On on of my carbs, the inlet needle was missing! Did I just solve my problem?

[DJ_Allatoona]

Mercury 75 HP, 4 cyl., 1986 model.

So my problem was this: when I'm alone in the boat, it jumps out of the hole nicely, but if there are several people with me, or I'm trying to pull a kid on a tube or skier, no holeshot. The motor dies instantly when I applied the throttle. Pump the bulb, restart, try again. It's a problem.

I did a Seafoam shock treatment. No help
Rebuilt fuel filter. No help
Replaced all fuel lines, fittings, bulb, and spark plugs. No help
So today I pulled the carbs for the first time since I had the boat (8 years) for a proper cleaning. Every jet and tiny passage was spotless clean. But the TOP carb had no needle under the float. It was just missing. There was nothing in that seat. I got one from a local marine parts store ($13), dropped it in, finished my cleaning job, put everything back together.
It runs fine on the muffs, but it always did. Like I said, the motor dies when there's some weight in the boat, or when I'm pulling something. I'll try in in the lake tomorrow (hopefully).

EXPERTS: Does this sound right to you? Did I just solve my problem? Can the motor run (albeit not ideally) if one of the carbs is missing the needle?
How should the motor run if ONE of the needles was missing?

Thanks

 

[60sboater]

Not an expert but it would flood as there's no way to control the gas flow into the bowl. I don't see how it would run as well as it was with a missing carb needle.

 

[mlbinseattle]

I agree with 60sboater. Additionally, with a missing needle, you should have seen gas dripping ... maybe even pouring out of the carb after you pumped the bulb firm. The needle should have come with a new seat. Those are a matched pair. Ensure that you check your float level after installing the new needle/seat to ensure the float is closing the needle at the right time.

Let us know what happens after you take it back out.

 

[enginepower]

If your float needle was missing and it wasn't flooding fuel everywhere, your fuel pump is weak or faulty or insufficient for your engine. Did the bulb get hard after a few pumps?