Flooded quadra jet carb?

[larry1167]

Hello Everyone - I have a Rochester 4 barrel quadra jet on a Chevy 350. Went to elevation (5,500') a few weeks ago and adjusted the fuel air mixture via the screws and increased the idle to get it to run a little better up there. This was the first time I had ever done this.

I brought the boat back to sea level and started it up today. First I adjusted the idle back down to spec becuase it was running high. As soon as I decreased the idle it started running rough. I adjusted the fuel mixture screws in and then out but nothing seemed to work and it was stumbling pretty bad and then just died. Took about 30 seconds to die after I adjusted the idle.

Now it won't even start. I can't tell if it's flooded, or I leaned out the screws too much. It won't turn over and I have primed it quite a bit. How do you tell if you've flooded an engine or leaned it out too much? How long should I wait to try to restart it if it is flooded?

 

[Maclin]

Re: Flooded quadra jet carb?

Open the throttle all the way and crank for 10 seconds or so, be ready to throttle back if it catches. That is how to start a flooded engine, so if it starts that way then it was probably flooded. You can also remove the spark plugs one at a time and look at them to see if they are wet fouled. Let 'em air out then reinstall and try again.

If it is too lean then pumping the throttle will help, also choking it.

 

[larry1167]

Re: Flooded quadra jet carb?

Thanks Maclin. Figured out my problem. Rookie mistake. I ran one of my tanks dry when I was working on the mixture screws.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Flooded quadra jet carb?

Well, that would be lean then... glad it was that simple.