3.0 lx won't stay running

[DiabloOwnr]

New guy here...
It is a 3.0 lx mercruiser in a 1995 sea ray 175br. I put in a new starter and starter solenoid, and the only way it will start is if I put starter spray into the carb. It will start, but will not run. It dies right away, not matter what I do with the throttle. I tried adjusting the carb screw, and holding the butterfly down, but all that did was make it smoke (and die), then it actually caught fire (flame coming out of the carb). I think I was a little rich-lol.
I put in new gas, plugs, and still nothing.
Any help would be great.
I bought this boat used about 1 week ago.

 

[tommays]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

when was the last time it ran correctly ?

You really need to go through the whole thing starting with a compression test to be sure its healthy

Then a real tuneup with new parts fuel filters ect

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/13/13covr2.pdf

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/13/13C1R2.PDF

This is a service manual that should cover the motor you need to do some reading and it will teach you about trouble shooting the fuel and ingition system

Tommays

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

when was the last time it ran correctly ?

The guy I bought it from said about 3 months ago he started it, then it stopped. Then it just clicked. He pulled the starter, and said that was the problem. I replaced the starter, and the clicking was coming from the solenoid, so that was replaced as well.
Thanks for the manuals. Much appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

You really need to go through the whole thing starting with a compression test to be sure its healthy

Then a real tuneup with new parts fuel filters ect

Tommays

Ayuh,...................

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

First of all, get that %#@&% Starting Fluid off the boat before you don't have an engine worth fixing. Instead, just pour a tablespoon or 2 of gas in the carb and see what happens.
Have you checked to see if you have to the carb? Does the fuel pump work? Did you test the pressure?
Is the bow of the boat real low and only a small amount of gas in the tank? Could be you ran out of gas since the pickup is in the rear of the tank.

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

First of all, get that %#@&% Starting Fluid off the boat before you don't have an engine worth fixing. Instead, just pour a tablespoon or 2 of gas in the carb and see what happens.
Have you checked to see if you have to the carb? Does the fuel pump work? Did you test the pressure?
Is the bow of the boat real low and only a small amount of gas in the tank? Could be you ran out of gas since the pickup is in the rear of the tank.

I put about 5 gallons of new gas. No change.
I was troubleshooting and I was
"Determining if there is fuel present by looking down the carburetor venturi while actuating throttle. There should be a stream of fuel coming out of the accelerator pump nozzles if the carburetor has fuel. if there is fuel present by looking down
the carburetor venturi while actuating throttle."
I could smell a little gas, and a drop or two came out, but that was it. I have gas coming through this line:

So what should my next course of action be?

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

If you have gas coming out the line it has to be a problem after the line, and that means carb. There is a small filter under that fitting going into the carb. Check it.
IF it's clean, you may need a carb rebuild or replacement.

 

[tommays]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

1. there is a fuel filter inside the fitting buy your red arrow more than likely its cloged with crap there is also one inside the fuel pump

2.the purple wire is disconnected from your electric choke ? WHY

3.there should be a yellow sight tube comeing fom your fuel pump to the barbed ellbow on the top left of the carb

Its a saftey item so if the pump leaks it goes into the engine and not the bilge

If you can get and outboard tank they make a good fuel supply for testing

Tommays

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

2.the purple wire is disconnected from your electric choke ? WHY

This is exactly how it looking when i got it. Where should the ground go?

3.there should be a yellow sight tube comeing fom your fuel pump to the barbed ellbow on the top left of the carb

I guess I need one of those as well.

 

[tommays]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

i would downlad all the sections of the service manual and read them

There is a good info there on how to trouble shoot your problems in a step buy step methoid

If you follow them you can cross things off the list that check out good and move on to the next item

with things like the choke wire just laying lose i dont think we can assume anything is good with checking it first


Tommays

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

OK, I took apart the fuel line next to the carb, cleaned it that little fuel filter, put it back together, and I still don't get any fuel going into the carb. It's in the line, but something is stopping it from releasing into the carb.
Should I take the carb apart, blow air into the carb???
Thanks for all the help.

 

[tommays]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

READ THE MANUAL all of it

Toss the filter and get a NEW one i can tell you from personal experience it can't be cleaned and can look fine and still NOT flow fuel correctly


Tommays

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

I took apart the top part of the carb, and the bowl on the right side was filled was gas and some salt. I tried to get the gas to go through the 2 holes (what the red arrows are pointing to), but they won't let the gas through.
Do I need to take the entire carb apart, clean and rebuild? Or is there a way to unclog those holes?

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

double post.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

It's new carb time, that one is junk. I've never been able to get them clean when they looked like that.
Also you need to clean the inside of the tank, and check the filter inside the fuel pump. You also need to install an aftermarket waterserpating fuel filter between the fuel tank and the engines fuel pump to prevent water from getting to the carb. Otherwise you will get a repeat of what you have not.

 

[DiabloOwnr]

Re: 3.0 lx won't stay running

It's new carb time

Anyone got one lying around?