Is my gas running too rich?

[jozer5307]

I took my boat out to the lake today for the first time this
summer after getting a major tuneup of new stator, new fuel lines and bulb, cleaned carbs, new gas tank and
other small stuff. When I first launched the boat it started up great, got to a good fishing spot stop it and fished an hour and it started up great again. But after going to another fishing spot and fishing a while it had a real hard time starting up, and when it did finally startup after 15 minutes of trying it smoked alot for a couple of minutes and ran fine. Started going acroos the lake and it died, had to repeat starting after 15 minutes smoked a lot then ran fine. Do you think that maybe I am running my fuel too rich and this is giving me a problem? I put 16oz of oil for 5.5 gallons of gas. Should I cut the ratio 50:1 in half and see what happens? Maybe 100:1?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is my gas running too rich?

Do not change the fuel ratio.
Use 50:1 or destroy your engine.

I would bet that the fuel pump diaphram is leaking fuel into the block, flooding it, when the engine is shut off to fish.

Rebuild the fuel pump.
$12 for parts, 1/2 hour of your time.

 

[jozer5307]

Re: Is my gas running too rich?

I defintely think that the engine is being flooded, because it is having so much trouble starting up and it smokes a lot after start up for a couple of minutes. I don't want to kill my starter because I'm trying for 20 seconds at a time to get it to start up. I'm also having to put it in nuetral and rev it all the way up because it bogs down so much at start up that is the only way to get it going. I just didn't understand why it bogged down and cut off at low speeds as well, uless that is also the fuel pump?

 

[Docdoc]

Re: Is my gas running too rich?

Check your fuel filter(s). You should have one inline and also a screen at the fuel pump. You may have enough of a restriction there. If it "floods" on you again, take the cowling off when you are trying to crank it. If you are getting a lot of gas coming out of the carb, then your float may need to be adjusted. Just because you had the carbs cleaned, doesn't mean the float is properly adjusted.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is my gas running too rich?

Fuel pump is attached to the side of the engine.
If the diaphram has pin holes in it, the fuel will leak from the pump into the block, then flood out one or more cylinders.

Becoming very common problem as these motors reach 12-20 years of age.

 

[Bry21317]

Re: Is my gas running too rich?

Can I ask how you adjust the Floats on the Force Engines? I have never done this on my engine, I have an 88 Force 125hp engine.

Not trying to Hijack the thread, just asking since someone post this above.

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Docdoc]

Re: Is my gas running too rich?

Your engine should have tillotson carbs. You'll have to remove the carb and take off the bottom bowl. It is best if you have a service manual (clymer or seloc) because it gives step by step instructions and diagrams. On most applications, you need to turn the carb upside down and check to see if the float is level with the edge of the carb body where the bowl fits. If it is not, you will need to adjust by GENTLY bending the tab where the needle valve sits until the float is level with the edge of the body. This needs to be pretty exact, and you might want to measure with a small ruler to be sure it is perfectly level.

If you have more than one carb, adjust them all. Be sure you re-install and adjust all linkages back to original settings.