1988 6hp johnson won't stop leaking from the air hole on carb

[relics hunter]

I had done a simple clean of the carb last year when I got the motor and it ran well (weekly trips to the shore) until recently when it was lacking power a bit. Also in the last month I have replaced the fuel pump one weekend( had to use the bulb as a pump to get home one day) and the fuel bulb (cracked)the next weekend. Lat weekend when it wouldn't get up on full throttle and bogged more going in I ordered a kit for a proper rebuild. Well now nothings going right. I can not get it to stop leaking out of the air hole on the top side. I looked over all the posts about the subject and everyone says float adjustment or needle sticking. I of course need some special gauge 324891 that I don't have and most references say to adjust the float level or a hair higher. The old one was not close to level and it ran just fine until recently, so I am real confused. I set the new float to recommended almost level and 1-1 3/8" fall on the other measurement and it just leaks gas out the hole after a few pumps of the fuel bulb. I have tried the old float, I have tried different slight changes, and nothing helps. I am at a loss and wonder if the nozzle well might be involved in the problem. Maybe it's not sealing, it seams to be a wobbly piece that hopefully sets right during assm. Help

 

[weezerr2183]

I've used a machinists vernier caliper to set the float height on my bikes carbs. You need to know the reference point for the correct measurement. Ie: the bowl gasket mating surface. If you changed the needle maybe the needle seat is bad. Either way something is allowing the bowl to over fill. Try taking a clear tube and attaching it to the carb bowl vent hole, to give an idea where the fuel height is in the bowl. Google carb fuel height for clarification. I'm out of data and can't post pics. Hope this helps.

 

[boobie]

You may have a piece of crap between your needle and seat.

 

[Vic.S]

If it leaks fuel it is because the needle valve is not shutting off the fuel flow when it should.

It may be because the float sticking or is incorrectly adjusted

I may be because there is dirt preventing the needle valve closing or because the needle is worn or damaged.

As a general rule the float is correctly adjusted if the needle valve just closes when the float is horizontal/ parallel with the carb joint face .


There should be info on the carb setting etc in the manual at http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#

 

[jakedaawg]

1. Did you buy an OEM kit?
2. Double check that you have the needle properly hooked to the float. And that the float is installed correctly, not upside down if thats possible to do on this carb.
3. When you installed the seat that came with the kit did you put the little washer/gasket in? With out this the seat would sit a little lower and the needle won't close.
4. Once you have pulled it apart to check this and put it back together you can check operation before installing on boat. Just blow gently on the fuel supply line while with the carb upside down. If it is shutting off you wont be able to blow

 

[relics hunter]

Well I have triple checked everything, I blew in the it with the carb upside down and felt confident the needle was seating good. There are a number of posts for this problem and most don't say how it worked out, so I am back to have my solution archived for the next person searching. This is the youngest motor I have worked on, and all the rest are 80 or older and have butterfly chokes. That's where the problem started, they all have the fuel line going into the bowl. I had two fuel lines the same size and almost the same length and I had reversed them. I even found a post from 2010 of someone with the same problem asking which hose went where. So for the next person that might mess this up, here's a clue it maybe the float or the needle or you did what I did and reversed the hoses. Happy Boating!

 

[weezerr2183]

Thanks for the update and solution. Dead end posts are a drag.