Help with varnish in carbs old boat

[rod367th]

I know this is wrong forum ht but most read this one only.  Friend from VFW passed away and left me his old but great condition bass boat. boat sat last 4 years and got varnish in carbs i want to clean them my self. its a 65 seahorse he rebuilt just before he passed away so engine runs well but i want to fix varnish problem . before gets bad. question is any tips on doing it myself.



 ps he left all manuals and everything for boat. and boat is 1972 invader with 65 seahorse. i think i can i think i can but hoping one of u might be boat engine geek besides sim geek...thx for any help or tips

[DamnedRen]

Carb cleaner should do it. you need to dump all the fuel. The next time you store it drain the float bowl. It's easier to just disconnect the fuel line and run it out of gas prior to putting it up for the winter.

You also need to check the impeller. It's made of rubber and is probably shot and needs replacement. If you don't replace it you may burn up the engine.

Hope this helps.

Ren
The Damned.

Opps, forgot the jets normally have a rubber o-ring and they might need replacement as they harden and crack, then leak.

[rod367th]

thx

[Grits]

The question I have is "are you going to keep this boat?"

If the answer is NO then throw some carb cleaner in it.

If the answer is yes, then absolutely positively take the carb apart and clean it. This is a serious pain, but there is no easy long term fix, and if you are going to keep this boat, take the time and do it right the first time so you dont have to do it again.

Once you have it clean, I would do as Ren says and completely remove the fuel when you store it, or drain the float bowls and then put Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank. The fuel in the tank conditioned with Sta-Bil will stay fresh for up too 24 months.

[FX1]

Its not that hard but dont walk away from the job in the middle. Do it all at once so you dont need the seahorse diagram to put it back together. I did a 25 horse merc yesterday up at the lake house 45min job and i had no idea what was going on with that engine. Ran great after some carb cleaner.

[rod367th]

Originally posted by FX1
Its not that hard but dont walk away from the job in the middle. Do it all at once so you dont need the seahorse diagram to put it back together. I did a 25 horse merc yesterday up at the lake house 45min job and i had no idea what was going on with that engine. Ran great after some carb cleaner.

well i'm lucky russ took great care of this boat, I have all th manuals including 50aniv  manual for the 65 seahorse engine. manual looks easy but always some trick out there.

[storch]

The Johnson 65 seahorse is about as bullet proof of an engine as has ever been built.  do what that pipsqueak grits said.  also run a fuel stablizer unless you plan on emptying the tanks prior to storage.  Stabil works ok for me.

[FiLtH]

When I was a kid I had a mini bike. I was going to clean the carb with carb cleaner that I had put in a styro foam cup. When I went to grab the cup it was gone. Melted. I havent gotten much brighter since.

[Jackal1]

Carb cleaner is a boat motor`s  carbs worst enemy unless it is used with the carb disasembled.
Take the carbs apart, then clean. No biggy.

[SwS]

Don't forget to change the water pump!  I got stranded 55 miles offshore when mine went out.  I change it EVERY spring if it needs it or not, cheap insurance.

[airbumba]

By a carb kit, stip it down and give it a soak in Gunk. Read the directions, too long a soak and you'll need new carbs.