Carb Problem??

[Green Boater]

Did a complete tune-up on my Mercruiser 3.0 (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points and condensor). Double checked gaps on the plugs and points. Put the muffs on and checked the timing - a few degrees adjustment and the engine was purring like a fat cat. I took it out a few days ago and it stalled a few times after initial start-up, but then ran ok after it warmed-up. Yesterday, I remembered I hadn't flushed the engine and went to do so - it started right up, ran for a minute or so, then would cut off. After a few more starts and running it at a higher rpm for a minute or two, it would keep shutting off at idle. I shot some carb cleaner in and also put another can of Seafoam in the tank - but still not a lot of luck. I noticed when I would shoot cleaner into the carb, it would raise the rpms, but would slow down to idle after that would burn off and the engine would die. Basically, it seems I'm not getting sufficient fuel at idle to keep it running - any ideas???
Lastly, I didn't mess with the fuel mixture screw.
Thanks guys!!

 

[mpdive]

Re: Carb Problem??

What I find funny with that is, you had no issues and then took it out a few days ago and now there's problems. Did you get fuel before or while you were out? Fuel starvation does not necessarily have to be a loss of an amount of fuel, but can also be a good amount of contaminated fuel. Take a fuel sample before you do anything.

 

[Green Boater]

Re: Carb Problem??

I'm guessing the tank was about half full, but yes, I did top it up on the way to the lake. Just been trying a few other things and decided to pull the filter from the fuel pump and try it. The filter isn't what I'd call dirty enough to cause this problem. Started the engine, it ran for about a minute and slowly cut off again. Throttled it a few times and went to start again, but the battery is now dead (a little over 3 volts on cranking)... The battery is only 13 months old, but just wondering, if there's a problem with it or the alternator, would low spark be causing these symptoms??? The cells in the battery are full and I didn't smell any sulphur, so I'm guessing it's ok. Going to Wally World to buy a charger.