replace or rebuild merc carbs

peter555

Cadet
Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
10
I have a 1999 5.0 mercruiser. I have rebuilt the carburetor twice. I think its acting up again. Any body has any opinions on the Sierra new carbs 18-7375. the new Merc carbs are very expensive.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,538
Rebuild what you have with a good kit ( not sierra)
 

dubs283

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,322
I have a 1999 5.0 mercruiser. I have rebuilt the carburetor twice. I think its acting up again.

How is it acting up?

Mercury sells rebuild kits for carbs reasonably priced and excellent quality
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,428
You ve rebuilt it twice, but have you checked if there is contamination in yiur fuel system that would pollute a freshly cleaned carb?
i would rebuild what you have unless the carb core is corroded or ruined

mikes carbs has good quality rebuild kits
 

ScottinAZ

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
831
That's basically paying $300 for a carb rebuild. Which is fine, but if you're going to pay someone you'd probably be better off having someone local do it.

that can be debateable. Since EFI took over, the number of people that can COMPETENTLY overhaul a carb has gone down exponentially. A larger outfit that does nothing but carbs should be familiar with the intricacies of what they are working on. Not so much Joe Six-Pack at the local garage who has seen a Quadrabog once about 15 years ago.... I redo all my carbs, but with age, the core isnt getting any better..... and the good kits are getting harder to find.

that said, the last thing I would be getting is a new Chinesium piece from either Amazon or other sources. That is a disaster waiting for a place to happen.... The $100 that they sell them for (new) would be better put into a kitty for towing when they take a dump and start leaking fuel like a colander at an "inopportune" moment
 

erieviewer148

Recruit
Joined
Jun 15, 2023
Messages
2
I have a 1999 5.0 mercruiser. I have rebuilt the carburetor twice. I think its acting up again. Any body has any opinions on the Sierra new carbs 18-7375. the new Merc carbs are very expensive.
I replaced my 30 year old carbs on our boat we bought 3 years ago to Edelbrock carbs which cost aprox $450 each plus installation of aprox $100 each to a competent mechanic. The chokes are upgraded to electronic chokes and the components are ethanol resistant in case a marine fuel station sneaked it in. The boat now runs great and it was money well spent. You have to know what you are doing rebuilding a carb it’s easy to mess it up. You don’t clean it
right or you don’t install the parts right you could have problems. Sometimes it’s better just to replace the units and have it done by a competent knowledgeable mechanic it’s true you’re gonna have to pay some bucks to the guy but your boat will run great I don’t wanna be spending hours tinkering trying to figure things out and end up breaking something
 

erieviewer148

Recruit
Joined
Jun 15, 2023
Messages
2
I replaced my 30 year old carbs on our boat we bought 3 years ago to Edelbrock carbs which cost aprox $450 each plus installation of aprox $100 each to a competent mechanic. The chokes are upgraded to electronic chokes and the components are ethanol resistant in case a marine fuel station sneaked it in. The boat now runs great and it was money well spent. You have to know what you are doing rebuilding a carb it’s easy to mess it up. You don’t clean it
right or you don’t install the parts right you could have problems. Sometimes it’s better just to replace the units and have it done by a competent knowledgeable mechanic it’s true you’re gonna have to pay some bucks to the guy but your boat will run great I don’t wanna be spending hours tinkering trying to figure things out and end up breaking something
Forgot to mention the carbs are Edelbrock 1410’s with electric choke designed for marine use
 
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