Frank Acampora
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
- Messages
- 12,004
The manufacturer always puts parts on an engine for a reason.
Engine: 1997 Force 50. Sweet little engine. I could get it to start and run really well, but above 1/2 throttle the carbs would load up and spit fuel out the vent hole. The engine would shake and shudder. Back off to 1/2 throttle and it ran fine again. I tried three different carbs, all with the same result. I tried different floats--same result. It was driving me crazy because there was absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of the carbs.
Desperation! Time for a Hail Mary move! The enrichment valve was mounted to the manifold with a center hard washer and a top washer instead of the stock rubber vibration isolator grommet. I replaced the washers with a rubber grommet from another engine and----Et-Voila! The engine ran perfectly. 29 MPH on a 16 foot Spectrum fishing boat. I guess that above 1/2 throttle, engine vibration was shaking open the solenoid. Since the valve is fed from the carb bowl and delivers fuel to the manifold you wouldn't think that that would allow excess fuel into the carb bowl, but it did in addition to flooding the engine.
Moral of the story: The Manufacturer put that 2 cent rubber grommet there for a reason. As it turns out, a very good reason.
So, When repairing an engine, it probably is best to do it the factory way.
Engine: 1997 Force 50. Sweet little engine. I could get it to start and run really well, but above 1/2 throttle the carbs would load up and spit fuel out the vent hole. The engine would shake and shudder. Back off to 1/2 throttle and it ran fine again. I tried three different carbs, all with the same result. I tried different floats--same result. It was driving me crazy because there was absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of the carbs.
Desperation! Time for a Hail Mary move! The enrichment valve was mounted to the manifold with a center hard washer and a top washer instead of the stock rubber vibration isolator grommet. I replaced the washers with a rubber grommet from another engine and----Et-Voila! The engine ran perfectly. 29 MPH on a 16 foot Spectrum fishing boat. I guess that above 1/2 throttle, engine vibration was shaking open the solenoid. Since the valve is fed from the carb bowl and delivers fuel to the manifold you wouldn't think that that would allow excess fuel into the carb bowl, but it did in addition to flooding the engine.
Moral of the story: The Manufacturer put that 2 cent rubber grommet there for a reason. As it turns out, a very good reason.
So, When repairing an engine, it probably is best to do it the factory way.