Flooding Problem

[Sunken Ship]

I have a 1975 40554C (40HP Evinrude). I was cruising along (about 80%) and the motor suddenly died. I noticed that I forgot to open the vent valve on the fuel tank cap and the fuel tank was caving in on itself. I opened the vent up and now fuel is pouring out of the carburetor air inlet orifice. I have to drain the bowl then crimp the fuel line or it will keep overflowing repeatedly from the air inlet orifice. It appears the float is stuck down. I have rebuilt the carb a few time over the past ten years, but am really wondering what I am missing on this subject (carb. rebuild). The last kit used was OMC as I still have the original package to it. I see Sierra makes a kit-maybe I should try that brand?

It did this once last year at the very beginning of the season and somehow straightened itself out...until now.

Thanks for any help or suggestions when you guys get in from the lake, ocean or sea.

Happy boating everyone!

 

[mutiny]

I have a 1975 40554C (40HP Evinrude). I was cruising along (about 80%) and the motor suddenly died. I noticed that I forgot to open the vent valve on the fuel tank cap and the fuel tank was caving in on itself. I opened the vent up and now fuel is pouring out of the carburetor air inlet orifice. I have to drain the bowl then crimp the fuel line or it will keep overflowing repeatedly from the air inlet orifice. It appears the float is stuck down. I have rebuilt the carb a few time over the past ten years, but am really wondering what I am missing on this subject (carb. rebuild). The last kit used was OMC as I still have the original package to it. I see Sierra makes a kit-maybe I should try that brand?

It did this once last year at the very beginning of the season and somehow straightened itself out...until now.

Thanks for any help or suggestions when you guys get in from the lake, ocean or sea.

Happy boating everyone!

What measurement did you use for your float resting height? Did you adjust both open and closed measurements? If available, I always prefer to use the OEM parts. I have used Sierra parts in the past but they just don't seem to last as long as the manufacturer parts do (depending on the items). But of course, this is subject to opinion and also user preference.

I have used the Sierra carb kit 18-7222 for this engine which gives a neoprene tippet and a spring loaded mechanism that attaches the the needle to the float arm. This seems to help when the needle sticks shut by forcing it open with the float however the opposite of your problem.

How do you winterize your fuel system? Do you drain the carb bowls or do you add an additive to the fuel a tank before it is winterized?

Happy Boating.

 

[boobie]

Sounds like the needle and seat in the carb is stuck or else there is a piece of dirt in it. Check the fuel lines going to the carb for breaking down inside.

 

[kbait]

I always replace the fuel line from pump to carb when cleaning carbs, if it appears original. There's a screen at the pump to catch any debris from supply side..

 

[Sunken Ship]

I had no idea you could adjust the float, but I will look into that. The current carb rebuild I did had been working for several hours, but certainly not as many as one would expect. I should confess I have not focused on filtering the fuel like I will this time.

I will get another carb kit and try to put another inline filter on just before the fuel pump, which is after 95% of the fuel line. The filter I have now is spliced in just after the fuel tank fitting that is clear. This filter does have a few chunks inside that I can see. Not sure if the Atwood tank has a filter on the pickup line inside or not.

I did replace all of the fuel lines three to four years ago. The rubber on the fuel lines are not hard (nice and soft), but I must be doing something wrong with this carb rebuild.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[daselbee]

You might have the float in upside down.

 

[Sunken Ship]

Does anyone know how to adjust the float?

I can't imagine it would work for so many hours with the float upside down then stop working. Thanks for the suggestion though, I will pay attention to this when the kit arrives and I put the kit in.

 

[WernerF]

No Title

In some carbs the float can get stuck if the float drops too low. This is from a 60hp manual, but I guess your float also has a tab to be bent that the float drops low enough in order to let fuel in but not too low that the float doesn't get stuck in the bowl.

 

[Sunken Ship]

In some carbs the float can get stuck if the float drops too low. This is from a 60hp manual, but I guess your float also has a tab to be bent that the float drops low enough in order to let fuel in but not too low that the float doesn't get stuck in the bowl.

Werner, Thanks for the reply. I think my float went too low when I forgot to open the vent valve on my fuel cell cap. After the motor died I found the fuel tank was collapsing in pretty badly. I will certainly pay attention in the future.