1990 Force....couple issues

[clattin]

So I just got this boat from my dad. I took it out yesterday eve and it wasn’t idling very well. I took the cover off and saw fuel bubbling out around the fuel lines feeding each of the 3 carbs. Someone had used zip ties to attach them! I brought it home and replaced the zip ties with appropriate sized hose clamps but now it won’t start. It’ll start if I loosen the hose clamps to the point of fuel leaking. I would assume this would indicate a venting issue? The vent on the gas tank is open and I even tried with the cap off. No luck. I found a section of fuel line hanging down from the bottom carb and assume that’s a vent line. I took it off and it’s clear. I also used a small pick to go up into the nipple it attaches to although I couldn’t get it up there very far. What else should I do???

Secondly, I don’t think the choke solenoid View attachment trim.62FF93ED-A054-466B-8DD0-BB4980374470.MOVis functioning properly. When I push the key in to choke it, the shaft connecting to the plunger BARELY moves. I’m gonna try to attach a video of it. It seems like it should be moving a lot more than it is. Thoughts?

thank you!
Chris

 

[pnwboat]

Looks like the plunger for the choke solenoid might be sticking too far out.

Loosen the clamp around the choke body and move it up a bit so not as much of the plunger is exposed. See if that helps.

Also could be the choke solenoid is bad.

 

[Poormansboating]

Have you tried pulling the carbs and cleaning them real good. Doesn't take that long and in my very little experience with outboards I've found that it fixes most of my issues just by a good cleaning

 

[jerryjerry05]

The choke solenoid, a shot of carb cleaner as you manually move the slide.
Then a shot of WD-40 to keep it lubed and check the operation as the butterflies need to close completely to work right.
The grey hoses are junk, they have a liner that breaks loose and can bunch up and block the lines, replace with Ethanol proof hoses.
The tightening of the clamps should have nothing to do with starting.
The hose from the bottom of the carb??(pics) or is it from the base of the intake manifold?? That hose is for drawing excess fuel from the plenum/cover.
You do have the cover??

 

[clattin]

The choke solenoid, a shot of carb cleaner as you manually move the slide.
Then a shot of WD-40 to keep it lubed and check the operation as the butterflies need to close completely to work right.
The grey hoses are junk, they have a liner that breaks loose and can bunch up and block the lines, replace with Ethanol proof hoses.
The tightening of the clamps should have nothing to do with starting.
The hose from the bottom of the carb??(pics) or is it from the base of the intake manifold?? That hose is for drawing excess fuel from the plenum/cover.
You do have the cover??

Yes, the hose that I refer to being at the bottom is at the base of the intake manifold. Yes, I have the cover. So that hose should just hang down into the bottom?

I'll replace the gray hoses. For some reason, if I loosen the hose clamps it will start and run....just have fuel running out everywhere. When I tighten them, no start. Basically, its just like the video i'm posting below but with hose clamps instead of the zip ties.

Choke solenoid: I can move the plunger manually, it just doesn't move much when I push the key in to activate the choke. I'll hit it with some carb cleaner and WD40 though.

Thank you!
Chris

View attachment IMG_0102.MOV

 

[jerryjerry05]

The plenum should have a hose barb on the bottom and it hooks to the hose from the manifold.
Once the slide's free it should start easily, just make sure you hold the choke in until it coughs/fires then usually they start without the choke.
You using fast idle?

 

[rjwilliams11741]

The use of zip ties is a common way to attach fuel hoses on outboards as hose clamps are often too bulky (and may be causing your problem by impacting the choke mechanism). You need, however, to tighten them with a Cable / Zip Tie Gun.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Mercury sells the right zip tie.
The regular zip is flat while the Mercury is rounded and made to squeeze the whole hose not the 90% the other ties use.
If Mercury uses them?? Good enough for me

TIE STRAP, (8.00 INCHES) 816311T

 

[dingbat]

Here is what you want.

Fuel Hose Zip Tie

Zip tie guns are the easiest means of tightening a tie but grabbing the tie with the side of a pair of needle nose pliers right where body comes out of the head and twisting/rolling the pliers, using the head as leverage, works just as well. Especially in close quarters

 

[jerryjerry05]

Yea Dingbat!! I just ordered both.