Carb float?

[btowndms]

I was out yesterday for the sixth time since I bought my used 88 Rinker with a 4.3L and after about an hour of fun things went down hill. For some reason the carb will not stop dumping gas into the engine. With my knowledge of car engines, owned a lot of older jeeps, I think the float is stuck.

Anyone have some suggestions? Are carb rebuild kits for boats different than ones for cars/trucks?

Thanks in advance!

 

[btowndms]

Re: Carb float?

C'mon, I can't be the only one that has had this problem!

 

[Maclin]

Re: Carb float?

Depending on the carb most components are the same between automotive and marine.

Include whether Merc or Volvo, engine model number, etc. to get more responses.

 

[TommyA]

Re: Carb float?

Is the float stuck? I would think yes! There are differences between marine and auto engines but I'm not familiar enough to say just what they are. If you can get a carb kit that is for that carburetor it shouldn't matter marine or not.

My first thought is that the carburetor was recently rebuilt and the float level wasn't correctly set but then needles and seats do wear after time. Just go ahead and redo it to be sure or call the guy you bought it from to confirm. If you have rebuilt carbs before it won't be any different with this one.

I would pull it and check to see if the float is set to the correct setting and if not then there is your problem most likely.

Just a little food for thought.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Carb float?

Are carb rebuild kits for boats different than ones for cars/trucks?

Ayuh,.....

That'll depend on What Carb.......

 

[dan t.]

Re: Carb float?

q-jet floats are made of foam and can absorb fuel and sink.when ordering a kit use the number printed verticaly on the linkage side.it will start 704 or 1704. order a new float at the same time,try to find a brass one.
good luck

 

[John_S]

Re: Carb float?

If a 2 barrel Mercarb, it is known for having a float needle issue. There are two different needles supplied in kits, to help fix it. One has a spring and the other just a small rod. Each has a different float adj setting.

 

[drpboston]

Re: Carb float?

I was out yesterday for the sixth time since I bought my used 88 Rinker with a 4.3L and after about an hour of fun things went down hill. For some reason the carb will not stop dumping gas into the engine. With my knowledge of car engines, owned a lot of older jeeps, I think the float is stuck.
QUOTE]

Btown,

What are your symptoms? I also have an 88 4.3L OMC in our Four Winns and it won't idle now, just keeps dumping gas into carb and you can see it pooling above the valves. It will run at around 1000 RPM, but I can't drop it into gear that high. Is your motor acting the same way or differently?

I'm convinced I need to rebuild the carb now and I'm feeling around for a rebuild kit. I'll let you know if I hear of a good one.

 

[THE BEEF]

Re: Carb float?

Like Dan.t says
Carb floats are made out of plastic foam. I have seen problems like yours in
cars. I would replace the float with a brass one.
Beef

 

[btowndms]

Re: Carb float?

Wow! Thanks everyone for your input! I didn't have time to get the numbers yesterday. Hit a stinking deer on the way home and decided to have a few beers instead! Anyway, I looked online and I think it's a Rochester Y39 carb with an electric choke.

http://marinecarburetor.com/Y39RochesterCOT.htm

Not sure if that is the number Bond-o is talking about or not...

Anyway, I hope to pull the carb tonight and have a look inside. The boat did sit for a couple of years before I purchased it, but the buddy I bought it from had taken really good care of the boat. He even installed an inline fuel filter shortly after he had purchased it and used the filter that is made to keep water from getting in the bowl. I plan on replacing the filter too!

drpboston - My symptoms were it just wouldn't start. We were tubing and stopped to change to skiing and the motor just kept cranking over. We all started to smell gas so we let it sit for a few minutes thinking had just flooded. Tried to start it again with the same result. Opened the cover took off the air filter and fuel was just pouring out of the carburetor and puddle on the butterfly. I took all the screws out of the top plate and it stopped, let it sit put it back, and it started after burning all the gas off the spark plugs and we headed for the ramp. Ran fine WOT but once I got to the nowake zone I could tell it was going to die again, which it did. Opened it back up and it was going it again.

It sounds like you have the same problem as I do! I would follow the recommendations that I am getting and keep me posted on what you find!

 

[drpboston]

Re: Carb float?

I just had my local marine store look into ordering a rebuild kit and floats for me. If they cant get them, I found them right here on iBoats for 27.99 and 12.99 respectively. i would just hate to wait for shipping...summer's a wastin!

Havent' rebuilt a carb in 15 years...how long should it take an above average mechanically inclined ex-motorhead on a 2 bbl? Anyone?

 

[TommyA]

Re: Carb float?

To rebuild a carburetor will take 20 minutes to take apart and put back together. Let the carb soak in carb cleaner for 30 minutes or up to overnight and wash with water and blow with compressed air. Check all orifices with spray carb cleaner and a small soft piece of wire.

 

[96lt4c4]

Re: Carb float?

I just had my local marine store look into ordering a rebuild kit and floats for me. If they cant get them, I found them right here on iBoats for 27.99 and 12.99 respectively. i would just hate to wait for shipping...summer's a wastin!

Havent' rebuilt a carb in 15 years...how long should it take an above average mechanically inclined ex-motorhead on a 2 bbl? Anyone?

I just rebuilt my carb on my Merc 5.0. I got my rebuild kit from Napa, and it is for a Marine carb. My carb had an aluminum tag on it with a part number, thats how we looked up the right kit.

My carb was doing the same thing as yours, dumping fuel, after the rebuild the boat runs awesome and starts very easily. I reused my float and went with the solid needle in the kit. Knowone could seem to tell me any benefits of using the spring needle. Get a gallon can of ChemDip from Autozone and soak both halves of the carb in it over night.

 

[btowndms]

Re: Carb float?

I found the problem! I decided before I spend anything I would just pull the top of the carb off and have a look. Started it first to make sure the problem was still there, it was! The float was fine, it is the plastic float, but there was some brown stuff on the needle seat. I blew it out with my air compressor and put it back to together and after idling rough to burn off all the excess gas it started idling perfect.

Shut it down and restarted fine a couple more times. I was wrong on the carb number it is a Mercarb

http://marinecarburetor.com/Y38Mercarb.htm

I also have the tag and plan to rebuild the carb and replace the fuel filter before going out on the lake again.

Thanks everyone for all the help!