Help w/flooding carb issue

[royal0014]

RK-28B, 1966 Johnson 40hp Electramatic

Ye Ol Johnny left me stranded this morning. Hope someone here can help shed some light

Last year I had the same thing happen twice. Carb would flood out, spit gas out of the hole beside the low-speed needle, and around the butterfly. 1st time I just pulled the plug on the bowl and drained the gas out, and she ran fine after. 2nd time I tried the drain trick three times and it would flood again quick. Both times were cold starts, still on the trailer.

So, this spring I rebuild another carb that I bought off flea-bay. Same exact carb, though it was supposed to be off a '68 40hp. Full rebuild kit, gaskets, float, needle/seat, etc. I reused the l/s needle cause it was fine. Because of my job, the boat has sat all summer (today was only the 3rd time out). The other 2 times out it ran good. An occasional sneeze, but minor....

And today, she cranks up and idles no problem. Start out and run about 3/4 of a mile at less than half throttle to where I want to fish. She hiccuped a little a couple times, but kept going. I shut her down and fish about 2 hours. When I decided to move across the river, she fires right up. I'm only going about 1/2 mile, so I ease along, and she starts cutting out. Just a quick bog down, like it's running out of gas. I check the bulb, it is firm. Does this 3 or 4 times, each time picking back up, but running a little worse. I try varying the throttle more or less (still under 1/2), doesn't seem to help. Finally she dies all together. As I 'm trying to restart I open the hatch and see the gas coming out of the hole. Flooded on the run

I try the drain-gas routine 3 times. Each time it would crank and run for about 3 seconds and flood out. I give up, and use the trolling motor to go the mile back to the ramp.

So, any ideas? Two carbs, same problem. New fuel line when I put on the rebuilt second carb. I'm thinking trash on the needle, or sticking float. Maybe if I had tapped on the bowl the float would have unstuck itself?

Thanks for the ear guys. Sorry for the long post, but trust me, it'll take you an hour less to read it than it did for me to write it :facepalm:


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[oldcatamount]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue

When you installed the new float, did you turn the carb upside down to see if the float was parrallel with the carb body? The float also has a maximum drop (hold the carb right side up and measure the distance the float drops. Some kits come with a small "square" for measuring the drop). When you have the carb off, peek inside the intake manifold, look for debris or obstruction to a reed valve. If you have to move a reed (open or closed), be very gentle with it.

 

[royal0014]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue

Pulled the carb off. Interestingly, when I pulled the fuel line off the carb fitting, I got green gas (normal) draining from the carb. But when I turned the hose down to drain it, the gas ran out red! This is new hose!? Got it from one of the auto parts stores, but still.....

Pulled the fuel pump off, and the gas in it was still green. The screen is new with the rebuild, and looked good.

I remembered that the fuel hose from the tank quick-connect to the fuel pump was replaced 3 years ago. Just the hose from the pump to the carb is new, but I'm pretty sure both pieces came from the same place.

And only the gas at the carb inlet was red, everywhere else it came out still green.

Catamount, the carb kit did not come with the square. I just leveled the float with the carb upside down, and made sure it was 'square' around the high-speed nozzle. Did look in on the reeds, a tiny spot or two of rust, but pretty shiny for 45 years old....


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[ONERCBOATER]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue

i got to ask did new float come with new carb kit? and is the float sinking? might be worth floating the float in some gas to make sure.... also what lets a carb flood is if the float fails to close the fuel flow off from the pump..... maybe that lil rubber tipped needle took a set? or some lil bit of something a hair??? got in there and is stopping the flow from being shut off. When i rebuild a carb before i put the bowl on I check that it will stop 3-5PSI air pressure when carb upside down.... and that it flows when right side up. I sure you do too or something close to this. I am betting on sinking float or crud where the needle is.

Sean

 

[royal0014]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue UPDATE

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue UPDATE

Ok, finally got a few minutes to tear down the carb, again :facepalm:... thing was slap full of gas, it had flooded badly...

Took care and paid real close attention to how the float was set up. While I had it parrellel with the carb body when closed (up), I may have had it opening too far, allowing the forward edge of the float to contact the wall of the bowl (?).

I also discovered that the edge/end of the stop arm would get hung on the washer of the needle-seat. The washer is slightly larger in diameter than the seat. This is probably my main problem. Any suggestions on a remedy??

Also, I have seen where other carb kits come with the paper square to measure the drop of the float. Someone even mentioned that in this thread..... However, this is the third kit I have aquired that did not come with the square, and nowhere in my research have I seen any particulars regarding setup and this carb. Any help/suggestions would be greatly apprieciated!!

Thanks to all


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[oldcatamount]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue UPDATE

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue UPDATE

The oversized washer sounds like that's the problem. That would keep the float valve from closing and result in a flooded carb bowl. Replace the washer with a smaller one or sand down that one so it doesn't stick out anymore. You probably don't need that little square to set the float. The most important part is having the float be parallel with the carb body when you hold the carb upside down. That insures the float valve is seating correctly and at the right time. The "drop" of the float is important but, it's not creating the flooding situation that you have now.

 

[atlapp]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue

The float drop should be around 3/4 of an inch on most of those older carbs....adjust with small tab on float bracket

 

[royal0014]

Re: Help w/flooding carb issue

Thanks for the responses guys. Hopefully I can finally put this issue to bed. Now if the weather will cool off some to go fishing. I hate the cold, but come on September!


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