carb gum

[MIKE COLLIER]

I now know the meaning of carb gum. I replaced the VRO on my 1999 50 hp Johnson with a single function fuel pump. Motor would run only with the "choke" pushed in. Rebuilt the carb's. New meaning to sludge and gum. The top carb was gummy and slimy. The bottom carb had at least two table spoons of black motor oil in the float bowl! Both carbs are rebuilt and ready to install. Question...........I know where the oil came from but wonder how it got up hill............the carbs are about 24 inches above the VRO oil tank. thanks.....Mike

 

[flyingscott]

More than likely somebody pulled the fuel line off to run the carbs dry. That does not work on a VRO pump because when you pull the fuel line off it will continue to pump oil into the carbs. Or there was an air leak in the fuel side of the pump and they will tend to over-oil when that happens.When that happens and it sits for a while you really need to make sure the carbs are spotless clean. I like to give them a good soak when that happens.

 

[boobie]

Or the VRO oil tank built up some pressure in it when sitting and the oil went to the carbs.

 

[Faztbullet]

+1 Boobie....the vent in the oil caps do go bad

 

[boobie]

I know. I've had it happen to me a number of times.

 

[gm280]

Carbs can get gummed up pretty bad when the sit for a long time. I know because this is what my carb looked like when I opened it up to start cleaning it.

Now that is gummed up. That stuff was like tar. Oh yes carbs do need cleaned out some times.