initial needle setting and starting tips

ktl · Apr 23, 2005

I've just finished building a Circus Circus and am having trouble getting the engine to run. I have a new Mac 84 with the course valve set up. What should the initial settings be at? I've managed to get it to start a couple of times but dies out after a few seconds like it ran out of gas and then won't start again. Also, my 1/4 inch tube seems to have twisted by the ferrel because the engine was torqued backward so I pulled the cable and still haven't been able to get the motor to run. What would cause the cable to do this? Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.

Richard Dahlheimer · Apr 23, 2005

ktl said:
I've just finished building a Circus Circus and am having trouble getting the engine to run. I have a new Mac 84 with the course valve set up. What should the initial settings be at? I've managed to get it to start a couple of times but dies out after a few seconds like it ran out of gas and then won't start again. Also, my 1/4 inch tube seems to have twisted by the ferrel because the engine was torqued backward so I pulled the cable and still haven't been able to get the motor to run. What would cause the cable to do this? Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.

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Make sure you are spinning the motor counter clock wise, when starting. Remove glow plug, and crank motor while holding a rag, or paper towel over the top of the motor. You should get a wet spot on the rag or paper towel. This tells you that you are getting fuel to the engine. Make sure your glow plug is ok. Use an MC-9 plug. Sorry; i cant help with the mixture control. Good Luck, Richard D.

AndyBrown · Apr 23, 2005

Open the needle two turns. This should be a little rich. Use large fuel lines. Set the idle position on the carb at 1/3 open. When the engine fires it should sound blubbering rich. Do not try to rev the evegine by opening the throttle. Instead pinch the fuel line for just an instant so the revs come up and the engine cleans out.

If the mixture is about right the engine will drop back to a rich steady idle when the pinch is released. This rich idle will have a lot of fuel dancing out of the card. If it is to rich the engine will flood out and quit. If it quits from lack of fuel, it is way too lean. You'll want it to sound very very rich on idle. Almost on the verge of loading up and quiting. Anything leaner and it will be too lean when it gets a load on it in the water.

Good Boating,

Andy

Someone was asking the same question on another thread, but I can't find it now.

The MAC 45 in our boat is flowing 9 @ 40" of H2O. The fine CMD third channle mixture valve is open 2 3/4 turns. Our MAC 67 is flowing 8 @ 40" of H2O.

On the coarse mixture valve that is 1 3/4 turns open.

Ron Olson · Apr 23, 2005

That was me Andy, thanks for the help!

The hull came back from the painter yesterday and I'm getting it back together. It may be in the water as soon as next weekend. I'm kind of glad that it wasn't done sooner, we have a WINTER weather advisory in effect right now. Yeah, I can't believe they're using that word this time of the year!

ktl · Apr 23, 2005

Thanks for the suggestions. When I did get the engine to run, it was acting like Andy said it should, rich with gas coming out the carb and I figured it was to rich and I would lean it out then couldn't get it restarted. I'll try it again this weekend. Any suggestions on why my flex drive seemed to bind up? I'm new to boating and don't have anyone to help me. Everything I've learned has come from these forums which have been a graet help. Thanks for all your replies.

Bob Morton · Apr 23, 2005

ktl said:
Thanks for the suggestions. When I did get the engine to run, it was acting like Andy said it should, rich with gas coming out the carb and I figured it was to rich and I would lean it out then couldn't get it restarted. I'll try it again this weekend. Any suggestions on why my flex drive seemed to bind up? I'm new to boating and don't have anyone to help me. Everything I've learned has come from these forums which have been a graet help. Thanks for all your replies.

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Hi, Whats your name? Mine is Bob. Also were do you live?

Your cable needs to have a space of 3/16 of and inch between the strut and the drive dog. :unsure: To allow for shrinkage.

Also make sure you are using some kind of grease. B) You will get some outher answers too. :unsure:

ktl · Apr 23, 2005

Thanks Bob. My name is Keith and I currently live in Rockford Il., but am looking to get transfered somewhere warmer. My company likes to move us around alot and we have a choice on where to go next.