*PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! Johnson

[E_Man]

Thanks for reading and please help out!

Motor: RDS-25D Johnson 40HP Outboard, 2 cyl w/ one barrel carburetor

I had an experience where I ran out of gas while going WOT, and the motor shut off of course. Then when I refilled gas oil mixture and tried to restart, gas was spewing out of the carb like crazy. I was able to briefly start the motor by removing the gas line and cranking until it eventually had just enough gas to start without flooding and played with the throttle by going WOT back and forth in an effort to free the float. I even tried tapping on the carb reservoir but nothing freed it up. It ruined my whole day! The next day it started first time with no issues and didn't flood out.

This happened to me AGAIN yesterday when someone sat on the gas line and it was pinched. This time we were 400 feet out and needed a tow. When I got home I tried the following in an effort to see what frees the float in this situation in case it happens again:
* Draining the carb via the bottom screw
* Removing each line from each end and blowing air to see if it would free the float
* Tapping on the reservoir of course
* Blowing air from the bottom screw that I used to drain the carb

Nothing helped.

My question is: Is there anything I can do in these situations BESIDES REBUILDING THE CARB that can help me free up the float? Is the float stuck up or down? I'm guessing down. It only happens when I either run out of gas or the motor is deprived of gas via the line while the throttle is more than half way. So far I've had 2 days ruined because of this and I don't want it to happen again.

Again thanks for reading!

E.

 

[VI-Doug]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Pull the bowl off and see why it's sticking. Could just be a lot of sticky crud at the bottom. Sounds pretty simple.

 

[E_Man]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Doug,

Thanks for your response! That sounds like a good idea, just one question: Can I reuse the same gasket? I don't have time to go and find a gasket because I want to go out on the water tomorrow.

Pull the bowl off and see why it's sticking. Could just be a lot of sticky crud at the bottom. Sounds pretty simple.

 

[VI-Doug]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Probably, if you're careful with it. If it were me, I'd take it out and just make sure you have enough fuel and your passengers keep off the hose.

 

[E_Man]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Hey,

Just attached a video. If you need a better quality one to asses let me know:
http://s1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/EyalRox/?action=view&current=Test-1.mp4

I have taken off the carburetor and opened up the bowl. The bowl seemed pretty clean actually, but the float looked discolored. I don't know how the float could have gotten stuck. I suspect one of two things:
* The rubbery cork-like material washer in the bottom is slowly starting to come apart and the float may have gotten stuck on one of its pieces.
* The needle that the float presses when it is at the top was stuck

If its the first, then this should be an easy fix by simply rounding out the washer and removing any pieces sticking out. However, if its the second, then I have no idea how to ensure that the needle doesn't get stuck in the future. Since the float gets stuck only when the motor is depreived of gas and only while at high RPM's, which one is it and is the float getting stuck in the up or down position?

 

[lindy46]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

If you want reliability on the water, then get a carb kit WITH new float and clean/rebuild the carb. Otherwise, you're just asking for repeated problems.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

RDS-25D=1963 40 HP
Carb kit w/ float is 0439074
Sierra kit without float is 18-7010
http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...gd_poid=109328&gd_row=44&**********=508278787

 

[E_Man]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Well I just couldn't wait. I cleaned all parts and sprayed WD-40 and rubbed it on everything inside and ensured that the float is aligned and has no obstructions to prevent it from going up and down. I hope this will solve the issue. Too late to start it up now, it'll wake the neighbors.

I will test it tomorrow by revving the motor and removing the gas line such that it will cause roughly the same effect when the float got stuck. I'm crossing my fingers that it will not get stuck. If anyone can offer some explanation as to why it got stuck in the first place only when deprived of gas, that would be really helpful. Thanks to all who replied...

 

[Nasbinator]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Same thing happend to me. Every thing looked perfectly clean but the float would occasionally stick. It drove me nuts untill I finally bought a rebuild kit with new floats. It has been working perfectly ever since. When comparing the old with the new, my old float looked like it was fuel logged and the needle wasnt setting correctly. It will no doubt happen to you again, so it would be worth spending $20 on a kit. Nothing is worse than being out on the water, opening that hatch, cranking it over, and watching fuel shoot out the carb.

 

[E_Man]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

OK now I'm pissed. I give up - it gets stuck both up and down now. Looks like I'll be ordering that carburetor kit after all... Thanks for the info TX Whaler.


Best price I found was at Top Notch Marine down in Florida for only $20.53, but I'd rather deal locally as I can get it faster.

Does anyone know a place in Toronto that matches prices? I don't know any suppliers here at all.

RDS-25D=1963 40 HP
Carb kit w/ float is 0439074
Sierra kit without float is 18-7010
http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...gd_poid=109328&gd_row=44&**********=508278787

 

[glassmaster68]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

agree with the carb kit,,,make sure your float is centered good and your needle valve rides tightly to the bottom of your float to ensure it fully opens and fully closes,look at the top secret files here,,,,,,,,.i had put in a new carb kit/float in my mojo a coupla months ago,,and it ran good for about 3 weeks.for some reason the float started hitting the inside of the bowl getting stuck inside,overloading carb,same old story[maybe because the motor being jacked up all the time when stored],i had to roll the pin guides on the float in a little to center it back with the carb and bowl,put about 100 or so hours on it since.runs like a top.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Eyal

Did you perform a "float drop" adjustment? It prevents the float from dropping too far down when fuel is low.

 

[jtexas]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

if the float sticks open, gas pours out the carb throat, floods the motor. if your motor is starved for gas, then it must be sticking shut, and the carb runs dry.

hasn't happened to me, but I have read reports of the float arm wearing a groove in the plastic hinge pin, causing the float to stick.

If you still have the original brass pin, re-use it instead of the plastic one from the kit.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Get a float, new needle and seat and make sure you install the return spring. You can get the kit at any OMC/BRP dealer in Toronto but pay more. Or if you want to get it in Canada go to marinemanifold.com and order it out of BC.

 

[glassmaster68]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

for real texas,,,,yes the plastic hinge pin in the new carb kits,,,i think i did have one boogered and made the float stick,the first time i rebuilt my carb i used it,,,the second time that i was into it,i decided to put the old hinge pin back in,,,metal baby

 

[E_Man]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

WELL, I got impatient since suppliers in my area didn't have the full kit and I was bored one day so I decided to give it one last try since I had nothing to lose.

I did the following because I believe the parts I saw inside were relatively in brand new condition. I took it apart again but this time I also removed the seat and needle since I believe the needle was sticking. The seat was brass and the needle looked like stainless steal. I soaked and thoroughly cleaned the seat with a mixture of vinegar, ketchup, salt and Cascade. I used stainless steal cleaner for the needle. I also made sure the float didn't sink too far. Since I would get gas out of the air intake when I squeezed the bulb as the bowl was full, I came to the conclusion that the cork washer in the video that is supposed to separate the gas from the air intake was broken. So last but not least I replaced it with a special rubber-like washer that is made for carburetors and can handle being exposed to fuel. I used Teflon tape for the threading where gas would not be in contact. I also noticed that the gasket had been protruding to the inside of the bowl so I shaped it correctly with an exacto knife.

The result: She started first try and has been flawless since. Now when I press the bulb no gas comes out of the air intake and I feel pressure to the point where I can't press anymore - GREAT. I also noticed that there is MUCH less oil in the large water bucket I use at home so I'm concluding that its running more efficient. Perhaps someone can tell me where the high-speed lean/rich adjustment is located.

*** PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS POST HELPED YOU OUT! ***

OK now I'm pissed. I give up - it gets stuck both up and down now. Looks like I'll be ordering that carburetor kit after all... Thanks for the info TX Whaler.


Best price I found was at Top Notch Marine down in Florida for only $20.53, but I'd rather deal locally as I can get it faster.

Does anyone know a place in Toronto that matches prices? I don't know any suppliers here at all.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Great. But how in god's name did you come up with this concoction "vinegar, ketchup, salt and Cascade"???

 

[Willyclay]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Perhaps someone can tell me where the high-speed lean/rich adjustment is located.[/B]

Super job on troubleshooting and fixing your problems!

Your 1963 model should be equipped with a fixed high-speed jet. Try the link below:

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...ntage-evinrude-johnson/379272/37927200001.htm

The jet is located behind the drain plug in the bottom of the float bowl.

 

[E_Man]

Re: *PLEASE HELP* Carb Float gets stuck everytime motor gets no gas or runs out! John

Research - all are used to clean brass.

Great. But how in god's name did you come up with this concoction "vinegar, ketchup, salt and Cascade"???

 

[Canufixit2]

Hi, This is an old thread but for historical and searching help I'll add my post.

1997 Merc 2 Stroke 3 Cyl /carb - Very similar issues as stated in this thread. Sometimes would stick open when shut down (leaks out carb). Sometimes runs fine, Sometimes will starve engine and prevent full power. Sometimes would run at low RPM at full throttle - then "kick" into full power and run normal fo a while.

I had rebuilt and cleaned the carbs and fuel system (Filters, Pump, etc.) and was very careful during re assembly - FINALLY I found that the bowl gasket could move during re assembly and/or expand when filled with fuel just enough to "touch" or hit the float. Remove the bowl, replace the gasket and TRIM gasket protruding into the bowl area. Be sure there is clearance to allow for gasket expansion into the bowl area without chance of gasket expansion when closed/filled with gas and hitting the float. Condition caused the float to stick closed or open intermittent.