Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

[pillazilla]

Hello All,

Quick question I have a 1956 Big twin electric 30Hp and it has been running rough, Spark doesn't seem to be an issue but it is still running rough and having trouble starting. I purchased a sierra Carb kit, ( no float ) to see if I can get this thing running a little smoother. Today i pulled out the carb needles and one is blunt, not sharp.

So my question is has the needle been over-tightened at some point or is it made like that?

Any special things I need to know about this Carb while it is getting a once over? YES YES I know I should get a new float but ill see what kind of condition this one is in when I get it apart. Haven't got that far yet.
Thanks!

 

[pillazilla]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

Oh also, my carb needles want to spin out of tune when the RPMs come up from vibration? other causes? Will new kit with packing material solve this?

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

The bottom (high speed) needle isn't really "needle" like but it shouldn't be rounded. It has a very short taper when compaired to the upper (low speed) needle. If your needles are spinning out of tune from vibration the packing nut needs to be tighter. A carb rebuild with new packing washers will solve it but only if you tighten them down correctly. Read this series of articles on a vintage big twin. It will help.
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04/s/columns/max/24/index.cfm

If the needles were at some point tightened too much, the damage would be a scored and uneven taper. The point wouldn't be as affected as the area along the taper between the point and the end of the taper. Of course the point can be damaged by dropping it or otherwise bending it, but they don't normally become "rounded".
Pictures would help us to give you more accurate diagnosis.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

The high speed needle on that motor is pretty blunt, Im assuming that is the one you are referring to. It is normal.

The low speed needle threads into a needle valve bushing that sometimes free spins in its orifice. You need to use the packing nut to tighten the bushing enough to keep it from free spinning when adjusting the needle, otherwise you will not know if you are seated or not.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

+1. The Hi speed needle, which is the lower on on the carb (go figure) is supposed to be blunt and only slightly rounded, while the upper Low speed needle has a sharp point to it to allow for very fine adjustments in the fuel/air mix. The duckworks article is great and these links may help you.

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...hnson 5.5 HP 1954-1964 Carburetor Tune-UP.htm (this is for a different motor than yours, but the basic steps are the same and it has lots of great pics)

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167352

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...evinrude-johnson/ITEM_2750/ITEM_275000001.htm (parts list with exploded diagrams)

 

[pillazilla]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

+1. The Hi speed needle, which is the lower on on the carb (go figure) is supposed to be blunt and only slightly rounded, while the upper Low speed needle has a sharp point to it to allow for very fine adjustments in the fuel/air mix. The duckworks article is great and these links may help you.

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...hnson 5.5 HP 1954-1964 Carburetor Tune-UP.htm (this is for a different motor than yours, but the basic steps are the same and it has lots of great pics)

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167352

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...evinrude-johnson/ITEM_2750/ITEM_275000001.htm (parts list with exploded diagrams)

Awesome guys, thanks, what a hassle to remove this carb. could only get a wrench on on it after i took the flywheel off. which after some kind words with it finally came off! I have installed the kit, to my best knowledge, it looked like it was in decent shape but now its got carb cleaner and air thought it, the packing material was very deteriorated and im thinking some of it had made its way into some of the jets. Nothing else came to me as an obvious issue. the float although cork looked to be in fine shape and needle is now seated properly. but wow the tiny wire holding the needle in place is so fragile. Wouldnt take much to throw it off. Anyone else notice that? packing material was the biggest thing that needed replacing. will fire it up tonight after i torque down the flywheel? anyone know the specs on torqing it down?
your help has been great thanks. my high speed needle is sharp. but has a blunt end kind of like a pencil that just wrote a half assed one page essay. Thanks guys!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

My manual says they flywheel torque for a '56 30 hp is 60-65 foot/lbs., but someone else will correct me if I'm wrong. Make sure every single passage in the carb is squeaky clean and follow the steps for reinstalling the packing carefully. You're right the the little wire that fold the float needle is very delicate, so be mindful. If/when it's not working properly it can sometimes cause the float needle to stick, which usually causes the motor to flood and gas to come out of the front of the carb, but you'll be fine if you take your time with it. good luck. Holler if you get stuck.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

60 ft/lbs is correct. I dont see why you would need to pull the flywheel though? You do need to pull the starter, but thats about it. Once the starter and silencer are off you can easily get to the carb nuts.

The circlip doesnt really hold the needle in place, it just pulls on it to keep it from sticking when the float drops, also the reason they went to the rubber tips on the needles.

The packing always gets changed when I do a carb.

 

[F_R]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

I always pull the flywheel to get at the starter bolt. Besides, you probably need to get in there anyway. Which brings up this question---how did the coils look? Are they dried out looking and cracked? If so, it will never run right till you replace them.

 

[pillazilla]

Re: Carb Needle Question - 1956 30hp Evinrude Electric Start

coils have been recently replaced. a pale green color, everything looks clean