Stalling After Rough Seas

[l008com]

I've got a 1989 triple carbureted 3-cylender, 2-cycle Mercury.
Generally, the motor runs awesome. But it has a very specific quirk.

If I go out in the harbor and get bounced around, and then I idle my engine, it will die. It doesn't have to be right away though. I can be out getting bounced around, then head up the river on calm water for 30 minutes. It won't die until I idle the engine as I get to the locks. It will do this pretty much every time I'm out in rough water. And once it dies, I usually can give it some gas, start it back up, let it smoke for a bit, then it runs normally again.

What exactly is going on with this? Is there any way I can fix this, or is this just the nature of carbs?

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Stalling After Rough Seas

A serious jolt may have stirred up some crud from the bottom of the fuel tank and now is in the carbs.

Remove the float bowl drains, one at a time, pump the primer bulb and see what gets flushed out.

It may be a good idea to install a water separating fuel filter to prevent future problems.

 

[l008com]

Re: Stalling After Rough Seas

It's a 6 gallon removable fuel tank, and there is no crud in it. No jolts on the water are stronger than the jolts the tank gets every time I fill it before going out. I also don't see how water could possibly be getting in there. The tank is essentially filled from empty every time I go out.

 

[James R]

Re: Stalling After Rough Seas

Sounds like the rough sea is causing one or more carb floats to bounce up and down causing one or more needles to stick .
When were the carbs last cleaned and rebuilt?

 

[l008com]

Re: Stalling After Rough Seas

Before last season. And I was having this problem last season too.