1980 mercury 50hp two stroke

[Loafty]

I haven't started outboard for over 6 to 8 months so when I went to do it today I started to prime the fuel and notice liquid coming from motor so removed cover and noticed when I was priming the fuel it was coming out were the butterfly is in carby, I noticed there was nothing covering the butterfly in carby but I have never touched the carby, so what I really want to know is it OK to leave as is or should I get a cover to go over the butterfly ? I tried to ad a picture but sites wouldn't let me. Would appreciate any advice, thanks

 

[Bob in Tennessee]

Sounds like your needle and float are not closing and stopping the flow of fuel. When you prime you are filling up your float bowl. when the float bowl fills the float rises and allows the float needle to close the fuel port that is accepting the fuel you are forcing in. If the float is stuck open then your fuel bowl fills up and spills over into the body of carburetor and is visible. Do not cover the carb opening, it is meant to be open for air induction. you probably just need to unstick your float. Sometimes a small rap on the side of carburetor will a plastic face hammer will free the float but that is not a permanent fix. Pull the carbs and rebuild.