Engine Stalling

BMILLER · Post by **BMILLER** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:10 pm

Started the 318s yesterday. Port engine started and idles well. Starboard now (didn't before) starts, the rpms slow and it stalls. I start it again, but soon as I try to advance the throttle it dies. I leave it sit a while, advance the throttle about 1/3 and it starts and is running as expected in a fast idle. If I let it run like this and warm up, it will then start and idle. Is this a carb problem or electrical? The PO paid BIG bucks to have the starboard carb rebuilt. Service records indicate it had a lot of internal corrosion, but he chose to overhaul vs replace. Wondering where to go from here. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. BTW, boat is docked and torn apart, engines run weekly for about 1/2 hour. Fuel is current w/additives as are filters.

akwalker · Post by **akwalker** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 2:54 pm

Sounds like fuel to me, if it will idle after a fast idle warmup. Could be an issue with the automatic choke. Have you checked that its working properly?

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:52 pm

Barry,

There is an exhaust flow accross the manifold under the carburator which serves to speed warmup and get the choke pull off spring warmed and the area under the carburator where the intake flow strikes warmed for better fuel atomization.

It is possible it is cloged, the only way I can see to check it is take the choke pull off spring out of its pocket, starte the engine and fell if it is getting hot in there.

Seems you trouble is in the warmup process, choke system or maybe thermostat.

If PO spent a lot of money to get an AFB rebuilt, he was giving away money, kits are available and it is a simple carb, IMO, to rebuild, about the only thing goes wrong is accellerator pump, needle and seat valves and floats.

BMILLER · Post by **BMILLER** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:18 pm

According to the service records and receipts the PO paid over $600 for a single carb overhaul....................totally nuts. If this was a Holly I'd have no problems with tearing it apart. If is was in that bad of shape, maybe I should replace it. Up on the internet I see remanufactered marine carbs of the same type. BUT for about $100 more I can buy a 1409 new. Then I have to figure out what additional linkage items I need to get it to hook up to the throttle cables. Port side works fine. Just never ends............................

BMILLER · Post by **BMILLER** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:22 pm

I have to try to find what number carb it is.............lots of things in that area were "modified and improved" by the PO. Time to get out the magnifying glass and spotlight to try and find it.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:46 pm

Mine are 6212S on the red tag on each one. That is the number I purchased the kits with. Also it is stamped somewhere on the base of the carby at least mine were.

There really is not much in these carbs and the parts only go one place. It has always been my practice to use what came on a vehicle for regular use, racing a different story.

Good luck.

summer storm · Post by **summer storm** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 2:40 pm

I would not rule out water in the fuel tank. Even if you have new fuel in the tank there still could be a bunch of water and crap at the bottom of the tank. How does your filters look?

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:54 pm

Sounds like a choke and maybe a carb idle circuit issue. As noted above, check that the choke plate is opening up. If it does open up, I suspect a fuel delivery issue with the carb. See if it's dumping fuel out of the boosters.

BMILLER · Post by **BMILLER** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:33 am

I'll check that carb this weekend to see if the choke "sets", the boosters are getting fuel and shooting and the area under the choke spring warms up. As for that fuel tank, again, according to the service records and receipts, it had been recently cleaned out, new pickup, etc. not long before I got it. The lines were supposedly cleaned too. I actually talked to the mechanic who did the work and the POs old marina about the boats care. Always kept under cover, NEVER taken more than a mile from the slip and tied to the beach for parties. BUT, the marina said when the holding tank had to be pumped, the PO would stuff a water hose in the waste port and turn on the water..........and leave it run......and run........and run, eventually turning on the vacuum. Water pouring down over the fuel fill inlet. That's where and how the "stuff" got into the tank. If anywhere in the near future either of the fuel tanks need to be replaced, I'll most likely sell the boat. Way too much $$$ already spent on fixing all the wiring issues. S$$$ is nearing its limit and the boat still can't be taken out safely.

summer storm · Post by **summer storm** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:03 pm

I was always getting water in my tanks. I couldn't figure it out, I would clean my tanks and the boat would run great. Then a couple of months later there was water in the tanks again, mainly in my starboard tanks, so my starboard engine would act just like yours, would not idle or just cut out. I was like you, pull the tanks? I'll sell the boat first. Well, it turned out that the vent on the starboard forward tank was missing that little screen that helps keep the water out, the starboard forward tank was also getting the most water in it, and the boat was also tied to the dock starboard side too. Long story short, the kid washing the boat twice a month was blowing water into the vents. I pumped and cleaned the tanks again, installed some nice SS clam shells over the vents and fired the kid. The boat runs great on all tanks now. I also upgraded the fuel filters to the ones that have the bowl on the bottom to drain the water out of.

BMILLER · Post by **BMILLER** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:15 pm

Hmmmmmmm........? I'm berthed on the starboard side too. Wonder if the @)@# mud daubbers have that vent partially blocked up with mud. I now put duct tape over the fuel fill on the sides when washing. I'm under a roof and backed in deep so rain isn't an issue. I keep the tanks 3/4 full.