1976 merc 50hp

gunderson

Recruit
Joined
Jul 6, 2014
Messages
1
good spark, gas to carbs, won't pop. no smell of on spark plugs. when do I start?
 

hotrod53

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
508
Disconnect the battery, remove the starter, pull both carbs, clean them and be sure that the float needles are not stuck up in the seat (which is what I'm betting is your problem) put them back on and start it up. In my experience, the ethanol in the fuel swells the rubber tipped needles causing them to stick in the seat and therefore won't allow fuel into the carb. The carb bolts are 1/2" and not every box wrench will get in there. I bought a cheap set of wrenches and ground the 1/2" one to fit.

To test my theory, pump your fuel ball and listen to the carb, I'll bet that you hear no fuel filling the bowl, normally you will hear fuel squirting past the needle. You can even pull the top fuel bowl without removing the carb and see that there is no fuel in it. And NO, you cannot unstick the needles without pulling the carbs... I've tried!Most likely your motor will fire on ether if I'm correct.

I highly suggest buying a new set of float needles that are "ethanol compliant" and pull your fuel line at the end of each run and let the motor run just until it starts to run funny and shut it off. You don't want to make it a practice to run it completely out of fuel since 2 stroke engines are lubricated by the oil suspended in the fuel. This burns the fuel in each bowl and allows the float to drop, therefore pulling the needles out of the seat. This has been my practice after my needles stuck 3 times.... they have never stuck again in 3+ years.
 
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