Mercury carb leaking fuel

[J Dawg]

I have a 1973 Merc 402 single carb and it is leaking/shooting fuel out of the vent in the fuel filter housing. Is there supposed to be a plug in the vent hole in the housing? When I pressurize the fuel line is squirts out of the vent hole. I just put all new gaskets in it and didn't notice the vent hole is open all the way thru. This is my first of these carbs with the side float. I have rebuilt all kinds of carbs and i just ordered the gasket kit to try this ob out for the first time. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[flyingscott]

The vent is supposed to be like that. The fact you have fuel running out of it when you pump the ball is either a bad float or a bad needle valve. Did you replace or clean either of those when you replaced the gaskets in the carb and how well did you clean them.

 

[J Dawg]

I did order a new float and just installed it. I think it was sticking in the bottom and I just didn't notice right away. I did have a little plastic screw that fit in there until I got an answer. But now my other problem is that I have no spark. I need to know what to check and what I can look for. This motor is the pull start only, no electric start and no key. Just a run/stop switch on control box.

 

[J Dawg]

I will start a new thread to address spark issue. Thanks for the info.