Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

[hkeiner]

Is there a trick or special way to take the plastic limiter caps off the low speed jets? I don't want to damage the caps by forcing them off the wrong way. I tried to pull them off by hand and they did not budge. I tried pulling them off gently with a pair of pliers and they did not budge. I tried prying them off gently with a screwdriver and they did not budge. I did not want to use too much force for fear of damaging the caps or bending the jets.

I understand that these caps are intended to prevent the jets from being screwed out past their operating range during normal operation. My intent is to screw the jets out completely to take a look at them for apparent wear or gumming. I understand that after I remove the caps but before I remove the jets, I should first screw the jets in to a full gentle stop and count the number of turns, so that I can set them to the same position afterwards. I also wanted to check that that all six caps are positioned on the jets similarly and that the six jets are screwed out a similar number of turns (or fractions of turns).

Thanks for any suggestions or cautions on this simple task.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

SWAG.....11 years may have taken it's toll. Possibly they are brittle due to heat. Can you get more if you "must" reinstall them? If so, smash them with a pair of pliers to remove.

HTH

Mark

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

Based upon the previous comment, should I conclude that the caps should come off easily by hand or gentle grab with pliers? Since they don't come off easily this way, should I further conclude that the only way to get them off is to break them?

I am hoping that this is not the case since the caps are not cheap. The limiter caps appear to cost about $9.00 (plus tax) each, whcih comes out to $54.00 ($9 x 6) for a few small bits of plastic.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

If you have a Dremel tool, cut them off. There is no need to replace them as they are not "retainers" they are simply limiters. And just so you know, it is not likely all screws will be set at exactly the same number of turns out. They will be close but expect as much as a 1/4 turn difference.

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

Thanks for the additional information. I was hoping there was a trick to getting them off, such as squeezing them in a certain way or prying them off at on a certain side of the cap. I guess I'll have to remove the caps the hard way.

I got the motor last fall and it runs pretty good, but it would be nice if it idled a little smoother, if possible. I don't know what is to expect for this motor, so I don't know if adjusting the idle jets would improve things.

I noted at the time I got the motor that all six jets were screwed out to the maximum allowed by the limiter caps (ie., richest setting possible). At present, I can only screw them in. While this seemed unusual to me, I haven't tried adjusting the jets inwards any because I was not sure it would be safe to do so. I have read many posts about the danger of running a motor too lean and burning up the pistons. Also, I don't want to arbitrarily change the settings without a sense of where they are currently set.

Anyway, I thought I would first do a reasonableness check by observing the number of turns each jet is screwed out and then comparing them with each other and with the suggested preliminary link and sync setting indicated in the Mercury shop manual.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

Those are idle mixture adjustments and you can't get them so lean as to burn pistons. Pistons burn at high speeds due to lean conditions, too much spark advance, or overheating. And just so you know, those adjustments need to be made with the engine in the water -- not on muffs.

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Removing plastic caps from low speed jets

I didn't know that a lean idle mixture adjustment can NOT cause piston burn. I was always worried about messing this up. Now I can tinker with the idle jets without worrying about piston burn and hopefully improve idle smoothness. Thanks so much for this important information.