Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

[glastron88]

Greetings, my boat is a 1988 Mercruiser 3.0L (130 HP). My problem is that she'll initially start and run fine... after i shut her off i have a real hard time starting her if she sits more than 20 seconds. i puilled the flame arrestor off and looked down the throat of the carb and it seems like when i turn her off the carb jets continue to drip fuel (to the point of a puddle in the barrels). is this the cause? should it continue to drip? If it shouldnt drip - what is the possible cause? and how would i correct it? (or at least start my investigation)
thanks guys!
(PS - novice mechanic but willing to try and learn most anything)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

Ayuh,..........
That's No Doubt a major contributing factor in your Problem.......

Rebuilding the Carb. by installing a Carb. Kit should Cure the issue..........

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

i had it rebuilt with a kit about a year ago... (someone else did the work). it's a 1988 carb... is it worth just going for a complete replacement of the carb? and if it is (as i expect your answer might be) how involved is the installation? is it as simple as removing the four mounting bolts, replacing a gasket, and then remounting the new carb?

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

Glas, Have a look here:
http://www.recarbco.com/technical/newtrouble.html
Hope it helps8)

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

thanks BlknBlu.... i'm leaning towards replacing the entire carb... (if it's as easy as popping off the old and replacing the new) Looks like total cost would be around $275 or so for a remanufactured one. if i rebuild via a kit i need to get someone to due that - cost of kit + labor would most likely bring it around $200 or so. (maybe even more??) So, not much less than going with a new carb. Do you know if the installation of a new (remanufactured) carb is as simple as popping off the old and replacing with the new?

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

If the new carb is identical to the old one, yes, swapping it out is a very simple process. Just the mounting bolts and whatever lines and linkage is used in your system.
My boat did exactly the same thing last year. I had put a carb kit in myself. I got another kit this spring and had one of the guys in our shop install it. It starts and runs great now, hot or cold.

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

thanks thunderroad! (Bruce fan by any chance? )
i think i'm goin to be doing a little shopping around for the new carb tomorrow.

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

definitely a Bruce fan...... 8) Even visited Asbury Park in 85.

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

well, i went out and bought a new remanufactured MerCarb ($300 - not a bad deal!). Installed successfully, fires right up! one question though.... IDLE SPEED IS ABOUT 3000 RPM Yikes! What do i need to do to get it back to the normal range - 800 RPM? Do i need to redo timing? or is it simply adusting the screw on the carb?

thunderroad - Big Bruce fan myself - grew up about about 5 miles from Freehold.... been to Stone Poney many a time!

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

Disconnect the throttle cable and adjust the throttle stop screw to close the throttle plates more.
You need to adjust the throttle cable to hold a slight preload on the carbs throttle idle stop screw.

Normal range is NOT 800 rpm. Better be between 650 and 700 rpm.

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

thanks Don! i will check it out... now that i recall you are right... normal idle is 650-700 (i had to keep my old carb around 800-900 just so she wouldn't stall out on me) Looks like a new carb was the way to go.....

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

Did it run OK after the rebuild last year?

If it did,for awhile,why did it go bad so soon?

I'd just hate to see the new carb,or another rebuild go sour.

Could it be a fuel problem.

DHP

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

it never really ran right from the beginning (i bout it about a year and half ago off a guy in upstate NY).
i had it rebuilt last summer... it ran better... but still not really right. I tuned it up myself this past spring, timing, plugs, points and it seemed to be working pretty well; with the exception of the hard starting (flooding problem). I would have thought the rebuild would have addressed an float, needle, or other issues.... maybe it was just time for a new carb. A local marina here told me that they dont even do rebuilds anymore. They simply install a new carb or reman'd carb.

well, i'm off to try Don's suggestion... i'll keep ya posted!

 

[glastron88]

Re: Mercruiser hard starting after running (carb dripping too much?)

well Don... i took your suggestion and everything is running great! thanks for the advice!