Carburetor cleaning

[Craig-]

Before resorting to a total carb rebuild try this first.
BEWARE: Fire danger, sparks and gasoline don't mix.

Disconnect fuel line at motor, check/clean/replace filter. Pull the bowl plugs, strait in is the main jet, unscrew it, clean it. Spray carb cleaner with straw in empty bowl to flush it out, let drain and repeat, this time put bowl plug back in and try to keep cleaner in bowl. Let it soak. Repeat if goop comes out. Connect fuel line, pump bulb with bowl plugs out, flush with fuel. Install main jets, bowl plug and pump the bulb until hard, air will purge from bowl vent. Don't start a fire. Start motor on hose, let it warm up. With motor running and covers off spray carb cleaner with no straw around carb bases and intake manifold, not in carb. If any gets sucked in rpms will change and indicates air leak, if so rebuild with new kit. Close it up and try it again on the water, if it improves do a Sea Foam job, follow directions on can, expect lots of smoke. No improvement, rebuild carbs with new kit.

If that's not the cure see my post on Homemade spark tester video.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=423333

 

[jtexas]

Re: Carburetor cleaning

I don't see this as an alternative to a carb rebuild at all. More a short-cut, "get me back on the water today" sort of thing, to be followed by carb rebuild afterward. I wouldn't do it except in case of extreme need (vacation, bass tourney, etc.). If those hi-speed jets are clogged, there's other passages in there that need cleaning, too. Just my opinion.

Highly recommend not using a regular screwdrive on the jets, it's just too easy to mar the brass surface and that will change the fuel/air mixture. find instructions on fabricating the jet removal tool by following the "carb rebuild" link from the "top secret" thread in this forum.

Also note that the seafoam treatment is good for the motor, but it's got nothing to do with carburetors -- it's cleaning the carbon from your cylinders, pistons, transfer ports, exhaust tube, etc.

And do yourself a favor and do the spark test first -- quicker & easier. Compression test, too.

 

[Craig-]

Re: Carburetor cleaning

Not a substitute for a needed rebuild, but often it can be mainly a "gooped up" filter or bowl and with the main jet being at the bowls lowest point, it can be fouled and the rest of the passages reasonably clear. Once fuel gets circulating again, other buildup might take care of itself. Sometime a fuel additive helps the process be it Sea Foam or a fuel system cleaner. You may have to repeat the process as things dissolve. Just be aware that many solvents in fuel system cleaners may not get along with some rubber parts. I have used them with success at the recommended marine ratio usually 1oz. per gallon.