out of the little tube inside the lower carburetor. I am thinking a needle may be stuck? Any thoughts? I called my boat guy but he is slammed and there is no way he can get to it before Saturday when we are supposed to leave. Is this something I can do myself? What would I need to try to fix this?
Any help here would be greatly appreciated as our whole trip centers around having a boat.
Tigerfin saved the day! He was nice enough to send me a PM with his cell #. We talked about what the problem could be and offered to work on my motor tomorrow. He inspired me to try and fix it myself so I decided I couldn’t make it any worse. I pulled all three carbs, took them apart, cleaned them and put them back on. Now she is running like a top. I could not believe what was sitting in the bottom of the bowls. Each one had something white and crystallized in them. I can’t imagine what it was.
Anyway, many thanks to Tigerfin, he really helped me out. Doggone it, between him and Too Busy and Bonzo being so nice, ya’ll are making it harder and harder to dislike Clemson folks.
C Tackle, I had never done more on my motor than change plugs. Pulling the carbs and cleaning them was not bad at all. In fact, I will probably buy rebuild kits and do a more extensive job sometime later this year. Take pictures with a digital camera before and as you disassemble so you will know how it goes back together.
I should not have and ethanol in my carbs, I have only put non-E gas in my boat for the last 3 years.
Good tip Easy, I need to start doing that if it is going to sit up for more than a few weeks.
DF; I do it for my portable generator also! Turn the gas off at the tank, run it until it stops and then drain the bowl. That way it will start, after not being used year to year.