Sudden onset of Hard Starting

[ditchdr]

Hello all and Cliff;
I have a 1975 4mv Q jet 7045254.I am running it on a 500CID Cadillac with a stock Cast Manifold. This motor is in an Air boat. It was gone through with help from an older friend of mine who knows Q jest pretty well. The carb has ran great for about a year. Now all of sudden I can not get the boat to start with out pouring gas down the throat. After I get it running the 1st time it goes on and runs fine all day long.
I did not seal up the well plugs when we put it together. The carb came off of a GMC Motor home and the well plugs look good. FYI I run an electric fuel pump and the stock Cadillac Mech. pump.
My friend suggested the well plugs may be now leaking and not filling the bowel on initial start up. What do ya'll think.
Thanks in advance
Roger.   

[Schurkey]

Now all of sudden I can not get the boat to start with out pouring gas down the throat. After I get it running the 1st time it goes on and runs fine all day long.
I did not seal up the well plugs when we put it together. The carb came off of a GMC Motor home and the well plugs look good.

FYI I run an electric fuel pump and the stock Cadillac Mech. pump.

I don't understand why you'd need both pumps.  My suggestion is to pick one or the other, and remove the other one.  If it were me, I'd ditch the engine driven pump.

My friend suggested the well plugs may be now leaking and not filling the bowel on initial start up.

But the electric pump WOULD fill the bowl (not your bowel) as soon as it's run for a couple of seconds; and it should be doing that as soon as you turn the key.

If the electric fuel pump pressurizes the system and fills the bowl before cranking--then your hard starting problem isn't in the well plugs.

[Cliff Ruggles]

Test the fuel delivery from the accellerator pump.  We sell complete ethanol compatable pumps for $12 plus shipping.  They have the grade 5 flourostomer seal, garter spring, custom duration and delivery springs and a new retainer. 

I would also install one of our high flow Viton tipped needle/seat assemblies at the same time.

We get similiar calls and emails daily, and in almost all those parts have failed or are failing due to the ethanol in the fuel.....Cliff

[ditchdr]

Thanks Cliff and Schurkey,
Sorry about the mis-spelled word. The reason for both fuel pumps is two fold 1st is because the carb is more that 6 foot above the fuel tank. This is so there is room to swing a 72 inch prop. The 2nd reason is because if I am out say 10 miles from land in the swamp and one of the pumps fails I can still get back on the other one.
I will be sending out for the parts you talked about soon. I did find after looking closer the Accel. Pump seems to have gotten stuck, the spring was not bringing it back up where it would pump right. The pump popped up back in place and I replaced the carb on the boat. I did not see any leaking at the plugs. We will see if this is a temp fix or what soon.
P.S. I used your name (cilffsqjets) on Southernairboat.com in a post. I hope you don’t mind.

[Cliff Ruggles]

Best to call us directly for parts.  740-397-2921, 8am to 5pm EST Monday thru Friday...thanks...Cliff