Does sound like a stuck carb float. An electric fuel pump with a regular
carb is not a common combination for a 4.3 merc. Are you sure about the
electric fuel pump? 93 is old enough to still have a regular carb. I'd
certainly try a rebuild kit and I'd probably only go as far as the float
bowl when I did it. 4 barrel or 2 barrel?

"Sonny H" wrote in message
...
Greetings,

I was on the lake yesterday in my '93, 18ft Thompson 4.3L Mercruiser,
with carburetor and electric fuel pump.

The engine literally locked up when coming to a 'slow down' with the
boat. I tried to restart it and it acted like a low battery. The first
thing I thought of is: "ok we're overheated" but the temperature was way
under 150.

The engine had a pretty big jerk from the starter trying so hard. so I
knew it wasn't a low battery or bad starter. Sometimes I would get it
started and all of a sudden a lock up.
I had to be towed back to the boat ramp. This engine did not overheat. I
felt the manifolds and they wasn't barely even warm.

When I got home - I hooked up the ear muffs and it started right up. Ran
normal. It had me scratching my head.

I checked the oil and noticed it was about 2 quarts over the full mark.
It was not milky. So no water getting in the oil. I drained the oil and
it smelled like gas. I'm guessing gas is getting into the oil from the
Carb. So the engine lock up was from the crankcase being totally full of
oil (and gas in this case.)

Now my questions a Do I just need a Carb rebuild kit, or new Carb? Is
there anything else that can cause this? Has anyone ever had this
problem?
Thanks for any comments/opinions.
Sonny

JamesgangNC:

The fuel pump sounds like the one on my Chevy Silverado.
The tank is located in the middle of the boat under the floor. And it's
got a big "wheel" that you can turn and take off to see the top of the
tank, where the wires go into the tank for the sending unit.
It's a 2 barrel Carb (I think!)
It's got the choke on one side with two "holes" and the other side has 2
more. Maybe it's a 4 barrel?! Who knows!

Thanks,
Sonny