Why is my carb oxidizing????

[Lancer76]

This is my second carburetor in 5 years. This one I installed last season. Fresh water boat. At the end of the season, I sprayed it with lubricant, took out the battery, did all the other winter maintenance stuff and covered the boat with shrinkwrap.

Now, here we are in spring and I reinstall the outdrive after a new waterpump and I cannot shift from forward to neutral. I look at the engine and see the throttle cable isn't moving. I pop the flame arrestor and see this.


What am.i doing wrong?? Galvanic corrosion is all I can come up with. But why is this happening? Is there a "ground" that I am missing? Please help, I am close to torching this boat. Not really, but wondering if it's worth the work and angst.

 

[Chris1956]

Actually it looks like someone stole your carb and replaced it with a carb that was sitting out in the weather for 2 decades.

Even leaving the carb outside for a year wouldn't do that. It has to be electrical. Some carbs have electric choke components. Do you have that feature?

 

[Rick Stephens]

I kind of wonder if shrink wrapping holds a lot of moisture inside? And if a dehumidifier in the engine compartment would help over winter?

 

[Lancer76]

That's possible, but I leave the shrink wrap open a bit at the stern and bow to prevent that from happening.

Regarding the choke, it is electric but I pull the battery from the boat so there's no voltage (other than the obvious voltage associated with the oxidation).

Maybe I need that heated garage I've always wanted and deserved, too, I'm quite sure.

 

[nola mike]

. It has to be electrical.

With no battery in there?

 

[Scott Danforth]

carb bodies are zinc

use boeshield or fluidfilm

 

[Chris1956]

Aren't carb bodies aluminum? Everyone I ever had was.

The only time I have seen that much corrosion on aluminum was from the dry chemical of a fire extinguisher. I doubt even salt water alone would corrode it that much.

 

[QBhoy]

That’s surely been in the sea at some point and had a flooded engine bay, or a raw water coolant leak/spray. It’s not just the carb that’s corroded, by the looks of it.

 

[Jakem]

Aren't carb bodies aluminum? Everyone I ever had was.

The only time I have seen that much corrosion on aluminum was from the dry chemical of a fire extinguisher. I doubt even salt water alone would corrode it that much.

I run mostly salt...haven't seen that much corrosion on anything

 

[Scott Danforth]

Aren't carb bodies aluminum? Everyone I ever had was.

The only time I have seen that much corrosion on aluminum was from the dry chemical of a fire extinguisher. I doubt even salt water alone would corrode it that much.

holley carb bodies, bowls, and metering plates are zinc

only a few are aluminum

 

[Lancer76]

That carb was new out of the box one year ago. Ran it for maybe 15 hours - freshwater. It's a mystery.

 

[Rick Stephens]

The whole top of the motor looks like water drips on it all winter.

 

[Lou C]

Here's my Quadrajet used in salt water at least 20 years, boat is stored outside every winter under a canvas cover and got sprayed with salt water about 8 years ago when cooling hose popped off the P/S cooler. Something not normal is going on there.....

 

[dubs283]

Do you have enough vents in the shrink wrap? Adding a desiccant or two can really help with moisture over winter lay up

 

[dingbat]

At the end of the season, I sprayed it with lubricant, took out the battery, did all the other winter maintenance stuff and covered the boat with shrinkwrap.

Now, here we are in spring and I reinstall the outdrive after a new waterpump and I cannot shift from forward to neutral. I look at the engine and see the throttle cable isn't moving. I pop the flame arrestor and see this.

White rust….water/condensation in long term contact with zinc which forms zinc oxide.
Leave flame arrester off and dog house cover open for long term storage.

 

[H20Rat]

Maybe I need that heated garage I've always wanted and deserved, too, I'm quite sure.

Corrosion is a chemical reaction, and oxidation dramatically slows down when it is cold out. Heating your storage without fixing whatever is causing that will make it worse, not better!

 

[racerone]

Looks like some mice were in there.-----Or there is moisture / condensation leaking in there.

 

[Grub54891]

Wow, even in saltwater ones I've seen aren't that bad. Following along to see what comes of it.

 

[racerone]

Stored at a farm ??

 

[Lancer76]

Not a farm, per se, but we have pigs for the summer ( but not last year). They tend to stay in their pen and not in the boat. By winter, they reside in the freezer, which is also not on the boat.

No signs of rodents either.