Stumped need help. Black smoke/backfire

grizz1148

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99 mercruiser 5.0, 2 bbl carb. 22ft wellcraft walkaround. Background....burned out main wiring, replaced, boat started backfiring (popping) under load and wouldn't plane out. Replaced fuel lines, coil, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, fuel pump, rebuilt carb, perko, batteries, drained tank replaced fuel, alternator, somewhere along the line it seemed to clear up. Did one at a time but randomly cleared one day. Took it out and ran it..seemed ok. Next time out did it again, found plugs to be black, changed plugs to original spec (other new plugs were diff brand sold to me by marina) fired right up on muffs and sounded good. Had it out several times now and the same thing happens every time...cold start at dock, fine, idles fine, 15-1800 rpms out past now wake zone fine, power up pops and feels weak until it struggles itself up to plane, after that...fine all day, shut it off to troll with kicker for hours...no problem, jumps up on plane, no popping, no struggling...all day runs great. Take it out couple days later same scenario. I'm lost. Any help would be appreciated thank you. Oh also black smoke for 30 secs to 1.5 mins at cold start but gone for the day after that as well.
 
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alldodge

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rebuilt carb,

I'm thinking you might have another go at the carb, think your running rich. Also figuring you replaced the fuel filter?
 

grizz1148

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I figured it may be rich because of smoke but wouldn't the popping and lack of power be lean? This thing is driving me nuts.
 

alldodge

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I figured it may be rich because of smoke but wouldn't the popping and lack of power be lean? This thing is driving me nuts.

Agree in most cases your correct, still with to much gas you can get flame back. That said would be nice to know what the plugs look like.
 

grizz1148

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[plugs I took out that were new we're black, these new ones now are mostly black with slight dark brown tint on the top of the electrodeQUOTE=AllDodge;n10207298]

Agree in most cases your correct, still with to much gas you can get flame back. That said would be nice to know what the plugs look like.[/QUOTE]
 

alldodge

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Black cold fowled says it is a rich mixture or weak ignition. Some brown says to me there is a time when temps are rising. Could be a cooling system issue and things are getting to hot.

What plugs are you running?
 

grizz1148

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Plugs are ACdelco number from spark arrest or cover. I watch temp gauge constantly and it doesn't read over 165. I know the gauge could be wrong, impeller is new. Aren't the plugs supposed to be all brown/gold?
Black cold fowled says it is a rich mixture or weak ignition. Some brown says to me there is a time when temps are rising. Could be a cooling system issue and things are getting to hot.

What plugs are you running?
 

alldodge

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Aren't the plugs supposed to be all brown/gold?

Yes, and basically clean. The black is the big issue right now and that in most cases is rich

Is the choke opening up all the way?
 

grizz1148

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Yes, and basically clean. The black is the big issue right now and that in most cases is rich

Is the choke opening up all the way?
I believe it is but haven't verified. Started it in the driveway day after last time out and the choke wasn't shut from the start.
 
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