my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

[85merc200]

motor 225 1988 vro disconnected,<br /><br />new plugs were put in and with 2 hours of idle time on the hose no WOT, the plugs are filty black, could the cause be the idle time and no WOT ? will a run on the bay at WOT clean the plugs ?<br /><br />motor idels good<br /><br />theromostats are in<br /><br />plugs are champion QL77JC4 <br /><br />premixing 50:1 with 87 octane and westmarine brand oil,<br /><br />I'm getting very fustrated here

 

[rodbolt]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

hello<br /> dude <br /> slow down<br /> post in one spot<br />the black plugs could be a number of things. one is to much oil. fix the VRO<br /> it works better than your mixing.<br /> the tell tale really should not be warm<br />are the thermostats working or just there? are they the new style black ones? are the seats the updated ones?<br /> how are the recirc valves? <br /> if it stalls when trimmed but runs when tilted it has flooding issues. time to go through the carbs. mmm I will have to read the other post to remember. oh the starting problem. that is almost normal for that motor. the horn is most likely fried,, they failed a lot. FIX IT<br /> dont run without a hot horn. check the horn for 12v at the purple wire to ground with the key on and test the horn ground. the beep at keyon is a self test.well back to supper I am a chef tonight as well<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

vro is connected, <br /><br />you guys have this problem if you troll/idle for hours, mabey a WOT run on the bay will keep the plugs clear ?

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

went back to the boat, looks like there is a few Ounces of fuel in the lower cowl pan, probally comming out of carbs.<br /><br />now i did a few search and looks like i may have a stuck float or needle which may cause the rich running/hard starting and of course fuel leaking from carb....DO YOU GUYS agree.?

 

[Hooty]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

Could very well be a needle & seat leaking by. How long since a carb overhaul? Another thing. There's a red lever on the primer solenoid valve. Is it open? Normal operation, the red arrow should be pointing down.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

carb overall, never far as i know, droping by shop monday...

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

hooty, isnt there 6 total independent carbs on my motor, would all the floats in each carb get stuck at the same time ???....reason is ALL 6 plugs are stinking black and oily, not sure which carb the fuel is leaking from though....

 

[Hooty]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

You're right, I wouldn't think all plugs would foul with one leaky needle and seat. Have you checked the red lever on the primer solenoid valve yet?<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[reeldutch]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

may be start using a good oil like yamalube.<br />It hase additives that will burn cleaner.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

What is the motor doing or not doing that you want to change? Are you simply concerned about the plugs looking black? I would think that thats kinda normal for a two stroke thats idled for a couple of hours. You really dont want the plugs to look "clean" all the time.<br /><br />Everything looks good as far as what youre using except maybe the oil. Personaly we use the Pennzoil blend. Its less than 10 bucks a gallon and we havent seen better protection at 7000 rpm or less. <br /><br />Good luck!

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

i have not check the red lever, but i know if its running and i push the key in it wants to stall because of the extra fuel, so i guess it works and installed correct...<br /><br />Dhadley, its leaking fuel from the carbs after i run it and tilt it up to trailer, i can see fuel in the lower cowl pan...also its not just black, its filty you can not see the gap its covered in junk...you guys cant tell me that normal, does no one own a 225 carb johnson, if you do,what does your plug look like ?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

If you cant see the gap anymore, thats not right -- you are correct. But at that point the motor cant be idleing right. <br /><br />Do all 6 look the same? Have the carbs been rebuilt? If so, are the air jets in the correct places (not reversed)? Is this a fresh rebuild? Are you running with the airbox on or off?

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

motor does idle after awhile playing with the throttle.<br /><br />carb has not been rebuilt as far as i know.<br /><br />no rebuild ,original 1988 motor and air box is on....

 

[Dhadley]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

Are the emulsion tubes still OK? (The vertical tubes in the throat of the carbs) If so I would follow Rodbolt's suggestion of going thru the carbs.

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

well i said hell with it and took it to a mechanic, he said "float is not seating" and its leaking fuel when tilting...<br /><br />thanks for all the help guys...

 

[85merc200]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

final UPDATE :<br /><br />bill from mechanic $500 rebuilt all 6 carbs, new floats and needles valves, they were varnished up from bad/old gas, i guess it sat around awhile before i bought it...<br /><br />also replaced all theromastats to make sure it was running at correct temp. now to go boating.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: my plugs are filty black please help before i quit boating

Thanks for the update. Keep us posted.<br /><br />Good luck!