V4 carburetor adjustment question....

riverkid

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 3, 2005
Messages
46
Hello,Everyone.On my 1970 85hp. 'Rude V4,the high speed settings are fixed,right?The idle mixture is adjusted on the 4 needle valves protruding from the front of the carbs.(2 for each carb) are these needle valves turned clockwise(tightened)for a more rich adjustment or,does turning them in,(clockwise)give a more lean mixture? My Seloc manual has conflicting information on the settings.My ca. 1985 Clymers doesn't really explain the rich/lean setting at all.I've got Seloc saying 1-11/2 turns out for initial setting,Clymer has 5/8 turns out from seated lightly for initial setting.The carb cover has 7/8 turn from seated for initial setting.I'm just a little concerned about being too lean.This runs and idles fine on muffs in the driveway,but I don't want to be too lean when it's running on the water at higher r.p.m.I've ordered carb kits because I've noticed one adjustment needle seems awful loose.Why are two different retainers used? Thanks for any replies,C.C.
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: V4 carburetor adjustment question....

(Dual Carb V/4 With 4 (2 each carb) Slow Speed Adjustable N/Valves)<br />(J. Reeves)<br /><br />The adjustment procedure of the carburetor slow speed needle valves follows. NOTE... if the needle valves turn too freely, replace the nylon bearing retainer (the nylon item at the front of the carb that the needle valve goes through first) with the newer type RED retainer #315232. If your engine has that weird linkage that connects all four of those needle valves, the newer RED retainers will enable you to discard that linkage. The RED retainers make it impossible for the needle valves to viberate out of adjustment. <br /><br />(Carburetor Adjustment - 2 Slow Speed Adjustable Needle Valves, each carburetor) <br /><br />Initial setting is: All (4) Slow speed valves = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns. <br /><br />Facing the carburetors, start with the top left needle valve, then the top right valve, then the bottom let valve, then the bottom right valve. It may be necessary to redo these steps to get the adjustments ideally set <br /><br />Start engine and set the rpms to where it just stays running. In segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the S/S needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running. <br /><br />Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting. <br /><br />Do not attempt to gradually adjust all four of the valves at the same time. Do one at a time until you hit the above response (die out or spit back), then go on to the next valve. <br /><br />When you have finished the above adjustment, you will have no reason to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.
 
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