Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

[GoldLS1]

I recently changed my fuel setup from (1) 6 gal to (2) 12 gal tanks. I added a 3 way valve also. The boat started and ran ok on the muffs in the yard. I did notice when I went to put the boat up the bottom carb was leaking quite a bit of fuel after it was shut off.

I tried to sneak out today for a quick fishing trip and my boat wouldn't stay running very long ("fast idle" would slowly run lower and lower then die after a minute max). While it was idleing, fuel was spitting out of the bottom carb (I do not have an intake on the boat, so everything was visible). There was also a small hole (see red arrow in pic) that was leaking gas out too. ONLY out of the bottom carb.

Any thoughts?

 

[tater76]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Sounds like a worn needle and seat. First check them for clogs/debris, then replace as necessary. Or a stuck float, but my money is on the needle and seat being bad.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Profile?Since the tanks and fittings are new.Did the vent clog or not open.
Fuel leaking after putting up.Did you tilt the motor?It will leak out because the floats are at a steep tilt.
Do a compression test,clean carbs,rebuild fuel pump and check hoses for soft/mushy.Ethanol is NOT our friend.J

 

[GoldLS1]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Thanks for the advice... If the weather will hold out I'll go thru them today. I did tilt the motor when the bottom carb leaked, however, when I lowered it back down it was still leaking.

I'm more concerned about the issues at the ramp... Not sure if I mentioned.. 87 85hp force.

I think my boat wants me to put it outa it's misery and sink it!!

 

[SwampThing]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Did you keep pumping the primer bulb when it wouldn't start? Sounds like you got debris stuck in the needle / seat area of the carb. Drop the bowl and see what's in there. Take a small mechanics mirror and see if you can look up in the pickup tube. It only takes a small piece of foreign material to ruin a quick sneak away to fish. Take a can of spray cleaner with the little plastic tube and clean out the orifices. Don't ram the tube into the orifices and don't spray it down the throat of the carb while the engine is running.

The small hole is the bowl vent. If you're leaking fuel out of there, your carb is flooding and usually means the float is hung up and not closing off the fuel flow when it gets to correct level in the bowl. Dirt in the carb will cause this.

 

[GoldLS1]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Thanks for the info swamp thing!! The weather has kept me from dragging the boat out... I hope it's just some gunk, not something else!!

One more question:
The fuel lines that run between the carbs are rock solid... Can these be replaced with regular marine flexible fuel line or is this a special type? I'm just going to replace ALL the lines while I'm at it.

Thanks again for all the help guys/gals!!

 

[wickware]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

I found a small variety of marine fuel line and kits at our local Napa Auto. Plus, they could order more the same day from their warehouse. There is also some offered here at iboat I believe (gray ?I feel designates Marine?, reinforced and very flexible and maybe just in a kit form). Napa had the gray in a kit and another color listed as marine that appeared as stiff plastic w/o reinforcing. The tuff hard line I replaces on my 1970?s setup this season was possibly original (it appeared good but hard as a rock). Good Luck! jow

 

[GoldLS1]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Welp all is well...

- I started off replacing all the fuel line.
- Took off the sediment bowl (nasty, nasty!) Ordered a new gasket for it. Ordered a pump diaphram and gasket while I was at it.
- Dropped all fuel bowls (VERY clean).
- Decided to pull the bottom carb off and take a look. Just as many speculated... the needle/seat area had a piece of black rubber between the two. Blew it out, threw it all back together, and ran like a TOP!


From one of my other posts, I also fixed my tach issue. I ordered a regulator due to what I am now guessing was a bad rectifier, bam tach started working!!


Only thing left is the dreaded Tilt and Trim. Not sure if I can tackle that one?!?! I'll post about how that is going/went!!

HUGE THANKS FOR ALL THAT PITCHED IN IDEAS!! If we ever meet by some random chance, beers on me!!

I'M OFF TO THE LAKE!! WOOOOHOOOOO!

 

[perna00]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Thank you to eveyone that commented on this thread. I had the same problem and the community's input got my boat back running perfectly. Debris in the carb caused it to flood out the engine and leak gas out of the sides. Thanks again!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Boat left me at the ramp: leaking fuel + poor idle

Debris in only one carb, if it does not stop the engine can lead to that cylinder running lean and detonating, requiring a rebuild. Everyone with multiple carb engines should ALWAYS put a filter between the fuel pump and carbs,