Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

[tnltracy]

I'm at a loss as to how this could have happened, but maybe some of the more experienced folks here can help me.

I have a 58 Johnson 35 Super Sea Horse. Some of you helped me bring it back to life a couple months ago and it's been running nicely. Today, about 10 minutes in, under WOT, it just died. No noises, no funky acting up, just like it ran out of gas.

I had a full tank, and when I opened the cover to check it out found gas dripping from the carb. For kicks, I tried pumping the ball on the fule line and it poured right out of the carb. Seems to me it's a stuck float.

My question is how the float could go bad/ get stuck after only about 10 hours run time since I rebuilt the carb? It is a cork float, but still.

Some fine gentlemen came and towed me in and asked if I"m putting additive in the gas because the ethanol eats up everything.

Thoughts/ suggestions?

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

Well it surely sounds like either one of two things are afoot:

1. The float is sinking
or
2. The needle and seat are not sealing.

 

[tnltracy]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

I highly doubt the needle is the problem since it's also brand new

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

did you replace the float, when getting it running. if not laingsoutboards.com has them.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

I highly doubt the needle is the problem since it's also brand new

How about a piece of debris keeping the needle from sealing closed?

 

[tnltracy]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

did you replace the float, when getting it running. if not laingsoutboards.com has them.

Sure did, although the kit I bought had a cork float in it, so was probably a bit old. I'll pull it this week and see if either the float sunk for some reason, or something got stuck in the needle.

Any thoughts on the comment I got from the guy that towed me in about ethanol in the gas eating up stuff in the carb?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

there was a problem with it messing with carbs, of older stuff. we recommend new hoses, and you may have to clean the carbs, several times. as the ethanol, breaks crud loose that has been in the system for ever. and inline fuel filter may help.

 

[tnltracy]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

So when you say clean the carbs, are you suggesting a rebuild multiple times, or just cleaning out the main intakes/ jets, etc?

 

[tnltracy]

Re: Float stuck after ~10 hours run time?

Well, I got the carb off and opened up and everything looks fine. With a little playing around I think I determined that the float was actually rubbing on the bowl side, so with a bit of manipulation of the arm mount to the float, it appears I was able to set it up so it doesn't. Seems to move freely when re-assembled now.

Found out I have a leaking fuel pump in the process however . So tracking down a rebuild kit for the pump now, and hopefully will be back up and running in a week or so.