hello all, im new to the boating world. i just picked up a 81 sea ray 305. i/o i know its old but its in real good shape. i have put in a new starter,plugs,wires,cap,rotor,rebuilt thecarb,new coil,fule/water sep. i have gone threw this motor real good. i have been working on cars for a long time. but boats are new to me. ok now to my problem. it will turn over and fire and run for about 30 sec. if i keep giving it a little gas i can keep it running for a few min. but wont idle its almost like its running out of gas. it also did this befor i rebuilt the carb.i have played around with air fule mixture with no real changes. im kinda stuck. any one have any ideas?

Do you have fresh fuel in the tank?

yes. drained it. ran the same. i also just tryed to run it off a gas can just to check.

Try turning up the idle screw until it stays running then adjust your idle mixture screws.If you can get them to a point where it runs smoother and faster then start turning down the idle screw.I'm assuming you have the timing set correctly.It could also possibly need a fuel pump.

That helps now you know it is the engine, Try to find a way to test the fuel pump pressure. Most carb engines are round 8 [psi]

i will put a fule pressure gauge on it today. but if that was bad would i be able to keep it running for a few min? i know it will run for a little with the fule in the bowl.

1981 has a points dist. ,you didn't say anything about that. New points and cond. dwell @ 30* timing @ 8btdc. That being said when it is running is there good throttle response?

yes i have done all that. cond...points. all set at factory specs. the response is not that good.

bluez,have you tried a remote fuel can hooked to your fuel pump? There is also a check valve in the main fuel line between the pump and the tank that has been known to go bad before.Do you have a quadrajet on it??

yes it has a 4 b quadrajunk on it. i have tryed a remote fuel can.