Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

[mrbeavin]

I started my 2003 Honda 50 for the first time this season yesterday. It had been sitting with old gas in the float bowls for about a year. The gas had stabilizer in it but I should have drained the bowls before putting it up on the hard last year.

The engine started up Ok, it ran rough and needed some choke to stay running. It didn't really want to idle and then just died. I thought I had flooded the engine with the choke, the temp was about 75F. I could smell more fuel than usual. We pulled the cover off the motor and I noticed some gas had spilled inside. I pumped the fuel line bulb again and noticed that gas was spilling out of the top area of the lowest carb (#3?). When I pumped the bulb more gas would spill out of the same area, see red arrow below.

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I'm thinking the carb float is stuck in the down position for some reason. My question is, if the float is stuck, would that allow gas to spill out of some type of vent in the top of the carb or is this a possible o-ring problem or both?

I'm hoping a can of carb cleaner will solve my problems. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

carb cleaner will not fix
u need to rebuild those carbs

 

[mrbeavin]

Re: Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

 

[mrbeavin]

Re: Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

rebuild? As in new jets, needles, gaskets, o-rings, etc?

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

that is coming out of the vents
if still under warranty, bring it to a HONDA shop
if not u will need a sync tool to adjust the carbs once u clean

u might get lucky and do a seafoam treatment, but highly unlikely

u just need new gaskets no jets u can clean those

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

The needle valve may be stuck.
Carefully tap in the vacinity where the fuel supply hose mounts on that carb while pumping the bulb. Anything more than light tapping is not recommended.
The best case senario is if the fuel stops coming out of the vent and goes on to work properly.

Your next case is to carefully remove the bowl of that carb and inspect the needle valve and float operation.
These components are delicate, check the float for smooth movement thoughout it's up and down travel.
The float should not be saturated with fuel, it should "float" in the gasoline.

The needle valve shuts off fuel when the float contacts the needle and pushes it into the needle seat. The needle valve fails at this job if a piece of substance keeps the needle valve from closing on it's seat, either by obstructing the seat or obstructing the needle.

If you repair this failure and reassemble these components without bending or altering the float adjustment, reassemble the bowl and have no further complications, the above recommendations may not be needed.

 

[mrbeavin]

Re: Honda 50 HP - carb float stuck?

Thanks for the tips. I think you're on to something with the needle being stuck, that would allow fuel to spill out the top of the jet.

Thanks again.