Dry Carb in the morning???

[gslpro]

Well, of course it is February, and I am trying to diagnose all of my problems now, so that I can jump into the engine compartment in the spring with all of the correct parts ready to fix my baby up for the summer....hehehe...if it was only that easy.<br /><br /> I have an '85 Scorpion with 350-260hp Merc Alpha, Carter 4-bbl. When I start the boat first thing in the morning, it takes a lot of cranking and throttle throwing to get her going. If I leave her for a week, I am almost guaranteed of needing a jump start after killing my battery cranking her and throwing the throttle. Now, I am a pretty good mechanic when it comes to motorcycles, but I always seek a second opinion when it comes to a boat, (probably due to exploding possibilities being better in boats.) I am guessing that my carb runs dry during the week, and probably mostly dry during the night. If the bowl goes dry, shuold I be looking at the carb only, or could something like a faulty fuel pump be pulling the gas back down the fuel lines? I know this seems strange to happen, but you never know.<br />Thanks for any ideas.<br />-Gary

 

[P.V.]

Re: Dry Carb in the morning???

well, it sounds like you assume you do not have fuel inside your carb bowl and therefore must crank along time to get fuel into the carb and then into the manifold, correct????? Take the flame arrestor off prior to cranking the engine and hit the throttle lever, is the accellerator pump working?? If it is, then you don't have a supply problem, possibly choke stuck open/closed ??? Flooding carb??? Try the up dated "new" heat range spark plugs (not the "orginal" heat range)...

 

[gslpro]

Re: Dry Carb in the morning???

I will do that. I wasn't really thinking about the choke either...It has been so long since I saw something that wasn't fuel-injection.<br />Also, I am not sure if this narrows it down to the experienced person, but when it does start to catch finally, it start for a second, then cranked again it starts for a few seconds, the crank some more, and several, finally working up to it is running, but it takes a bunch of manipulation with the throttle to finally rev up....I wonder if this is all related to a choke problem now that you mentioned the bugger...hmmm<br /><br />Ahhhh...I cant wait for spring!<br />Thanks,<br />-Gary

 

[Bondo]

Re: Dry Carb in the morning???

In Theory, It Can't Happen....<br />But my Weber/Carter has done the same thing for the 4 years I've been running it.....<br />My 1st attempt at re-engineering it was to add a 3/8s" outboard primer bulb, inline just before the fuel filter.... a couple pumps on the bulb,+ a pump on the throttle resulted in a running 4.3LX.....That worked Fine for a couple years, Till a Chunk of Crap from the tank, Stopped up the bulb... had to take it out of the line to get back to the ramp....<br />My 2nd attempt has proven successful, So Far......<br />I've Bypassed the oil pressure sensor, Now the fuel(Ele.) pump runs All the time the key is "on".....I KNOW, It's not the Safe Way of doing it, But, I feel I'm Conscious of What's Going On In My Boat Enough, I'll Take This Chance.....<br />I turn on the bilge blowers, after a minute, I turn the key to "on", wait 30 seconds,+ Start the motor.... It Doesn't turn over more than once,+ It's Running....<br />It ran with the primer bulb for about 200hrs.. It's been over 300hrs. since I did the OPS Bypass,+ It Still Starts In Seconds<br /><br />You posted under me, while i'm typing..LOL....<br />BTW, my Choke has Always Worked Right....

 

[gslpro]

Re: Dry Carb in the morning???

If it indeed did turn out to be something like my assumption, I was thinking about looking into a Holley marine electric fuel pump. Is this a bad thing to do for some reason?<br />Thanks,<br />-Gary

 

[Bondo]

Re: Dry Carb in the morning???

There's Nothing Wrong with ele. pumps... Mine is merc. original.... <br />But there's Supposed to be an oil pressure sensor, to STOP the pump, if a loss of oil pressure Happens....Or if the key is "on",+ the engine isn't running....<br />It's a safety thing, just Incase the Floats Stick Open in the Carb....

 

[gslpro]

Re: Dry Carb in the morning???

Ahhh...Very good information. Much more things to boggle my mind with until I can actually getout to my boat. Two days ago, I went out to the boat, and the snow was over the rear swim platform, which is past my waist...hmmm...maybe 40 inches of snow?....gotta love New England<br /><br />Can't wait for Spring!!!! <br />Thanks,<br />-Gary