Stalling at idle

[hallowhead1]

Howdy,

Another question:

When the jet boat is idling it will stall out - no matter what we do it continues to stall. My father suggests rebuilding the carburetor at the end of the season but for now tightening the throttle cable a little so it's idling slightly higher than normal.

Do we feel this is a good suggestion? Could it be anything else?

Best,
Joe

 

[hallowhead1]

Bump

 

[itsdgm]

Hello. I don’t know much about your make and model of boat. More than likely your carb or carbs could use a rebuild. But have you changed the spark plugs yet? Often, changing the plugs will correct misfiring that could cause it to stall. Another thing to check might be battery connections. Possibly clean those terminals and make sure they’re tight.

anyway, good luck with the fix. Hopefully it’s a simple one.

 

[hallowhead1]

I read on an earlier thread to try seafoam in the carbs - anyone have any input ?

 

[Chuck Buck]

I read on an earlier thread to try seafoam in the carbs - anyone have any input ?

Yes, yes, and heck yes! I have personally seen it work miracles in numerous boats, mowers, car engines, motorcycles, weed whips, etc., etc., etc.
I'm a believer!
1 oz per gallon is the cure for whatever ails you...except maybe a Bayliner. Two things you can never get rid of...AIDS and a Bayliner

 

[hallowhead1]

Yes, yes, and heck yes! I have personally seen it work miracles in numerous boats, mowers, car engines, motorcycles, weed whips, etc., etc., etc.
I'm a believer!
1 oz per gallon is the cure for whatever ails you...except maybe a Bayliner. Two things you can never get rid of...AIDS and a Bayliner

Wait, what's the rule? 1 oz per gallon ?

 

[Chuck Buck]

Wait, what's the rule? 1 oz per gallon ?

The directions are rather wordy and confusing, but it boils down to this: use 1 oz per gallon for general maintenance and stabilizing, and 2 oz per gallon for cleaning. However, my opinion is 2 oz is overkill. 1 oz per gallon usually does the job.

I buy it by the gallon (same as WD-40). Meijer has it for just under $50.

 

[hallowhead1]

The directions are rather wordy and confusing, but it boils down to this: use 1 oz per gallon for general maintenance and stabilizing, and 2 oz per gallon for cleaning. However, my opinion is 2 oz is overkill. 1 oz per gallon usually does the job.

I buy it by the gallon (same as WD-40). Meijer has it for just under $50.

I'm confused - it's a spray no? I was told to spray thru the carbs

 

[Chuck Buck]

I'm confused - it's a spray no? I was told to spray thru the carbs

Spraying it thru the carbs only treats what's downstream of the venturi. You want to treat the float bowl, needle and seat, jets, and all the internal passages and circuits in the carburetor. To do this, it needs to be mixed with the fuel.

 

[hallowhead1]

Spraying it thru the carbs only treats what's downstream of the venturi. You want to treat the float bowl, needle and seat, jets, and all the internal passages and circuits in the carburetor. To do this, it needs to be mixed with the fuel.

I guess I'll start with my spray can and if improvement exists I'll order the liquid or just spray the spray into the gas

 

[anmut]

I run seafoam constantly in my small engines and I would suggest you run it through for a while. Be aware that, when it's working, you'll see a lot of smoke from the exhaust. Totally normal, don't freak out. I have FIVE YEAR OLD gasoline that I treat with seafoam in my lawnmower, runs like a champ.

 

[hallowhead1]

I run seafoam constantly in my small engines and I would suggest you run it through for a while. Be aware that, when it's working, you'll see a lot of smoke from the exhaust. Totally normal, don't freak out. I have FIVE YEAR OLD gasoline that I treat with seafoam in my lawnmower, runs like a champ.

No more than my dad's old oil in everything trick. Smokes for a bit always. Does the seafoam burn off ?

 

[Beachbummer]

My experience is that once the carb is really pluggled, a disassembly and cleaning is the only thing that will restore it. You should have an idle screw that you can set vs tightening the throttle cable which can be less accurate as the cable can stretch and contract a little.

Look for a screw that controls where the carb throttle plate stops, that would open the plate more when the screw is adjusted at the carb. That's the screw you want to adjust to increase your idle while you figure it out. If you can't find this idle screw, test your cable adjustment well, there is a chance you idle will end up higher than you intended in some cases as the cable idle position moves a little bit during operation.

Best of luck!!

 

[hallowhead1]

My experience is that once the carb is really pluggled, a disassembly and cleaning is the only thing that will restore it. You should have an idle screw that you can set vs tightening the throttle cable which can be less accurate as the cable can stretch and contract a little.

Look for a screw that controls where the carb throttle plate stops, that would open the plate more when the screw is adjusted at the carb. That's the screw you want to adjust to increase your idle while you figure it out. If you can't find this idle screw, test your cable adjustment well, there is a chance you idle will end up higher than you intended in some cases as the cable idle position moves a little bit during operation.

Best of luck!!

I'm working thru ordering new throttle cable and gate cable. Just need models - interm solution is the spray

 

[Beachbummer]

beyond the cables, you need a carb rebuild to restore your idle and carb function (IF your carbs are plugged up)

 

[hallowhead1]

beyond the cables, you need a carb rebuild to restore your idle and carb function (IF your carbs are plugged up)

100% agreed I plan on rebuilding this winter.

 

[anmut]

No more than my dad's old oil in everything trick. Smokes for a bit always. Does the seafoam burn off ?

It does burn off. The only issue I've ever had with Seafoam was running it through an old car decades ago. It took out all the carbon from the engine and deposited it in the exhaust system, which overheated the cat and pipes from the cat, which lead to exhaust holes and eventual failure. But that engine had 150k miles on it when I started the treatment too...

 

[hallowhead1]

It does burn off. The only issue I've ever had with Seafoam was running it through an old car decades ago. It took out all the carbon from the engine and deposited it in the exhaust system, which overheated the cat and pipes from the cat, which lead to exhaust holes and eventual failure. But that engine had 150k miles on it when I started the treatment too...

Yeah def don't have that many miles / hours

 

[Bilmon]

Hallowhead, I'm confused, in a different thread you mentioned you had a 240. If that's the case you don't have carbs, the 240 is fuel injected. Either way treating the gas, though the tank may help.

 

[hallowhead1]

Hallowhead, I'm confused, in a different thread you mentioned you had a 240. If that's the case you don't have carbs, the 240 is fuel injected. Either way treating the gas, though the tank may help.

Def carbs - maybe the motor is different than the hull states ? I know it's between 200 and 240. Maybe 225?