Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

[pmainc]

I have a 1982 Sea Ray 197 with a Rochester 4bbl on a 5L v8. I bought this boat about a year ago and have been slowly fixing it up. It ran when I bought it and I have used it on occasion. I recently sent the carb off for an overhaul and when it came back, the boat ran but the carb flooded the engine. I removed the carb and sent it back to the shop. In the mean time, I pumped some gas out of the tank on the carb side of the filter for inspection. The gas looked clean and free of water. The carb came back from the shop and when I installed it, it continued to flood the engine. I removed the carb a third time to go back to the shop. This time the mechanic said he was going to order a new float for the carb. When the carb came back I decided to use another gas source with fresh gas and a new filter. The carb worked fine this time. The mechanic had told me that the problem could be in my gas tank. So the question is: Can visually clean gas that has been filtered foul the carb? Pulling the gas tank on this boat is a major ordeal. Or, was the problem in the carb float all along? Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

Id bet it was the float, but....

As far as the main tank, put a fuel filter inline if you are worried about that. Ive got an automotive style inline filter about a foot off my fuel pump, Ive got two plastic tanks and the old main tank under there and no matter which Im drawing from, the fuel goes thru the filter.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

Most (not all) things small enough to get through the filter will not harm the carb or engine.
Sounds like the float was junk at first and he didnt replace it. Or he had the level set wrong.
What does the gas look like out of the tank with no filter?

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

flooding from what I know....

is usually caused by the float being adjusted improperly (too high)

by a bad float needle valve (rubber tip snapped off )

improper float installation (float needle not on the float gets jammed open etc...)

or overpressure on the fuel....like an electric fuel injection style fuel pump with 30lb pressure, blowing fuel past the float needle....they are meant for only about a max fuel pressure of 7 lbs...and normally 3-5lbs of fuel pressure....

loose parts in the float bowl (loose needle seat etc...)

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

The float can cause a flooding condition and a lot of carb kits don't come with a new float, they need to be ordered seperately.Maybe the float was the problem. IMHO

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

Don't put an inline fuel filter on. (Not allowed by Coast Guard regs). Instead install a fuel / water separator. It will act as a filter AND remove any water before it enters the carb.

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

I should be used to this now on this site, but every time i say something I get the 3rd degree.

Can you please tell me where in USCG regulation 33 CFR 183.501-590 it says I cant use an inline filter, if it is of sufficient pressure resistance, has the proper barbs or lips, and corrosive resistant clamps are used?

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

What kind of rebuild place are you sending it to that doesn't automatically change the float???

You could have rebuilt the carb yourself for less than 30 bucks...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

I should be used to this now on this site, but every time i say something I get the 3rd degree.

I'd hardly call what I wrote the third degree...

But since you ask, here is the reg regarding installation of filters (CFR 183.570):

Each fuel filter and strainer must be supported on the engine or boat structure independent from its fuel line connections, unless the fuel filter or strainer is inside a fuel tank.

Read more: http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/183-570-filters-strainers-installation-19764375#ixzz0uj8N6bnL

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: Fuel tank / carb issues on old Sea Ray

Very well, so nail it to the wall and you're good. Dont want the pressure or weight of pulling on the lines to pull apart the connectors, makes sense.
I dig it.
Thanks! Really. It wasnt your post, I am quite happily a hack...but whenever I share some of the low budget, crappy things I do I just seem to always get shot down.