"I just bought a 1987 Bass Tra
"I just bought a 1987 Bass Tracker about a week ago. The motor is a Mercury Classic Fifty 45 HP, with serial number OB161091. The motor has sat for 2 years without being started, so I went through and did the basics. I greased everything with a good mercury grease, replaced the water impeller and gaskets, replaced the starter (it was corroded and bad), checked compression on all 4 cylinders (120 each cylinder), and tested for spark. Everything looks great. I took the boat out to the ramp for the first time today, and fired her up. Started on the first turn of the key and it sounded great. Purred like a kitten. I was pretty excited. Things went downhill from there.
After it ran for a little bit (30 seconds?), it sounded like it was flooding out, then finally died. I tried starting it several times, and noticed a LOT of gas on the water. Turned it over a couple more times...and poof! I had a fire on my hands. After getting that put out, and checking for any damage (which there was none, thankfully) I took the cowling off, and watched the carbs. A thick stream of gas was squirting through the bottom carb every time i turned the engine over, and also when I pumped the bulb. I tapped on the float bowl with the end of a screwdriver, and got nothing.
Seems to me like i've got a stuck float...maybe both of them, and may need a carb rebuild. I really don't know at this point. The carbs are something I really don't want to mess with. My Seloc manual sucks for this motor, and it's hard to follow. The motor is in excellent condition...I just don't feel comfortable removing the carbs.
I tried getting to the bowl to see if I couldn't just remove it and clean it out, but with this motor, it's nearly impossible to get to. I just don't know what to do next.
Does anyone out there have any suggestions for me to fix this thing? Is there anything I can try that might get the float to break free without damaging anything? I think if I could get the float free, I could run a good carb cleanser through the motor in a tank of gas. Any suggestions/help would be much appreciated. AC."
"I just bought a 1987 Bass Tracker about a week ago. The motor is a Mercury Classic Fifty 45 HP, with serial number OB161091. The motor has sat for 2 years without being started, so I went through and did the basics. I greased everything with a good mercury grease, replaced the water impeller and gaskets, replaced the starter (it was corroded and bad), checked compression on all 4 cylinders (120 each cylinder), and tested for spark. Everything looks great. I took the boat out to the ramp for the first time today, and fired her up. Started on the first turn of the key and it sounded great. Purred like a kitten. I was pretty excited. Things went downhill from there.
After it ran for a little bit (30 seconds?), it sounded like it was flooding out, then finally died. I tried starting it several times, and noticed a LOT of gas on the water. Turned it over a couple more times...and poof! I had a fire on my hands. After getting that put out, and checking for any damage (which there was none, thankfully) I took the cowling off, and watched the carbs. A thick stream of gas was squirting through the bottom carb every time i turned the engine over, and also when I pumped the bulb. I tapped on the float bowl with the end of a screwdriver, and got nothing.
Seems to me like i've got a stuck float...maybe both of them, and may need a carb rebuild. I really don't know at this point. The carbs are something I really don't want to mess with. My Seloc manual sucks for this motor, and it's hard to follow. The motor is in excellent condition...I just don't feel comfortable removing the carbs.
I tried getting to the bowl to see if I couldn't just remove it and clean it out, but with this motor, it's nearly impossible to get to. I just don't know what to do next.
Does anyone out there have any suggestions for me to fix this thing? Is there anything I can try that might get the float to break free without damaging anything? I think if I could get the float free, I could run a good carb cleanser through the motor in a tank of gas. Any suggestions/help would be much appreciated. AC."
