Need help to rebuild carb in one quick lesson!

[ronb]

*if* you have a fuel pressure regulator it would be in between the fuel pump and carburator. I am not super familiar with boat inboards, but most carburated cars did not run fuel pressure regulators, usually straight from the pump through a filter and into the carb. Whether you have one or not, you need ot get a fuel pressure gauge hooked up right where the fuel goes into the carb. If you don't have one, or have one and it is not adjustable and the pressure is too high, you have to get a new one, preferrably an adjustable one. If yours is adjustable then make adjustments as needed.

-ron

[Bamaman]

Playcat: It's doubtful that your boat has a fuel regulator. I looked into parts online, and some have old style mechanical fuel pumps and some have electric fuel pumps. Nothing is mentioned about any regulators.

Most of the running problems with modern marine engines comes from deterioration in the 90/10 modern gasoline. An acid is produced that eats anything rubber. Boats spend most of their year sitting around. Unfortunately, fuel stablilizers deteriorate even faster than the gasoline and are essentially used to change water trapped in the fuel system into alcohol that can be burned.

The drip, drip, drip of a carb usually comes from dirty needle valves--getting gummed up. The engines will often run, but are hard to restart. Look down the throat of the carb and you'll see the drips.

A good cleaning of your carb will probably solve your problem. And, fortunately it's a pretty easy thing to do with little mechanical skill required.

[Shopguy]

True what they said. Didn't mean to lead you astray. Pump/Reg either or. wouldn't hurt to check the pressure anyway. Would be work for nothing, to find out later that the fuel pressure was just too high and over powering the needle and seats.

[lakebilly]

Two ideas here:

Look on ebay for a new / rebuilt carb.

Look on youtube for informational videos on rebuilding one.

I'm no mechanic and I've rebuilt several carbs over the years with good success. That was without the vast internet at my fingertips.

Also, don't forget http://www.holley.com there's some instructions for various rebuild kits.

[playcat]

Well, its done, at least I think it is. As my son the Air Force jet mechanic and I gathered the rebuild kit and floats, I got a call from the boat tech saying they just finished rebuilding and installing the carb. Both needle valves were stuck with some crap. I had run both fuel tanks empty at winter layup this year, which we have never done before(usually store the boat with full tanks and stabilizers). So, when we started it up to move from the ramp to the fuel dock, likely sucked up some crud from the tank bottom.
Changed fuel filters twice already, so good there. Changing engine oil too as insurance. Sea trials on Wednesday or Thursday.
Thanks for all the help - I know I can do this myself now!

[playcat]

Sea trial a complete failure. Never left the slip. Still won't idle,secondaries not flooding but primaries still flooding. Spoke to shop owner, sent knucklehead that did work down to see what the problem was. Takes a quick look and says he didn't rebuild BOTH sides of the carb, just one! WTF???

Had a heart-to-heart talk with owner, explained first "visit" was at his expense. I gave him another shot to get it right, only because he installed the new engine 3 seasons ago.
Looks like I will be buying a few DIY manuals today...never again!!

[ronb]

You know that these two last posts of yours contradict each other right? the latest one says that he only cleaned one side, the one before that says they said there was crap in both needles (indicating that he had both float bowls off). So not only did they NOT fix it, but somebody is lying... (I hate that part)

-ron

[playcat]

You are correct, which made me very angry. I can handle an honest mistake, but do not piss on my back and tell me it's raining!

[Shopguy]

I'd be interested in seeing what's clogging the needle up front. Ya gotta pull it and let us know what's in there!. Piece of a fuel line, filter material, if he didn't install a new needle...my money is on the o-rings.
Do your carb bowls have the big slotted screws in the top of the needles? or the hex nut with the screw driver slot in the middle if the nut?

Remember, don't over tighten this stuff. You can always go back and snug it up later. This is brass and crappy aluminum we're talking about here.