'72 Evinrude V4 leaking gas through front of carbs at idle

[iDriveAVan]

Have a '72 85hp V4 that I spent the winter fixing up. Finally got some time on the water with it during memorial day weekend, had a great time until I ran one of the fuel tanks dry and the motor sputtered and stopped. hooked up a fresh tank and started it back up and it ran rough, both at low rpm's and mid rpm's. (didnt push it any further because I didnt want to damage anything).

Docked up and and the motor couldnt keep idling in neutral, even when I brought the idle up a bit. took off the cowling and found gas coming out of the front of the carbs. took off the cover plate and found quite a bit of gas coming out of two weep holes that face towards the bow of the boat, but only on the bottom carb. no gas leaking from upper carb. gas stops leaking forward when rpms are raised to a higher rpm (more vacuum to pull the gas into the motor?).

I'm guessing that my idle fuel mixture is too rich, however I cannot find any good answers as to what it should be set at, if anything. According to my Seloc manual, my motor does not have an adjustable mixture screw, however my carbs look slightly different from the ones pictured in the manual. the manual does not show the two screws at the bottom of the carbs (circled in blue) for my year. however there are screws in the diagram of the same motor as an earlier year. however the earlier year has a drawing of a whole adjustable pin that goes deep into the back of the carb, where as all my carb has is just a bolt about 1" long.

Anyone have any insight?
Is there a setting for these "low speed bolts"? Turn them out a certain number of turns or just seat them?
Did a previous owner jury rig something up and I need to order needle screws?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: '72 Evinrude V4 leaking gas through front of carbs at idle

There is no needle valve or jet adjustment. The bolts/screws are threaded plugs and must be tight.

With the carburetor face plate off, pump the fuel primer bulb up hard. If this causes fuel to slow out either carburetor, this indicates that the float is off level or the float needle valve is worn. In either case, the carburetor(s) would require removing, cleaning, and rebuilding as needed.
(Carburetor Float Setting)
(J. Reeves)

With the carburetor body held upside down, the float being viewed from the side, adjust the float so that the free end of the float (the end opposite the hinge pin) is ever so slightly higher (just ever so slightly off level) than the other end. And when viewed from the end, make sure it is not cocked.

 

[iDriveAVan]

Re: '72 Evinrude V4 leaking gas through front of carbs at idle

Thanks Joe Reeves, I'll give that a shot... supposed to be a chilly 90 degrees out this weekend in Maine!