holly carb fuel problem.

[Nbigger]

I have a 1990 sport nautique with a 351 and a holly carb. I had a freind find a leaking fuel line and tightened. Now the boat starts and then sputters at idle and when you give it gas it makes a air sucking or blowing sound. I am thinking while fixing the line he may have bent something on the carb or mabey the fuel filter needed to be changed and while messing with the line it did some thing. Any ideas would be great I am waiting for a new fuel filter and hoping that I can get it ready for our vacation next week.

Thanks, Nick

[Nbigger]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Well I should have the fuel filter today I am planning on changing that when I get home and then testing it out again. If there are any things I should be checking please chime in I have no idea about carburetors. I printed out the manual here to help me and the line that we messed with goes into the idle fuel mixture before it started making the air blowing noise when given throttle. We took the line completely off and blew it out into a bucket and then took the screen out and checked it make sure it was clean and it was. If there is any think that could be easily bent or unhooked please let me know I am giving myself today to get it running or I am taking it out and trying to find a good shop near Fenton Michigan to get it fixed before Saturday.

Thanks, Nick

[Rick]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

You are talking about the carb making the sucking sound right. That is normal The question is whether there is fuel coming into the carb or not. It may be time for a rebuild. The float may be sticking or it may be just gummed up with old gas sitting. Pulling the fuel line off and blowing it out shouldn't do anything to the carb except help get it more gas. Just a thought is the fuel pump OK? If you aren't comfortable messing with the fuel pump or carb don't. Take it to someone that knows about it.

[Nbigger]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

How long and how much do you think a carb rebuild would be. I am taking the boat upnorth for a family vacation and all the kids are pumped to get out on the boat. I would feel terible not having the boat there. I live in Fenton Michigan if any one knows a good place or someone that is good with carbs I will be taking it some where if I can not find a simple problem tonight.

Thanks Nick.

[Excel94]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Nick,

I just rebuilt mine and I am no mechanic. It took me about 15 minutes to remove it, 1 hour to clean it, 3 hours to rebuild it, and 45 minutes to re-install and adjust. So as a rookie it took me about 5 hours, not including a trip to the parts store for carb cleaner. The rebuild kit is around $50 with the extra base gasket.

Keep in mind if you are going to have it rebuilt by someone else you can order a brand new carb for about $450. If you go this route use the White Marine link and the PND discount code. 4 bolts, two wires and a fuel line and you would be good to go.

Tim

[Mikeski]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Check your idle jets, they should be one turn out from lightly seated, they are the little slotted screws on the sides of the metering plate. Keep track of where they are now, count the turns until they seat, write it down then back them out exactly one turn. You can do while the boat is running if it will idle.

I just did one last weekend. The idle mixture screws were only off by a half turn each, it made all the difference in the world.

I have a spare rebuild kit if you need one, $30. Let me know if you need it.

mikeskiw@gmail.com

[WakeSlayer]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

When I had my old SN and BFN, I got the carb rebuilt on the same day I dropped it off. I think it was $200. This was 5-10 years ago respectively. Try and find a specialized carb shop. That is all they do and they will do it right. Tim's idea is not a bad one either if you are pressed for time and have kids counting on you. The extra couple hun will be well spent if you have smiling kids.

[whitfield]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Most drag racing / speed shops offer Holley Carb service or have a local connection to a Holley Carb tuning pro.

Yes your Holley is a marine carb, but any carb pro will understand the differnce and take that into account.

Generally the asphalt guys dial on their carb every time out, with any change in temp, humidity, or track condition. These guys know Holley carbs and keep plenty of spare parts on hand.

[Nbigger]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Thanks for all the info. I have one last question. I have the boat running good but the primary fuel bowl (http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RN0052 ) is striped where the adapter goes into it. Can I buy a new part and just bolt it on or will I need to adjust anything? It is leaking a little fuel that drips onto the intake manifold.
Thanks, Nick

[Excel94]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

When you take the old float assembly and install in the new bowl, turn the bowl upside down and see if the float is level with the bowl. If so no adjustment is required. If not you have to bend the tab a little to adjust it. That should be pretty straight forward.

You would probably want to get a new gasket to go between the bowl and the metering block (what the bowls connects to) and you may want to get a new diaphragm for the accelerator pump while you are at it. There is a metal O ring that goes with the adapter, probably want a new one of those too.

I took a few photos while taking things apart. Didn't need them but felt better have them as back up in case I forgot how it all went together.

[Nbigger]

RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Ok thanks for the quick response I think I will order a new fuel bowl and try to get it in friday.

Thanks, Nick

[Andrew]

Re: RE: holly carb fuel problem.

Check your idle jets, they should be one turn out from lightly seated, they are the little slotted screws on the sides of the metering plate. Keep track of where they are now, count the turns until they seat, write it down then back them out exactly one turn. You can do while the boat is running if it will idle.

I just did one last weekend. The idle mixture screws were only off by a half turn each, it made all the difference in the world.

I have a spare rebuild kit if you need one, $30. Let me know if you need it.

mikeskiw@gmail.com

ideally, you would tap into the intake with a vacuum gauge and turn the screws the same amount on each side until you get your highest reading on the gauge.....

[Nbigger]

RE: Re: RE: holly carb fuel problem.

I ordered a new primary fuel bowl but it may not be here by friday. I may try to use some gas line sealer and get thru next week if the part does not make it in time. Is there any think wrong with using this type of RTV product to get a seal for short term? I will be carfull to get it only on the threads and make sure that the stainer is not clogged. If I can get thru this week I have a freind that is great with carbs and told me to bring it over and he will set it up for me.

Thanks again, Nick

[Excel94]

RE: Re: RE: holly carb fuel problem.

I'm not qualified to answer that one. The product you mention may work well??

Purely from a gut level, I would be very concerned about the possibility of a fuel leak and would want to be very satisfied that it was fixed correctly.

When the parts get there, maybe the first thing to try is that metal O ring. That alone fixed my fuel leak.

[Nbigger]

RE: Re: RE: holly carb fuel problem.

the O ring is ok it is the threads in the primary fuel bowl, they are completly striped out and they were like that when I bought the boat and did not notice. The scary thing is it has been leaking the fuel for a while and I did not notice because it was such a small leak. I am lucky I run the blower and open the cover before I start the boat every time or this could have been really bad. I am only going to use the RTV if the bowl does not make it in time to repair it right and I will not run the boat if I have a fuel leak.

Thanks again for any tips, Nick