no gas to carb?

[fishon1213]

I have a 1979 Evinrude 35hp, having some fuel issues.

The first issue I have had since I had the motor. The lean/rich adjustment seems to move after you run the motor for a while. If you close it, open 1.25 turns, then open slowly until it runs without 'popping' it is good to go. It will then run great for half an hour or so. Then the engine will start surging. Is it running to rich at that point? Readjust and it's good to go. Is this a common problem with these motors?

This may be related or not, but now I cannot get gas into the carb at all. It will fire on starting fluid. When I squeeze the primer bulb it just gets hard but will not get gas into the carb. I pulled the carb and disconnected the fuel line on the bottom of carb and gas flowed freely from that.

So is it just time for a carb rebuild or what do you'all think?

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: no gas to carb?

sounds like you need to re-build your carb and there is a nut on the carb (where your needle valve goes) that you can tighten a little bit to put some resistance on the needle valve and keep it from "walking" on you.

 

[fishon1213]

Re: no gas to carb?

This nut, is it on the outside of the carb?

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: no gas to carb?

Yes. it should be, but then I'm not really sure if your carb has it. there may be a key shaped plastic insert that the needle valve threads through and that would keep the needle valve snug.

 

[fishon1213]

Re: no gas to carb?

Yep, your right, there is a "key shaped plastic insert" and it seems loose. I wonder if the carb kit comes with it.

Is the engine surging and then dying a symptom of running too rich?

 

[oldcatamount]

Re: no gas to carb?

Yes it could be a little rich. And yes, the new kit will have a new needle valve retainer with it.