Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

[codybullard]

I really need to rebuild my carb and cant afford the over priced mechanics in my area. I know that I can do it, but I am not confident about getting the needles set back like they go. Is it possible to rebuild the carb without messing up the needle adjustment? And if so how? By the way I have a 1977 evinrude 115. Thanks for your time!

 

[Daviet]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

According to the parts breakdown I looked at your carbs have fixed jets, no adjustments neccessary. Remove the carbs, dismantle and clean the carbs, making sure to remove the jets and clean them and the passages. Install new gaskets, needle and seats, adjust the float levels and you are good to go.

 

[Craig-]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

What $ amount would you consider to be not over-priced to do a carb rebuild?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

you have to use the correct tool on the jets, if not the overprice cleaning/rebuild will look cheap. read this:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=244013

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Well everywhere around here has quoted me 350-400$ and I think that is too much. I paid $900 for the boat and its run great just needs some minor stuff. I am above average at working on most things except carbs. I have been racing nitro rc cars for several years and I am still not great at getting the needles right. What is this special tool, where can I get it and how much? Thank You!

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Also I read that to determine if you need to rebuild the carb you pump primer bulb and look in carb barrels to see if any fuel spits out and if not your good to go. Or maybe that was referring to a specific problem, I don't know I just want to get this thing running like it was a couple of weeks ago but also dont want to spend lots of money throwing parts at it until I know for a fact I have figured out what is wrong with it. I dont think it is anything major but this is first time I have ever seen what is under the lid of an outboard.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Spend your money on a factory manual instead.\Order carb kits and do it.
$100 per carb is typical, its a very simple job, no tuning required.

Watch videos on Youtube, my mom could do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5cxBMDezuU&p=927682907A9BA566&playnext=1&index=2

 

[Craig-]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Also I read that to determine if you need to rebuild the carb you pump primer bulb and look in carb barrels to see if any fuel spits out and if not your good to go. Or maybe that was referring to a specific problem, I don't know I just want to get this thing running like it was a couple of weeks ago but also dont want to spend lots of money throwing parts at it until I know for a fact I have figured out what is wrong with it. I dont think it is anything major but this is first time I have ever seen what is under the lid of an outboard.

That doesn't tell you if your main-jets are clear. They can be removed by opening the drain plug and unscrewing the jet, requires a screwdriver that fits or the special tool(which I have never used).

If it was running good a couple weeks ago, what has changed? Many problems can be from a clogged filter screen at inlet. Fuel breaking down hoses or varnishing in bowls.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

No need to guess. It's quick & easy to rule out a compression or spark issue, then you can focus on the fuel delivery system.

Make sure the fuel line holds pressure, the tank vent is open & clear, & there's no water or debris in the tank.

If all the above checks out, a carb rebuild is indicated.

These carbs are remarkably simple devices -- as mentioned above, they have fixed jets, no adjustment is necessary.

What kind of symptoms are you having, anyway?

[btw, I guess if you had to make your living rebuilding carbs, you'd probably charge around $100-$150 apiece -- hey mechanics have boat payments, too. ]

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Well it ran good (40 MPH @ WOT) the first 5 or 6 times I took it out and one day I was on my way back to the ramp and it started missing and would barely run. I pulled plugs and discovered plug in cylinder 3 was mashed down. No gap at all. I gapped it and it kept happening. I checked the play in bearing and wrist pin by using a dial indicator and its good. The plugs were not the right ones for the 115, so I got new ones with newer washers that hadn't been torqued on so hard, and they still aren't the right ones. The problem hasn't happened again, well actually it has run real good but it is not getting all its power. It will only run WOT @ 3k and will only reach speeds of about 25. It takes forever to plane out. I have been told that it could be anything from piston rings, power packs, carb, timing, bad gas, reed valves, and the list goes on and on. I didn't mean anything by saying that the mechanics were over priced, I want to learn this for myself and I don't have one around here that I trust. Thanks for all ya'lls input.

 

[jimdd810]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

You have piston issues. Do a compression test it will tell you lots. A dial indicator is not going to tell you if under fire that piston isnt jumping up and smashing into the spark plug. Ive never seen a plug damaged that didnt have internal damage. Get your self a good oem manual and quit running that motor untill you find out whats wrong with it.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

yup, that spark plug isn't mashing itself down -- the piston is regapping the plug for you.

don't worry about the carbs till you've assessed the damage and determined whether its repairable.

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

You dont think it could be that Spark plugs were too long, btw the first time I pulled the plugs I had to use a cheater pipe to get them off, the last owner really torqued them down, if its that bad I will run here till she blows, pull the bilge plug and let her sink. I mean I only paid 900 for it and have gotten my moneys worth in fun and fishing.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

I guess we can't rule it out without a little investigating. It takes a plug with a 1/2" reach, I don't know how much clearance it has.

Should be champion QL77JC4. Or L77JC4. Or surface gap UL77V

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

I agree, buy a manual and learn for yourself. There isn't a better tool for learning and understanding the motor and ALL it's components. Start with the section about determining your motors ability. It talks about compression testing before any and all repairs.

As for "no tuning required" after the carb rebuild, I disagree. The failure to link and sync after a carb rebuild is to do a half a** job. That's simply bad advice. My bet is that is not what Jonesg was wanting to impart either. I think he means doing the job is easy including tuning the carbs (that may not need tuning if you pay attention to the settings when taken apart).

Once you learn carburation, learn how it syncs up with ignition timing. Chances are it wasn't set right to begin with. My bet is the floats weren't set correctly either.

If you are going to learn how to do outboard motor repair, learn to do it right the first time. The second time is so much more expensive never mind frustrating.

Spend your money on a factory manual instead.\Order carb kits and do it.
$100 per carb is typical, its a very simple job, no tuning required.

Watch videos on Youtube, my mom could do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5cxBMDezuU&p=927682907A9BA566&playnext=1&index=2

 

[jtexas]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

...
As for "no tuning required" after the carb rebuild, I disagree. The failure to link and sync after a carb rebuild is to do a half a** job. I think he means doing the job is easy including tuning the carbs (that may not need tuning if you pay attention to the settings when taken apart). ...

I interpreted jonesg as refering to the fixed jet carbs, which themselves require no adjustment at all, as distinguished from the link & sync.

I guess, the answer to the title question ("Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?") is, "YES YOU CAN!!"

Many times, in my experience, if all I've done is take 'em off for rebuild, I end up not changing anything during the link & sync; doesn't mean I don't go through the process though -- you sure don't want to wait till you get on the water to learn you shoulda did it this time.

backyardmech is right, knowing how it works, makes it easier. I disagree with one thing you said though -- "The second time is so much more expensive never mind frustrating" -- seems like whenever I attempt a repair I haven't tried before, I always end up re-doing it, and the second time seems to go quite a bit easier (assuming I didn't break anything major on the first go).

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Well I just want to say thanks again for all of everyones advise here... I should be paying you guys for such knowledgeable information. I have been so tied up at work that I havent gotten a chance this week to do a compression test, and I also need to get me the factory book it sounds like. I bought the SELOC manual thinking that it would have specific info on all motors it covers. I guess I should have asked ya'll about the manual first. I am looking forward to getting all the things I need to commence to getting this thing running like a top... and I think I can get it done as long as ya'll keep answering my questions.

Thanks,
Cody

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Got a compression test gauge and well... **** on the carb for now I have no compression at all on #3. I am going to take the head off this afternoon and take a gander, then I guess start ordering rings and gaskets. When I tear this thing apart to start replacing rings and gaskets what else should I do as far as preventative maintenance? This will be my first time on an out board so also explain to me any do's and don'ts or anything else I should know.

 

[codybullard]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

Since I discovered my carbs are the least of my problems now I will be putting future posts on my forum titled "Problems with 1977 Evinrude 115" thanks for all the help.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Can I rebuild my carb without needle adjustment?

REmove the plug and flood the low cyl with seafoam, let it soak an hour then crank the engine to eject it.
See if the compression changes, could be a stuck ring.
It could also be a blown head gasket.
Think cheap/positive first.