89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

i_build

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Apr 24, 2005
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Was running lean at 3k rpms and bad idle after sitting for 7 months. Swapped out the water seperator same issue. Sprayed down the carb with cleaner same issue. Took the top off the carb and the float boals were loaded with crap at the bottom. Cleaned them out and sprayed through the jets, used 2 cans of spray cleaner and cleaned primaries, secondaries, mixture passages, needle and seat... super clean.

She is still idling bad (not as bad... but bad). At an idle when I look down the primaries I can see gas dripping from the left jet (drivers side) but not the right. Does this indicate the float levels are off? I cleaned out the needles and seats and both seem to be functioning properly. At an idle should I be able to see any large gas droplets comming out of either jet?

When she was idling smooth before non-use I never saw large gas droplets just mist.

Any advise appreciated.
 

i_build

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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Google is my freind

Checking the Nozzles
Shine a flashlight into the front primaries; you'll see a set of nozzles. Look for fuel dripping from these nozzles. If fuel is dripping from the nozzles, the float is stuck and the carburetor is flooding out the engine. That means that the float--like in a toilet bowl--is stuck and the fuel will not shut off when the bowl is full and it overflows.
 

Gary H NC

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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Sounds like rebuild time...new gaskets and new needle and seats..;)
 

Bondo

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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Sounds like rebuild time...new gaskets and new needle and seats..;)

Ayuh,... I agree,... Eldelbrock has a shop manual for that carb on their website that is In Depth,...
Literally the Bible for that carb...
 

i_build

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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Floats were WAY off 1/4 inch difference between the 2 which I attribute to all of the crap that made it to the bowls. Spec calls for 7/16" distance between the float and the top gasket on the carb when the top is removed and flipped over. Need to re-assemble tomorow when I have some daylight. ill post back with results.
 

zbnutcase

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Sep 19, 2009
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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

If float level adjust doesn't cure idle prob, will need to pull primary booster venturis and clean the idle feed tubes. But since you have to buy complete gasket set to get those gaskets, might as well pull it and rebuild it. 'nutcase
 

cr2k

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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

varnish will build up on the seat and both change the apparent adjustment and not allow for complete seating of the needle
 

ErieRon

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May 5, 2009
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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Do yourself a favor...pull the carb and do a complete and thorough rebuild. If there was crap in the bowl, it's likely everywhere. A carb kit, an overnight soak in a quality carb cleaner, compressed air to blow it out and a six pack is all you need. You'll be glad you did. JMO :cool:
 

ENSIGN

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Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Post #8 is the only way you will ever get it right!!!
 

180shabah

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Mar 26, 2005
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4,995
Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Ditto - a proper rebuild is your best solution.
 

i_build

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Apr 24, 2005
Messages
143
Re: 89 OMC 350 4 barrel Edlebrock Carb issues

Nope no rebuild necessary, she wasnt that bad.

Took the cover off the carb by removing all of the top screws and disconnecting the 3 linkage arms by pulling the lock pins off using needle nose. Unscrewed the jets and sparyed through the passages well from the top of the carb as well as inside the bowls. Cleaned out the needle and seats well and adlusted the floats 7/16" from the gasket with the cover flipped upside down (they were off spec and different from left to right). Also pulled the mixture screws and sprayed cleaner down the passages and cleaned the screws. Put her back together and still had some minor flooding.

Pulled the cover back off and adjusted the float drop level (should have done this the 1st time) to 15/16" with the cover flipped as it sits on the carb so that the floats hung down.

I also had an extra holley fpr and fpg and used it to set the pressure at 5 psi along with installing a clear inline filter before the fpr (also have the standard water seperator/filter).

She purrrs and starts like never before. No more ethanol gas going into my tank and consistent stabil use from now on. I have a station 3 miles away that sells without ethanol.

The edelbrock carb manual on their site was critical for the specs and adjustment procedures.

By the way its an edelbrock 1409 marine 4bl 600 cfm carb.
 
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