Bill Kiene wrote:
When you first start it your choke is usually on because it is cold. This
will usually make it run richer. After it warms up, is the choke going
off?

Good question Bill, I have no idea, I will have to look at my Rochester Carb
book to determine that. I am not sure what the choke looks like on the
carb.

Glenn

"Glenn Deneweth" wrote in message
news
When running at idle, the smell of gas is strong from the exhaust, there
is
no smell inside the boat, it's only from when the boat is running, I
noticed
a couple other boats on my finger doing the same thing.


If this is just a cold start issue then I wouldn't worry too much about it.
If this continues after the engine has warmed up then I would suspect the
choke.

If the choke doesn't back off then perhaps the choke heater isn't working.
A common arrangment is to have an electric heating element next to the
bi-metal spring that operates the choke. When the ignition is turned on,
the electric current heats the spring and slowly opens the choke. If the
wires aren't hooked up, or if the heating element is broken (common failure)
then the choke will never open.

In most cases, the amount of choke applied is easily adjusted. The choke
housing is usually secured by three clips around the outside. If you loosen
the screws you can rotate the housing. Rotating one way will increase the
amount of choke, rotate the other to decrease.

For sure, when the engine is fully warmed up the choke should be fully off.
Unless it is really cold I would not expect the choke to be fully engage.
If you take the spark arrester off the top of the carburetor you should be
able to see the choke valve and establish if it is fully open or not.

Rod

For what it's worth ... my carb float stuck a few times last season
resulting in gas trickling into the maniold ... rough idle and so on. So
following that line of thinking, maybe you've got some grit whatever
preventing the needle valve from closing completely allowing excess gas
flow.


"Glenn Deneweth" wrote in message
...
I have a 230hp 305, with a Mercruiser Alpha 1 (1986) and this year when I
run the engine there are a strong smell of gas fumes, the engine is
running
rich. It also runs a little rough. Would turning the mixture screw fix
both of these issues? I had the carb rebuilt 2 years ago, and tuned up
the
engine the same time. It's not running that rough, and but rougher than
last year. How long do spark plugs and wire last? I also have electronic
ignition if that matters.

Thanks,

Glenn

A misfire causes gas smell in a hurry. Replace your plugs, plug wires,
distributor cap & rotor. These are fairly cheap and easy to replace. I
would then go to after the carb.

"Glenn Deneweth" wrote in message
...
I should mention there's no performance issues....Just a rough idle and
strong gas smell...


"Glenn Deneweth" wrote in message
...
I have a 230hp 305, with a Mercruiser Alpha 1 (1986) and this year when
I
run the engine there are a strong smell of gas fumes, the engine is
running
rich. It also runs a little rough. Would turning the mixture screw fix
both of these issues? I had the carb rebuilt 2 years ago, and tuned up
the
engine the same time. It's not running that rough, and but rougher than
last year. How long do spark plugs and wire last? I also have
electronic
ignition if that matters.

Thanks,

Glenn

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 12:46:17 -0400, "Glenn Deneweth"
wrote:

Bill Kiene wrote:
When you first start it your choke is usually on because it is cold. This
will usually make it run richer. After it warms up, is the choke going
off?

Good question Bill, I have no idea, I will have to look at my Rochester Carb
book to determine that. I am not sure what the choke looks like on the
carb.

Glenn

As you look down the carb, with the air filter off, you'll see two
sets of butterfly valves. They are flat metal dics or plates, that
pivot on a center shaft. With the engine off, have someone open and
close the throttle while you look down. the futterfly thay moves is
the gas one. Ususally (I think) the upper most one is the choke
butterfly. If the choke is on full, you may not see the throttle
butterfly moving. Gently move it open, and confirm it's not the
throttle one. If the top butterlfy is your choke, when the engine has
warmed up, this should be in the wide open position.

If, when the engine is cold, and the choke butterly is fully closed,
this may be too much choke for your needs/climate. This can be
adjusted, refer to your carb manual or the info posted by another
poster to your thread.

Good Luck.