This is my first post, but I've been lurking for a while and reading mercarb/3.0l posts looking for the answers...
After lots of reading and nothing solid, I thought I would ask for help rather then try to self-help:
Boat- '97 Bayliner Capri w/3.0 & the dreaded mercarb
Issue- cold starts and runs ok for a under a minute, then begins to flood itself. Smooths out at higher RPM (2500+), but pulling the throttle back and letting it settle results in light black smoke and 'chugging' and eventually a stall unless throttle is feathered back to higher rpms. Boat will then NOT start until cooled or started on starting fluid.
When it stalls, you can visibly watch it flood (dump fuel into the carb) with the flame arrester off.
What I did:
Step 1 (before I knew it was flooding)- replaced/serviced all filters, checked fuel pump operation, engine has new plugs & wires (as part of yearly maint.), gas is mostly new with stabil treatment. Issue remained.
Step 2- pulled top half off of carb, checked float for holes (none- plastic foat), checked needle operation- float needle seemed to stick occasionally. I sprayed the needle and seat (and the rest of the carb) with carb cleaner. Everything seemed to work fine non-running. Re-assembled and got the same result (flooding) when running. I am now at a loss... and at the end of my rope.
I would greatly appreciate anyone and everyone's thoughts! I'd like to think that I am missing something simple or I am overlooking a step.
My next step (3) is to go buy a Rochester carb and move on... Somebody stop me!
Thanks in advance!
TonyJ
After lots of reading and nothing solid, I thought I would ask for help rather then try to self-help:
Boat- '97 Bayliner Capri w/3.0 & the dreaded mercarb
Issue- cold starts and runs ok for a under a minute, then begins to flood itself. Smooths out at higher RPM (2500+), but pulling the throttle back and letting it settle results in light black smoke and 'chugging' and eventually a stall unless throttle is feathered back to higher rpms. Boat will then NOT start until cooled or started on starting fluid.
When it stalls, you can visibly watch it flood (dump fuel into the carb) with the flame arrester off.
What I did:
Step 1 (before I knew it was flooding)- replaced/serviced all filters, checked fuel pump operation, engine has new plugs & wires (as part of yearly maint.), gas is mostly new with stabil treatment. Issue remained.
Step 2- pulled top half off of carb, checked float for holes (none- plastic foat), checked needle operation- float needle seemed to stick occasionally. I sprayed the needle and seat (and the rest of the carb) with carb cleaner. Everything seemed to work fine non-running. Re-assembled and got the same result (flooding) when running. I am now at a loss... and at the end of my rope.
I would greatly appreciate anyone and everyone's thoughts! I'd like to think that I am missing something simple or I am overlooking a step.
My next step (3) is to go buy a Rochester carb and move on... Somebody stop me!
Thanks in advance!
TonyJ
