Stubborn To Start 1979 9.8

keithb7

Seaman
Joined
Dec 16, 2024
Messages
62
Some more tinkering today. My 9.8 is running the best now, since I acquired it. Yet it still wants a raw squirt of gas when stone cold, to initial start. Researching some more. I’m thinking maybe the part that my Merc manual calls it an “idle restriction tube” is suspect. I took a spare carb apart. Had a look at it. Basically it is a pilot jet with a long draw tube on it. Seen here:

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The tiny fuel orifice entry is seen above. It could easily be plugged by modern ethanol fuel. This hole (jet) is the way fuel enters the crankcase when the carb throttle valve is closed. Good chance it’ll be plugged in my 9.8 carb. I’m going back into it now.

While I am here, I’ll share a few more of my learnings on this carb:

In this photo below the main fuel jet is circled in red. All fuel entering into the engine via the carb venturi (main jet) must pass through this fuel orifice. No fuel at all, can be allowed to enter through the threaded hole with the green arrow pointing at it. Seen in here is small a brown/red round gasket. This gasket must be in place when you re-mount the fuel bowl. If this internal small round gasket its missing, un-regulated fuel will enter the main venturi diffuser, in addition to the fuel through the main jet. The engine will be over fuel’d and run too rich. It will under-perform, cause carbon build up, and fowl spark plugs.

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Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,588
Is this a Walbro or Tillotson carb?
Chrysler used those two carb manufactors and they had this style gasket at the main nozzle and fuel bowl.
Important that the gasket is in place.
 

Mc Tool

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
312
Not just Chrysler, I saw this set up on a lot of older US made stationary engines . So many peeps used to fit the fibre washer on the outside of the bowl.......which to be fair would be my 1st guess if I didnt pay attention when dismantling. Sometimes you'get away with it ( oblivious ).🙂
 

keithb7

Seaman
Joined
Dec 16, 2024
Messages
62
I feel like I finally broke thru with this 9.8. Seems like I’ve solved all the issues it thew at me. No more need to give it a shot of raw gas at initial cold start.

I’ve worked on many carbs. Rebuilds, jetting, tuning. This Merc carb is super finicky. It’s running nicely now at 80 psi compression. I’m interested to see if will rise after a few months of Sundays. Last thing I’ll do is install a thermostat.

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