Today 2 things, I removed the fuel baffle to see whether I had the common float / magnet saturation problem causing my fuel gauge not to work. The baffle looked good, the bottom filter cover was attached, but there was no float or magnets at all! I've attached a picture. There is a divider in the baffle that has contacts at regular intervals.
If the bottom is attached, where could the float have gone? What do I need to fix it?
It's a 2001 Challenger (14.5' model) with dual 717 engines.
Also last time out my starboard engine had hard starting, and once going it has a low idle. It often took revving the throttle to keep it running, but once I got the boat moving it ran ok.
I'd had a similar problem earlier this year, although on both engines. Thought the carbs needed rebuild, but changed spark plugs before diving into that and that got them running well again.
So I changed plugs with the boat on trailer. No luck, starboard engine still wouldn't start, or started briefly then died. Digging into the carb, I discovered the 2 bolts holding it to the manifold were loose, which seems the obvious reason for the hard starting. I took it off to look and the gasket fell apart, so now I need to get a gasket.
Last time I removed the carb I used grease on the 2 bolts as shown on the parts fiche. Should I have used loctite instead (that seems to make more sense, but I was following instructions)? Did I not torque it enough?
Before I discovered the loose carb I took some pics of the spark plugs. The plug on the left in the picture of 3 plugs is from the port engine that was running well, the other 2 plugs from the starboard. Then I have a close-up of 1 of the plugs from the starboard, and 1 from the port. Carb from the right engine looked much more fouled (and these are relatively new plugs, perhaps 5-7 hours on them). Would that have happened due to the loose carburetor? Or do I have something else to worry about with the starboard engine?
If the bottom is attached, where could the float have gone? What do I need to fix it?
It's a 2001 Challenger (14.5' model) with dual 717 engines.
Also last time out my starboard engine had hard starting, and once going it has a low idle. It often took revving the throttle to keep it running, but once I got the boat moving it ran ok.
I'd had a similar problem earlier this year, although on both engines. Thought the carbs needed rebuild, but changed spark plugs before diving into that and that got them running well again.
So I changed plugs with the boat on trailer. No luck, starboard engine still wouldn't start, or started briefly then died. Digging into the carb, I discovered the 2 bolts holding it to the manifold were loose, which seems the obvious reason for the hard starting. I took it off to look and the gasket fell apart, so now I need to get a gasket.
Last time I removed the carb I used grease on the 2 bolts as shown on the parts fiche. Should I have used loctite instead (that seems to make more sense, but I was following instructions)? Did I not torque it enough?
Before I discovered the loose carb I took some pics of the spark plugs. The plug on the left in the picture of 3 plugs is from the port engine that was running well, the other 2 plugs from the starboard. Then I have a close-up of 1 of the plugs from the starboard, and 1 from the port. Carb from the right engine looked much more fouled (and these are relatively new plugs, perhaps 5-7 hours on them). Would that have happened due to the loose carburetor? Or do I have something else to worry about with the starboard engine?
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