Im on a low carburetor diet! help.

[bnt5]

Gonna try and rebuild carburetor in my 1988 Mercury 70 hp outboard model# OB207366. The reason I am going to attempt this is because the engine starts fine when the idle lever is in the up position and key choke is depressed, however it takes forever to warm up and once I lower the fast idle lever it barely wants to idle. So like a moron I took it out on the river for a morning hunt and when I tried to get her fired up again after sitting for a couple of hours, it would start just lovely with key choke and fast idle lever but as soon as I lowered the idle lever it would either die immediately or when I put her in gear. After toying with idea of a 2 mile paddle I finally got it to run but it was rough, wot was ok though but idle was choppy....so back to my orginal thought...I guess I need to rebuild the 3 carbs? I have the clymer manual so should I just order the kits and some carb cleaner? Any tips from the pros cause I am a little nervous about this task, but I want to learn my engine so no boat shop! (or at least not until I screw it up:$)

thanks guys
BILL

 

[jebeebe]

Re: Im on a low carburetor diet! help.

Gonna try and rebuild carburetor in my 1988 Mercury 70 hp outboard model# OB207366. The reason I am going to attempt this is because the engine starts fine when the idle lever is in the up position and key choke is depressed, however it takes forever to warm up and once I lower the fast idle lever it barely wants to idle. So like a moron I took it out on the river for a morning hunt and when I tried to get her fired up again after sitting for a couple of hours, it would start just lovely with key choke and fast idle lever but as soon as I lowered the idle lever it would either die immediately or when I put her in gear. After toying with idea of a 2 mile paddle I finally got it to run but it was rough, wot was ok though but idle was choppy....so back to my orginal thought...I guess I need to rebuild the 3 carbs? I have the clymer manual so should I just order the kits and some carb cleaner? Any tips from the pros cause I am a little nervous about this task, but I want to learn my engine so no boat shop! (or at least not until I screw it up:$)

thanks guys
BILL

Hi,
I'll reply as I just got through with my 88 60hp. I too was reluctant but found it was easy. I went to Mercury express.com and got a parts blowup that was far better than clymers. It not only showed parts but discription and prices. Very helpful. I don't know how your carbs are coupled, but mine had virticle shafts coupled with a small plastic coupler and it was broke on one side allowing one carb to open slightly ahead of the other. yours may be horrisontal with linkage. I found only 2 jets and they had .072 and .096 stamped on them and the parts blowup showed where they went. Don't get them switched. I bought a gal of carb cleaner and soaked them over night and rinsed them with water and blew them dry with the air hose. Put them back together and it ran good. I would not hesitate to do it again.........Jerry

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Im on a low carburetor diet! help.

make sure u mark the carbs to where they went
as in top/middle/bottom

rebuilding is very easy
the key to them is make sure the float is on spec!
get your self a can a carb cleaner with the tube
just spray all the fuel and air passageways and u should be fine

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Im on a low carburetor diet! help.

Have alook at this:
http://www.meegsonline.com/tmd/TMDsVideoChronicle2.wmv]Rebuilding a carb[/url]

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Im on a low carburetor diet! help.

Its never a bad idea to rebuild carbs, but it sounds like the idle screws could use a good adjusting. More often than not those idle mix screws are out of adjustment and cause the problems you describe. Just make sure when you rebuild the carbs to get every little passage and nook and cranny, and a good link/sync when reinstalled.