carb question

[bke]

I have a 2001 mercury 125 elpto when I have motor tilted up when I am fishing it seem like the gas in carbs drain pretty quick. I can fish for about an half an hour when I go to start the boat will start and then I give it gas it will die and then I have to pump the primer ball to get it started. Is this normal?

 

[Coloradolakeboy]

Re: carb question

Yep, it's normal for the carbs to dump the fuel into the transom well you tilt the motor up.

 

[bke]

Re: carb question

That sure is a pain in the butt. That makes it hard to fish shallow water.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: carb question

...the only positive aspect of that is when the engine is flooded, a tilt-up always "un-flooded" it.....!!

Last year I finally installed a water separator and am very glad I did. It seems that with that installed, the motor is always pretty much primed as far a fuel goes, I rarely need to pump the bulb anymore. Do you have a water separator installed?

 

[j_martin]

Re: carb question

Batty,
The new hose clamps are probably what fixed the leak back problem, not the WS.

If the carbs leak gas into the cowl when the engine is fully tilted up, you'll smell it. Any minor air leak in the fuel lines will allow the gas to fairly quickly drop back into the tank. Those nylon zip type hose clamps eventually lose their goodie. If I'm servicing an engine, I try to twist the fuel hoses here and there and if some of them are loose, I systematically replace all the clamps.

They are NOT zip tie wire ties. They are specially shaped to be a hose clamp. Any marine mechanic should have them by the bag.

I wish they'd get rid of the "+ Reply to Thread" button when the quick reply box is opened. I get tired of typing things twice.

 

[bke]

Re: carb question

I didn't know they had special tie clamps. So I ordered some today. I put a new fuel filter on and a rebuilt the fuel pump and I just used plan jane zip ties. So when I get the new ones I will put them on.

 

[j_martin]

Re: carb question

I didn't know they had special tie clamps. So I ordered some today. I put a new fuel filter on and a rebuilt the fuel pump and I just used plan jane zip ties. So when I get the new ones I will put them on.

They have a special application tool, but I find that a medium sized needle nose plier and a twist of the wrist will get the last click and cinch the clamp properly.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: carb question

...I'm still old school about hose clamps....I still use the stainless screw-type, and double up most of the time.

 

[j_martin]

Re: carb question

...I'm still old school about hose clamps....I still use the stainless screw-type, and double up most of the time.

On small diameter hoses, they tend to pinch them and actually form a leak. For normal connections the zips work OK, as well as the snapper plastic clamps. For permanent high performance connections, I use fuel injection rated clamps.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: carb question

....so do the zips need to be cut off when removing the hose(s)...? Where do you get your fuel injection rated clamps?

 

[j_martin]

Re: carb question

....so do the zips need to be cut off when removing the hose(s)...? Where do you get your fuel injection rated clamps?

Can't re-use the zip tie clamps. Just cut them off with a small side cutter. Any auto parts store will have FI hose clamps. Take along a short piece of the hose you want to clamp. The clamping range of any 1 clamp is quite narrow. When you see one you'll see why, and also why they are superior.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: carb question

...sounds like it's worth a try....thanks!