Any Outboard Experts?

[graham]

Everytime I stop my outboard auxillary motor for more than an hour or two I disconnect the fuel and let it run dry.

Someone told me many years ago this was wise to keep the carb clean and I must say that my motors do seem to have been reliable compared to other peoples.(Touch Wood, Fingers crossed!)

When arriving in a peacefull harbour it is a bit embarrasing letting the noisy 2 stroke shatter the peace for 5 minutes after mooring up so I try to time it and disconect the fuel on my approach to the berth,this however has the potential for even greater embarrasment!

Any outboard mechanics (no armchair experts please) that could advise if I am doing the right thing or could I just leave the fuel in the carb over night??

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[ongolo]

Graham,

Any fuel left for a period will leave a residue, but leaving fuel overnight will not be a problem. Residue does not form so quick, and in any case, using it next morning will shake up and use the fuel left in the float bowl.

But if you leave the motor for an extended period, then it saves you trouble emptiying he carb.

That is common to all engines.

However, should you have a problem one day with your carb, rather than cleaning all these little by-pass and idle channels with needles or reamers, strip the carb and soak it over night in brake fluid, next morning you carb is clean as new.

This is an old trick from the days we used castor oil in racing engines.

regards ongolo

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[Talbot]

or even just spray it with brake cleaner and it will do very nearly as good a job without having to pull it all apart!

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[celandine]

I think you will find that the habit of turning off the petrol to let the carb run dry every time you use it, dates back to when everyone had a 'Seagull': you did this otherwise the contents of the carb bowl would run down your neck as you carried it up the hard, or would spill out all over the boot of your car.

Mick

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[graham]

Thanks to everyone for the advise.

Re spraying the carb with break cleaner ,can you give me a bit more detail on the method?Does the carb need removing from the engine or can it be done in situ?

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[Talbot]

Depends on level of crud You could dismantle the carb and give it a good blast with this as you pull it apart and as it goes back together.(or a spray carb cleaner if you could find it - but brake cleaner is easier to find)

Alternatively for a quick clean, remove air cleaner, fire up engine , increase revs to at least one third and spray cleaner into intake, watch smoke come out of engine! You may have to change mixture levels afterwards if engine was badly choked before!

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