flooded carb

[rocky388]

hey all,

took the boat out for the first time this passed Sunday and 30 minutes in my boat just stalled and would not start back up. I was towed back to the marina, took my boat home, put it on muffs a few hours later and it couldn't have started any easier. the lake I was at is unusually high, therefore the whole lake is " no wake". that being said, I was just creeping along for the whole 30 minutes until it stalled. I'm thinking it was a flooded carb considering I never had an opportunity to really open the throttle up.

here's some background info about me and the boat.. I've been a lurker on this site for awhile, and new to boating in general as of last year when I purchased an '88 chapparal 2100sx with the 5.7 Gm. learned a ton on this site.. did a full tune up ( cap, rotor, plugs, wires, oil, fuel filter, etc) last year when I first bought my boat and it ran great. also just finished re carpeting and re upholstering the entire boat. it was winterized by a reputable marina, and I summerized it myself and had it running on muffs on 3 different occasions with no issues prior to this passed Sunday's 30 minute trip.

so what's my next move to solve this problem? realistically the carb could probably use a rebuild.. but I'd rather put that off till the end of the season as to not miss out on some nice boating days if possible. is it just running a little too rich? Or am I expecting too much from a carbed motor and I should have throttled up periodically? Or does it sound like it wasn't a flooded carb and I'm in the wrong track??

any insight is appreciated, thanks!

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: flooded carb

if the carbs need done do them quick at least youll know ...Im thinking maybe ur idle mixture screws need to be adjusted sometime especially when they are older they will vibrate in or out from vibrations wont hurt to play with them and see how it acts ???Also make sure your gas tank vent screw is open / and or clear of any obstructions ..

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: flooded carb

When is the last time you checked fuel pump for faulty diaphram? (sight-flow tube).

 

[jonny rotten]

Re: flooded carb

Will be following,having the same problem.Starts easily almost always.Then sometimes doesn't start at all,then starts easily again.Do fuel pumps "kinda" work or are they all or nothing?

 

[rocky388]

Re: flooded carb

if the carbs need done do them quick at least youll know ...Im thinking maybe ur idle mixture screws need to be adjusted sometime especially when they are older they will vibrate in or out from vibrations wont hurt to play with them and see how it acts ???Also make sure your gas tank vent screw is open / and or clear of any obstructions ..

I'm just assuming based off age alone that the carb should probably be redone..I have no idea if it was ever done or how recently. the boat ran great last year. aside from a low speed stalling issue that was solved with the engine tune up. ( when I first got the boat it would stall at very low speeds, but I was able to restart it. I did an engine tune up and I believe that to have solved the problem as it ran great for the rest of the season)

When is the last time you checked fuel pump for faulty diaphram? (sight-flow tube).

never have. I'll read up on how and make that my next check.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: flooded carb

Just me...i think you loaded it up by crusing at idle all-day. It could be a little on the rich side...which is better than lean.
By not blowing it out it fouled the plugs.

Check your plug condition...that will tell ya something about the carb.

On the fuel pump...i have a Mechanical on mine and it was acting funny sometimes....hard to start after running and so on, but would start eventuly...one day it would not start, looked at the clear line and it was full of gas.
Had to replace the fuel pump. Now it starts every time. So do they go out at once?......mine just petered out over time!

 

[rocky388]

Re: flooded carb

Just me...i think you loaded it up by crusing at idle all-day. It could be a little on the rich side...which is better than lean.
By not blowing it out it fouled the plugs.

Check your plug condition...that will tell ya something about the carb.

On the fuel pump...i have a Mechanical on mine and it was acting funny sometimes....hard to start after running and so on, but would start eventuly...one day it would not start, looked at the clear line and it was full of gas.
Had to replace the fuel pump. Now it starts every time. So do they go out at once?......mine just petered out over time!

so I'll check the plugs and possibly change them if they're fouled..I did have it running for a bit on muffs layer that day and it sounded great. for future is there anything I should adjust provided everything checks out? Or just chalk it up to it got loaded up from cruising at idle so next time give it some throttle on occasion?

 

[OldNBold51]

Re: flooded carb

If your carb is flooding, there should be several noticeable tells.... black plugs 2) raw fuel smelling exhaust

 

[Bondo]

Re: flooded carb

so I'll check the plugs and possibly change them if they're fouled..I did have it running for a bit on muffs layer that day and it sounded great. for future is there anything I should adjust provided everything checks out? Or just chalk it up to it got loaded up from cruising at idle so next time give it some throttle on occasion?

Ayuh,... If it's a Carb problem,.... Fix the problem,... yer spark plug colors will tell ya what's goin' on,...

Yer motor should be able to Idle, pretty much Forever, without issue,....

 

[rocky388]

Re: flooded carb

I'll check the plugs tomorrow and report back. I have a feeling I'm going to see black plugs..I did notice a gas smell just before stalling. assuming the plugs are black at this point.. check the fuel pump by visually inspecting the sight flow tube (that goes to the carb?) And visually check that the needles are clean are the next steps?