3.0 liter carb problem

YahooMarine

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Jun 28, 2011
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Greetings. I have a 2009 Chaparral with the 3 liter engine. Ran well for many years but this spring on startup the carb is leaking gasoline. The original carb was a Demon 2 bbl but it was recalled and replaced in 2011 with a Holley. No issues before. Always have had a canister fuel/water separator and never ran it in saltwater.

The problem is Volvo no longer has this carb available. The part # is good but the carb is on a backorder with no date for getting one.

I called Holley's tech help line and they could not identify it ... list # 2570 is stamped on the choke tower. Holley says it was likely a special run for the engine. VP stopped making the carbureted 3.0 liter after 2010.

A rebuild parts kit was identified by # to me by the dealer and I can get one from them or Amazon or eBay.

The question: Has anyone needed and found a replacement carb for this era of engine? If the issue is as simple as a bad gasket or seal the kit will likely solve it. However, if there is internal corrosion or a cracked casting I will need a new carb. Holley suggested a new 2300 model but it is not an exact swap.

I will get into the carb tomorrow to see what the issue is.

In the meantime, any advice or guidance would be appreciated as I am dead in the water and can not get good advice from the dealer, VP or Holley. This marine carb is a mystery.

Thanks, Rich
 

Scott06

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Likely needle and seat or float is not working bowl is overflowing Or on hollers the float bowl gaskets dry out and leak. Go through rebuilding it with a good quality kit and you will be fine
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Just rebuild the carb you have. A needle and seat is $6

Bowl and metering block gaskets are $20 for 10
 

Chris1956

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Carb new in 2011? Now it is 13 years later. Pull, clean and rebuild the carb completely, I would recommend.

Holley's are good carbs. A rebuild should fix you up. Change the fuel filters, if in doubt about their age.
 

Bt Doctur

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holy`s are great but could you replace it with the rochester 2 bbl if the bolt pattern is the same
 

cyclops222

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Your biggest problem is getting a differenr carburator to work with this carbs linkage
 

Scott Danforth

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holy`s are great but could you replace it with the rochester 2 bbl if the bolt pattern is the same
Not as easily as just servicing the Holley. Volvo throttle cable is different (hence the Volvo only throttle arm on the Holley 2300 on the OPs 3.0)

Plus, there hasn't been a new Rochester carb since 1989
 

airshot

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Jul 22, 2008
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5,080
Why replace something that can easily be fixed ?? Been a boater for 60 years, never saw a carb go bad that can't be rebuilt and cleaned. A good rebuild kit will give you all the settings needed to get your carb running like new. Buying an aftermarket carb does not mean the new carb comes setup for your particular engine, so why make the job more difficult, just a good rebuild is all you need.
 

YahooMarine

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Jun 28, 2011
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Good advice all. Thanks.

So, went out to find the leak after lunch. Dried everything off so I could spot where it was coming from. Had a mirror under the float bowl and accel pump. Cranked it up and..... no leak. Not even damp. No smell. Let it run for 30 minutes at different throttle positions. Ran smooth. No leaks. Nothing.

I suspect that since it was sitting for 6 months awaiting springtime the float or the needle valve was stuck. What I was seeing was overflow.

I'll run it again tomorrow to see if it is still dry. If so, I'll take it to the lake and try it out again while checking regularly for any sign of a fuel leak.

In the meantime I will get a good rebuild kit.

By the way, I was looking at the archives and I posted my issue about the Demon carb way back in 2011 before it was replaced with the Holley.

Rich
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Check the bowl screws. The gasket may have shrunk a bit without fuel over the winter.

The blue gaskets don't shrink as much (or stick)
 

cyclops222

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The carb is running fine NOW. Do NOT rebuild it with a BAD carb or the wrong kit !!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy what you have now.
 

YahooMarine

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Jun 28, 2011
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9
Cranked it yup this morning. No issues. The areas around the gaskets are dry! I will keep an eye on it but will otherwise leave it alone.

Thanks for the inputs, Rich
 
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