Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

[sknight6534]

I have a twin carb 60 horse merc. It starts and runs fine but gas gushes out of the carbs. If I take off the carburators ,empty out the floats, pull the needle and put everything back together, the engine runs fine--no extra gas gushes out. The next day I start it again I have the same problem. Is my needle getting stuck open? What should I replace?

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

It sounds like either a stuck needle or float issue.
When it gets stuck is it after you have tilted the engine up all the way.
The 80's vintage 30 horse SeaPros were terrible for getting stuck floats. While running in rough water the float would stick and the motor would stall out (not exactly what you want in rough water ) We used to have to pull the cowling and rap the float bowls with a wrench to fix the problem.

 

[JB]

Re: Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

Do you have a good inline filter in the fuel line? You might be getting debris from the tank blocking the float needles. It seems unlikely to me that two different carbs would have the same failure at the same time unless they had incorrect float settings.

 

[sknight6534]

Re: Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

I have a brand new in-line filter. When I pump the primer bulb gas gushes even when the motor is off. What I do is pull the gas line and start it up and run the gas out of the carb before putting it away. I do have a very old tank that may have a lot of sediment in it but I thought the in-line filter would take care of that. The needle looks in good shape and I assume the float still floats. Since it works fine after I clean it can it be as simple as chunks in the gas line?

 

[JB]

Re: Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

Could be, but it could also be the floats sticking while sitting in dry bowls.

I don't like running the carbs dry on multi-carb engines, because one will run out first and run that cylinder dry while the other uses up the last drops. I think it shortens engine life.

 

[sknight6534]

Re: Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

Thanks for helping me out. I'm going to get a new tank.

 

[JB]

Re: Merc 60 horse carb gushes gas

Well, if you want a new tank, okay, but if you think it will solve your problem I doubt it.

Try not running the carbs dry next time and see what happens.