Bad floats or reeds? 1990 20 hp

[honey toes]

1990 Procraft with 200 hp Merc. Boat got buried under snow that fell off my barn roof. Actually two boats. SOB
On inspection getting ready for the season, I found the lower carb bowl cracked. I found one on line and installed it. Thought all would be good. Motor started but really rough and smokey. Thought running on one bank but all plugs are firing. Motor would not hardly move the boat. This beast can turn close to 70 mph when all is good. I did have to also change the one lower float where the corner had crack from I guess fuel and or water trapped inside. How can you tell if you have bad reeds? Would the motor be really smokey and gas smelling as this one was? Do I take of the carbs and manifold to get to the reeds? I am all ears for advise on how to find out the cause of the problem.

 

[galamb]

Re: Bad floats or reeds?

Bad reeds almost always result in fuel starvation (not flooding).

If they are broken or chipped they blow gas back out through the carbs (so less gas to the cylinders).

If some of them are stuck, then they can't let enough gas get sucked into the cylinders.

I would start back at the carbs - rebuild them and set the float levels according to spec - it sounds like your most likely problem is mis-adjusted floats or bad needle valves...