Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > Technical > General Q & A
Ready to kick this pos down the road… >

Ready to kick this pos down the road?

Notices

Ready to kick this pos down the road…

Old 08-29-2022 | 09:35 PM
  #61  
TomZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
25 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 1,457
From: Virginia Beach
Default

The carbs were good and clean when they went on and were tested last year. The fuel killed them post winterization in January. Thankful though. I wouldn’t have found the main well plugs missing on the starboard secondaries. That could have been really bad.
TomZ is offline  
Reply
Old 08-29-2022 | 10:49 PM
  #62  
SB
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 3,687
From: On A Dirt Floor
Default

Originally Posted by TomZ
I wouldn’t have found the main well plugs missing on the starboard secondaries.
What the frig ?
SB is offline  
Reply
Old 08-29-2022 | 11:18 PM
  #63  
TomZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
25 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 1,457
From: Virginia Beach
Default

Originally Posted by SB
What the frig ?
Yep. That was on the one that wanted to run right, too. Go figure.

TomR had four of these on blower motors that he got in a new boat. Ended up replacing them with Holleys because he couldn’t get them running right so I bought a couple he had for sale. I think I found the issue…
TomZ is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 04:53 AM
  #64  
VIP Member
Community Builder
VIP Member
 
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 2,126
From: SW Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by TomZ
Couple of things…

The carburetors were full of ethanol powder. Also, found that one of the meter blocks was missing the mail well plugs (really Barry Grant/Demon/Holley??).

We also found that the batteries were a little weak. That may have caused issues with the ignition even though it was charging at 13.5-13.9 volts at idle. The port/#1 battery was the worse of the two (with the port engine acting the weirdest).

The carburetor issue really was the biggest pain in the ass. They were a real mess.
TomZ,

What the Hell is "ethanol powder"...?

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991
Brad Christy is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 06:38 AM
  #65  
SB
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 3,687
From: On A Dirt Floor
Default

Originally Posted by Brad Christy
TomZ,

What the Hell is "ethanol powder"...?

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991
Here is some extreme examples from several boats this summer i worked on. Alot of other times, it is slighter amts, so looks like slight amt powder vs clumpy as shown below, lots of times just in the fuel bowls but get’s pulled into the metering blocks and etc. Basically, in places the fuel seems to evaporate from and leaves whatever additives don’t evaporate.







SB is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 06:41 AM
  #66  
VIP Member
Community Builder
VIP Member
 
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,493
Likes: 2,126
From: SW Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by SB
Here is some extreme examples from several boats this summer i worked on. Alot of other times, it is slighter amts, so looks like slight amt powder vs clumpy as shown below, lots of times just in the fuel bowls but get’s pulled into the metering blocks and etc. Basically, in places the fuel seems to evaporate from and leaves whatever additives don’t evaporate.






SB,

Eewwwe.....

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991
Brad Christy is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 07:21 AM
  #67  
Registered
Active Streak: 30 Days
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 590
From: Lake Ozark, MO USA
Default

That is just messed up! Is there any additives or cleaners that will help prevent that or break it down so it will pass through and burn?
Helmwurst is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 07:36 AM
  #68  
TomZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
25 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 1,457
From: Virginia Beach
Default

Originally Posted by Brad Christy
SB,

Eewwwe.....

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991
Eewwwe.... is right.

That's a pretty extreme example but you get the idea. It was yellow and brown and sticky. Handling them, my hands felt sticky like from sugar/honey and was hard to wash off. It was an effort to get them cleaned out.

The smell though... I've smelled plenty of bad fuel before but not with an organic "rotting feet" odor. Nasty. Thankfully, this was not what was in the tank. We drained and filled and replaced filters just to be safe.

Last edited by TomZ; 08-30-2022 at 05:07 PM.
TomZ is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 07:38 AM
  #69  
TomZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
25 Year Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 1,457
From: Virginia Beach
Default

Originally Posted by Helmwurst
That is just messed up! Is there any additives or cleaners that will help prevent that or break it down so it will pass through and burn?
Yes, use non-ethanol fuel. Or drain ethanol and fill/run with non-ethanol before putting away. Thankfully, I have Rec 90 right around the corner now so this shouldn't be an issue. I'll also drain the carbs at the end of the season just to be safe.
TomZ is offline  
Reply
Old 08-30-2022 | 04:50 PM
  #70  
Craney's Avatar
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 651
From: Clayton NJ
Default

Do you think if you shut the fuel off and let it run of gas,that it would help this problem when you winterize?
Craney is offline  
Reply

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.