Carb cleaner Merc 350 tournament ski

[steve_93_skiray]

Hi,

I have a ski ray spitfire with the merc 350 tournament ski and I recently changed the oil etc. and my next task is the carburetor.

without taking it off, what can I use to clean it out and clean the flame arrestor (round thing that sits on top with metal fins)?

I find it idles poorly sometimes and almost dies. So I need to rev the engine in neutral to keep it going.


thanks!

 

[km1125]

Cleaning the flame arrestor is important as a clogged one will either cost you performance or economy (or both!). You can take that off and spray it from the inside to out with any good carb cleaner and then rinse with water, blow dry and reinstall. You can also soak it in any good degreaser (even Tide or Dawn) and rinse well and dry and reinstall.

Just cleaning visible parts of the carb is likely not going to to ANYTHING to help performance issues. You can put a cleaner in the fuel and that MIGHT help. If the carb is "dirty" internally then you really have to disassemble and give it a good soak to get it back to like-new condition.

 

[El Capitan]

Without removing and disassembling you’ll be wasting time. Pull it off and get a rebuild kit or have it done.

Thank me later.

 

[steve_93_skiray]

Ok thanks

I cannot see through the flame arrestor fins at all. 100% blocked with gunk.
Could that cause the random poor idle?

note, it has not been cleaned since 1994 when we bought the boat used.

 

[D Bell]

Cleaning my flame arrestors was my best performance mod to date. Was suspecting a bad IAC but, no, a simple cleaning did the trick. Throttle is much more responsive.

 

[steve_93_skiray]

Cleaning my flame arrestors was my best performance mod to date. Was suspecting a bad IAC but, no, a simple cleaning did the trick. Throttle is much more responsive.

I did this and it made quite a difference in the idle and throttle response.

I used brake cleaner and the black slime started to pour off of it. Now I can see light through the fins around the sides.

I used almost 1/2 of a can with a brush and it started to run clear.

 

[MonacoMike]

If you do want to try carb cleaner in a can my mechanics have told me this is what they have had the best luck with making any difference at all.

https://www.westmarine.com/quicksilver-quickleen-engine-fuel-system-cleaner-12419594.html

 

[scoflaw]

Seafoam works well

 

[steve_93_skiray]

Seafoam works well

I have a can that I will put in today.

Can’t hurt I guess.

 

[steve_93_skiray]

Over the weekend we ran the boat through 80L of gas and noticed it was running rich as we could smell gas fumes and on low rpm it sounded like it was going to die.

could this be from me cleaning the flame arrestor? Would I fix this by adjusting the carburetor?

 

[Bill Curtis]

Cleaning the flame arrestor would allow more air (less rich) to enter intake. If you are still rich, probably carb calibration or possibly your choke not opening all the way up at temp. Tune up ????

 

[steve_93_skiray]

Cleaning the flame arrestor would allow more air (less rich) to enter intake. If you are still rich, probably carb calibration or possibly your choke not opening all the way up at temp. Tune up ????

should I also adjust the 2 screws on the carb (idle air mixture or something)?

 

[Bill Curtis]

I would get the manual and see the specific procedure for ensuring fuel mixture is correct for that engine. Kind of difficult to say specifically what to do from this end of keyboard.

General rule of thumb is put the Thunderbolt ignition in maintenance mode (with a jumper wire to ground), screw mixture screws in till the stop _GENTLY-, then back out 1.5 turns and start from there. Adjust with boat in water, drive in forward at idle.

 

[Bama Boat]

Interesting and would like to get the manual you have if possible. Placing the thunderbolt in Maintence mode is where I got lost. I’m a good shade tree mach but very new to any electronics.

 

[Bill Curtis]

Sent you a PM.

The thunderbolt manuals are there, too

 

[Bama Boat]

Thanks

 

[kevin27]

Hey would you post some pictures of your boat? Is it in good shape? Haven't seen one of those in a long time.

 

[Bama Boat]

I’ll post some pictures tomorrow

 

[Bama Boat]

Appears to be in the same shape my docking is!!! Upside down

 

[kevin27]

What? that's no ski ray. Not sure what's going on there but impressive especially without an inverted oil system.