88 40hp Evinrude not starting

Hello all!

My buddy got this 88 sea nymph with an Evinrude that seemed to run fine when we purchased it. However, on the water the first go she started right away but then died and had trouble keeping her running at idle. Attempting to give her some throttle she died quickly thereafter and unable to restart.

We noticed a lot of fuel in the water around the motor. Taking the cover off and priming the bulb on the gas tank I noticed there was fuel coming out this small circular screen on the carburetor? Any idea why this would be or how to fix? I no Jack about boat motors. Thanks!

Id post a photo but I can't I guess yet.

The carburetor number is 431878. You can see the images on Google the small circular screen I'm talking about .

Taking off the intake cover I see fuel now spilling down from the top carb intake

Float valve is stuck.----Clean the carburetors.

It doesn't appear to be. The fuel was leaking around the washer/gasket on the valve seat screw or whatever it's called. I don't know if the previous owner used a different part/s but the screw wouldn't seal. I put an oring on that seals for now.

Idle still won't happen. Took out the jets and cleaned out the passages but it still won't come close to idling. Fuel doesn't appear to be leaking from carbs in my tests or when it runs now that the oring is there.

Seller may have put an Amazon carb kit in it pretty common for them to have miss matched needles and seats. Get OEM or Sierra kits and rebuild.

Likely tried to use a carburetor kit from --amazon---nothing but junk.-----Motor simply sounds awful.------Best to start over with factory parts !

Thank you guys. I did not know that but go figure about Amazon junk.

I did what I could to clean the carbs again and also readjusted the arms and everything back to where I think they're supposed to be. She idles now! Getting her checked out by professional next week.

I can’t say that it sounds great but at least it’s running.
If you’re going to keep running it you need more water. Raise the tub and fill it up or switch to a trash can. Water needs to be well above the impeller for the pump to operate.
All the best

Thank you. I figured it was no good, the buckets. The trash I had wasn't wide enough but I'll get one for sure.

Yeah, it does sound rough still. The specialist next week will hopefully be able to get her smoothed out.

Thanks for the help. At least I learned a few things in the process.