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Argh! Launch day carb issue - please help!

C

Cretster

Contributing Member
Hi guys

So my rebuilt boat has been on a few test runs without any problems and today is beautiful sunny, 3-5mph wind, and planned for my mate and myself to christen the boat with her first fishing trip this afternoon.

I ran her in the barrel earlier in the week and she was perfect, but this morning I thought "just give her a quick start to make sure all is good" (a bit of healthy paranoia you might say) and she seemed to be idling very slow.
I popped the engine cowl off, only to find fuel leaking out of the top carb, which is the brand new one - NOT impressed! I think it's overfuelling like mad, hence it being a bit smokey and not running as nicely as normal.

Fuel is coming out where the arrow is pointing from what I can see. Is this what would happen if the float was stuck open? If it is then I'll be extremely annoyed that a brand new expensive part like a carburettor can be dodgy like this, and it means I will have to really remove the carbs/manifold and strip it to find out why (if it's even possible to tell). The fuel filters are all good so shouldn't be any way that crud could have got in to cause the needle to be stuck open.

Carbleak1_zps46d38a52.jpg


Is there anything other than the float that could have caused this to leak from here?

Thanks!
Jim :(
 
Crisis averted - it's sweet as a nut now after a bit of 'gentle encouragement' from a wooden mallet. Guess it must have been a speck of dirt in the valve.

Sorry for the panic. Have already found this week that the brand new bearings on the trailer when I bought it were fitted by the previous owner after some apparent angle grinder fury, during which he's proper shafted the stub axle on one side. Muggins now has to buy a whole new axle as a result. So no more 'surprises' would be great. I think I know just about every inch of the boat & engine now after all the work done anyway.
 
You beat me to it. Wooden or rubber mallets can work wonders on stuck carbs. Had an old Johnson SeaPro once. Would carry a rubber mallet on board all the time for just such occasions.

Remember, the only thing that consistently works on an old boat is its owner.
 
Be sure to use a good fuel treatment all the time to help alleviate this kind of problem. Sea Foam, Stabil Marine, Pri -G, etc. All are fuel stabilizers as well as treatment to keep passages clean and float valves stuck free.

Sometimes tilting the motor way up can cause the float to get stuck in an unusual position. Keep your rubber mallet handy.

Mike
 
Cretster,

Good on a "bit of healthy paranoia" sir! Just the sort of Skipper I would want calling the course if I'm ridin in a boat!

Yes, sadly, I've said it here before. I've received brand new CARBURETOR! parts from Honda, hot seam sealed in a bag, with SAND in them!! INFURIATING! I don't think they do a very good job of cleaning the castings before packaging. Not saying that's what happened to you,....just sayin.

As to your trailer, I think I understand "proper shafted the stub axle" but I am curious....who is MUGGINS? :)
 
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