Sea King Single Carburetor Help

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  • April 14, 2019 at 8:57 am #173306
    Tom
    Participant

      US Member

      I have a Sea King Single with a carburetor as shown in the diagram. The motor runs but it’s very difficult to start. The carburetor main needle has to be in a very narrow range, perhaps 5 degrees or so. I suspect the reed plate may be the issue, since I know the motor has been apart by… well… not an expert.

      It has a reed plate (#30) and a stop plate with a dimple (#28). It also has two different spacers, one thicker than the other. Can someone confirm whether the diagram is correct, or if there was a different version of this carb? Also, where are the two different spacers supposed to go?

      As currently assembled, there is no clearance between the reed plate and the dimple on the stop plate, even with the thicker spacer between them. Is the stop plate supposed to keep constant tension on the reed?

      Thanks for your help!

      Tom

      T

      April 14, 2019 at 9:31 am #173310
      frankr
      Participant

        US Member

        Those things varied over the years. Here is 1961. Honestly, I forgot how you determine what “as required” is. Actually, I never worried about it much. They seem to work no matter what you do. The reed probably isn’t your hard start problem anyway.

        2.-Carburetor

        • This reply was modified 5 years ago by frankr.
        April 14, 2019 at 9:45 am #173313
        frankr
        Participant

          US Member

          So I looked it up in the Gale Service Manual. It sez, “The reed tension is pre-established at the factory with special gages”. The word from here is put it back like you found it and get on with life.

          Gale-3hp-motors-by-year

          April 14, 2019 at 11:38 am #173320
          Tom
          Participant

            US Member

            Thanks, Frank. I’ll look for that third plate, which seems to be in both versions of the diagram.

            T

            April 14, 2019 at 12:17 pm #173326
            lindy46
            Participant

              US Member

              On my 1951 5hp I ended up using only one spacer and she runs fine that way. Make sure to prime it for 8 – 10 seconds before trying to start it.

              April 14, 2019 at 9:38 pm #173408
              Tom
              Participant

                US Member

                Well, I got all the way into the carb today, I think the float might have been the problem. It was running very rich, with the main jet open only 1/8 of a turn. I’ve made a new float, and will adjust the fuel level a lot lower than it had been, then give it another try.

                Thanks for the responses,

                Tom

                April 16, 2019 at 7:45 am #173509
                Tom
                Participant

                  US Member

                  Pretty sure it was the float… I replaced it, and used the thinner spacer between the reed plate and the stop plate. The motor starts easily and runs quite well. Thanks, folks! T

                  April 16, 2019 at 10:04 am #173513
                  The Boat House
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