WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

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anzomcik

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Quick back ground info, I got my 115 faststrike in july of 2013, It ran well, compression good, idle was good. I ran 30 gallons of gas through it that summer-fall. But something didn't seem right even through it ran well and did well on my boat.

So I thought I would do a carb rebuild and general tune up. I never touched that part of the motor until today

Well I got my rebuild kits for my carbs on my 115 faststrike. So tonight I set out to rebuild them, everything was going well pretty strait forward.

Got the carbs all done and some may remember maybe a month ago I asked about CCMS opinions... anyway I decided I was going to try them out. I like to know my motors inside and out. So I dug in deeper to get out my reed cages. Everything came out well and I set the first set on my work bench and this little guy was staring me in the face.

WOW, WOW, WOW never have I seen this. Who knows how long its been there, or how it got there. By the up close wear marks I say much longer than I have owned it. I was surprised it didn't make my motor run terrible. But I will say had it got through that last little bit, I would be very sad.

Needless to say I was happy with my decision to get new reed valves

Anyway enjoy the photos.





 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

Go buy a lottery ticket. You're lucky it didn't go through the motor.
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

any clue on that? It doen't look like a machine thread, offhand. well, not fine threaded, anyway.
 
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anzomcik

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

I have not noticed any screws missing on the motor, but it looks to me to be a fastener for like plastic just based on the coarseness of the thread and height of the thread. But not good.

Just ordered a like new reed cage from eBay for $25, probably the best $25 dollars in preventive maintenance I will ever spend.
 
oldboat1

oldboat1

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

seems smart. It says a lot for the quality (and overall condition) of the motor is it ran well with that little flaw! :)
 
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geoffwga1

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

That is hardly a little flaw.though it seems it ran Ok(though you said you felt something was not right) It means you were running without that cylinder,which means that cylinder was getting no fuel,which means that cylinder was getting no Lubrication,Unless of course it was lubricated independently,I'm not familiar with that model.Considerable wear could have occurred in that cylinder which could mean catastrophic trouble down the line.Couple of years ago I had a 75hp Stinger that had a similar problem.Investigation found a screw wedged under the reed on the bottom cylinder after having dropped the cylinder while out on the lake.I removed it and everything seemed fine for a while,did several trouble free trips,then one day I was routinely running it at fast idle in the barrel when there was a big crunch and the con rod came out through the side of the crankcase.Exit one powerhead.I know this sounds tedious but further investigation of the wear in the cylinder now may well save expensive grief later on.
Good luck Geoff69a1
 
Bosunsmate

Bosunsmate

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

considering they pretty much stay open at high rpm and the motor isnt tilted up when running wot, that little screw is a tough guy to hang on that long. enjoyed the story
 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

Normally a motor with a broken reed will not idle on all cylinders but will run okay at WOT which means it's getting lubed because the reeds are all opened up longer. Been there.
 
fireman57

fireman57

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

Looks like one of the screws that hold on the plastic airbox. I have had a bolt that holds the back side of the airbox to the carbs get loose and make it to the reeds but it was just laying there. You are very lucky. Great pics too.
 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

It looks like a screw that goes into plastic somewhere on the motor. Could you post a pic of it ??
 
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fishman204

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

OH yeah thats a nice one,He was getting plenty of fuel and lube to that cyl what he also got was exhaust back thru carb.
 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

I still would like to see a pic of the whole screw. There's something still bugging me.
 
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anzomcik

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

I took the reed cage to work to show the guys and forgot to grab it today before I left. You will get the picture I just need to grab it.

I did the rebuild of the carbs put in the new CCMS reeds along with a new to me reedcage. On the reassembly I looked extra hard but could not find a hole that didn't have a screw to fill it.

There is no way to determin how long that screw has been there, I wish there were but I suspect for a while.

The air box is held on by 4 rubber straps, no screws there to get in the carb.

So it would have to get in the air box, the bottom cylinder is not level with the bottom of the air box. So the screw would have to jump in the carb make its way through that then in to the plate that houses the butterfly valve again that would be tough to get around the butterfly. Then to actually make it to the reeds and get stuck in between a pedal and the cage (not on the bottom pedal mind you) but never make it through.

I kinda think it was accidently left some time when the carbs were off. But who knows I have a pretty good story and a motor that still runs.

I will get pics of the screw head itself I hope tomorrow
 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

That screw looks like it came off of a carb. Bowl or side cover. Or maybe the VRO.
 
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Bosunsmate

Bosunsmate

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

looks like a screw for going into plastic to me
 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

The parts I was talking about are all plastic.
 
Bosunsmate

Bosunsmate

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

There are still other plastic parts around
 
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boobie

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Re: WOW! Hanging on by a thread (bad pun) A suprise when rebuilding my carbs

Where?? With a screw that size and a Phillips head.
 
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