Small fuel leak from carburettor on 4 stroke outboard - is that a problem??

[nexus180]

Hi all - I'm virtually a complete boating/ outboard novice, so please excuse me if this is a silly question - but is a small fuel leak from a carburettor a problem, or something I can live with? I bought my first outboard at the beginning of last summer (its a Tohatsu 4 stroke 2.5HP that goes on my dinghy in the sea) - at the end of the summer I drained all the fuel from it. Having recently filled it up again it was initially leaking fuel fairly fast from (it appeared to me) around the carburettor. I read that the valve inside can get stuck/ gummed up and you might be able to free it by tapping the bottom of the carb with a small hammer; I did that and now the leak has slowed to a virtual stop - but if I watch the carb for a minute or so I can see a small film of fuel emerge from around the carb midway join (when the fuel is switched on). I had the motor running in the waterbutt this afternoon for 10mins or so with no problems - apart from the small film of fuel around the carb. I think the leak is so slow that the fuel is evaporating before it gets to the bottom of the carb, so it shouldn't start to well in any great quantity (if at all).

So is this a problem I need to fix, or one I can live with? I suspect it may have always done this and I simply haven't noticed before - as I have not ever looked so closely at the carb before.

Any views/ help gratefully received!

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

fuel leak = fire risk.

 

[Croftie]

Short answer - YES it is and could be a very serious problem.
There should be no leaks whatsoever. Petrol is very inflamable

 

[VicS]

So is this a problem I need to fix, or one I can live with? I suspect it may have always done this and I simply haven't noticed before - as I have not ever looked so closely at the carb before.

Any views/ help gratefully received!

If I were you, and the problem persists, I would check that the float pivots freely and check the needle and its seat for dirt ( Note the position of the little clip between the needle and the float arm)

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Tohatsu/Outboard/2014/MFS2.5B/CARBURETOR/parts.html

 

[crazy4557]

If fuel is leaking from your engine and you don't know how to fix it take it to a professional and get them to fix it....it's a complete no brainer. Sorry, but that's a bit of a dumb question as it's way too much of a fire risk.

 

[steve66]

Not only a fire risk, due to the float sticking the mixture will be considerable richened resulting in poor running.