Carburetor bowl drain location

[dlewis812]

Honda 8HP out outboard. Currently on a mooring on a trip. Can't get the outboard to idle. Although there is a yard in the area cant get the motor to them and they obviously won't come to it. Starts/runs fine although won't idle. It "should" have recently been serviced when I picked it up last week. Yard mentioned I should drain the carb bowl. Problem is don't know where that is. Other than that any suggestions what to try while I'm on the mooring? (also, I did make sure to use new gas before leaving)

Thanks

 

[dlewis812]

honda 8hp Out Outboard. Currently On A Mooring On A Trip. Can't Get The Outboard To Idle. Although There Is A Yard In The Area Cant Get The Motor To Them And They Obviously Won't Come To It. Starts/runs Fine Although Won't Idle. It "should" Have Recently Been Serviced When I Picked It Up Last Week. Yard Mentioned I Should Drain The Carb Bowl. Problem Is Don't Know Where That Is. Other Than That Any Suggestions What To Try While I'm On The Mooring? (also, I Did Make Sure To Use New Gas Before Leaving)

Thanks

4 Stroke

 

[MrUnix]

Should be a screw on the bottom of the bowl.. make sure you put something under it to catch the gas that comes out. Some liberal use of carb cleaner may help as it sounds like you have an idle circuit jet clogging up. How long did it sit without use? Doesn't take long for gum and varnish to build up when not being used. One reason why I always run mine dry before putting it up for the night

Cheers,
Brad

 

[anchorclanker]

You should have an owners manual, if not you should be able find one online with a little digging. It will show you the drain. If all else fails, search for parts online. Several of the online marine parts houses have exploded views of various motors and sub assemblies, you may be able to see the drain screw by looking there.

In any case, the drain screw will be a Phillips head screw mounted horizontally at the bottom of the carb. It will be situated to be easily reached with a longer screwdriver without removing anything. You should see a nipple near the screw, pointing down, and if its not been removed, a small clear drain hose coming off of it running to the bottom of the lower engine housing.

Personally, I doubt you have water in it if it runs okay except at idle. Most likely you only need to adjust idle mixture and/or idle speed. I know you likely paid for this already, but if your going to own it, you should learn how to do it yourself so you can figure it out sometime when your "out there".

 

[dlewis812]

Drained it, yes little in there.

Will try to look up now however by all means any instruction/info on the idle adjustment would be appreciated!

 

[anchorclanker]

mix screws are "almost" all the same. Most you screw in clockwise, to close/lean mixture, out counter clockwise to open/richen. However a few work just the opposite because rather than controlling fuel they control air. More air/less fuel = lean, less air/more fuel = rich.

If it wont idle its most likely too lean. Without "da book", I would screw the mix screw in till it lightly stops/seats, then back it back out the same number of turns. Now I know where it was to begin with and can always go back to that as a starting point. From there I would try 1/8 turn increments in or out and look for a change.

If its already so lean it wont idle, one way or the other should speed it up. If it speeds up too much, you need to turn the idle back down. Keep adjusting the mix screw to get it to run as fast as possible, but always below 1000 rpm by turning idle speed down.

I am pretty sure the mix screw on a Honda controls fuel, so backing it out should speed it up for you. However, if you find its reversed, its an air screw. In either case, by now you should know which way is lean or rich, and you should have it running about as lean as it needs to be to idle at normal speed. Now turn the mix screw slightly richer by about 1/8 turn. Out if its a fuel screw, in if its an air screw.

 

[Don12364]

If the draining of the float chamber doesn't resolve this issue please see below.

Carburettors normally have a 'Transfer Jet' to handle the fuel flow off load and at low engine speeds.
In the small carbs on low power outboards this jet is often just a tiny tiny drlling in a non too obvious place. It can gum up very easily if fuel is allowed to evaporate in the carb.
Thorough cleaning and use of an air line to blow the cleaner out of all the passages is generally the only way to restore its function fully.
Fortunately modern 2 stroke oils and the very low oil to gas ratios help to keep this problem at bay.

 

[dlewis812]

Going to try adjusting the mix screw, thanks. Assuming following above can get back to orig setting easily; just checking. Location of the mix screw? (sorry, limited resources right now)

 

[dlewis812]

Can the adjustment be done in neutral? (on mooring)

 

[seadaddler]

Sure

I readjusted my Yamaha while in neutral while anchored aand adjusted the idle screw and mixing screw and now she does not stall any more.
Nick