Valve for Carb Float

[Unregistered]

We are in a small port outside of Puerto Vallarta Mexico and have troubleshot our engine problem to be a broken valve in our Carb. Of course it is impossible to get parts down here for Atomic 4's. Is there anything else or another interchangeable part that we can use to substitute a float valve to get our boat back to the main dock while we wait for replacements. Desperate for any suggestions.
Jeannette
Jeannettecunniff@hotmail.com

[Marty Levenson]

Need more info to be of any help....Can you be more precise as to what is broken? How it is broken? Do you mean the seat that the valve pin moves up and down in? Is it stripped? Cracked? The pin itself broken...bent? The float?

[Don Moyer]

Jeanette,

Pending your response to Marty Levenson's request for more information, and on an emergency basis, if you have a mechanical fuel pump you might reassemble your carburetor and install it back on the engine with the float valve (including the seat) left out. Then go through the following steps:

1) Carefully work the priming lever of your mechanical fuel pump slowly until you see the first sign of raw fuel collecting in the bottom of the intake throat of the carburetor.

2) Start the engine as per normal and let it idle, then every 30 seconds (or so) add a short priming stroke on the pump. If you add too much fuel, you'll notice the engine running rough from being too rich. If you add too little fuel, the engine will stop. Establish an interval of working the priming lever to keep the engine running.

3) Continue the above process as you add power. As you add power, especially with the engine in gear, you'll need slightly more fuel.

If you have an electric pump, the process is slightly more complicated, but if you can disconnect the electric pump (regardless of how it's presently
connected) and run a jumper wire directly from the pump to the positive terminal of the coil, you'll be able to connect and disconnect the pump and go through the same steps as above.

Hopefully there's someone else on board to work the helm while you motor to
your safe harbor.

Best regards,

Don Moyer