Saving Old Seagulls

Hey all,

After much use, with almost no problems (exhaust shroud coming loose, losing fuel tank cap overboard, our seagull won't start! We're stick out on the water, do have sails and oars, but we've got a big crossing to make and would really like to have the old girl working. I thought some gunk that had accumulated in the bottom of the fuel line bend might have blocked up the carb, so I took it apart to clean it. Nothing. The trouble started when I took the motor off the boat to check the fuel tap valve.

It's a century 100. How should the needle screw be set? Could fuel leaking from the bottom of the shaft be a clue? Help!

Ack! It was the spark plug wire. Should be good to go now…!

Though the old girl is a bit smokey now. Could that have something to do with screwing with the needle adjust screw? Where should that be anyway? And anyone know of a decent field service to fix a leaking fuel tap for a day or two?

The screw that pushes the needle should be flush with the slide.
If you have a plunger with cork, boil the plunger for 15 minutes.
Then stick it to grease after you have removed all water. When cold refit it. It should work.

as per STELIOS's reply
if your motor has the villiers carb, the needle jet setting is flush with the top of the piston (turning the screw down leans the mixture, no more than 2 turns down from flush mind you)
the amal carb has no adjustment (except for carefully swapping jets around) these carbs are either 10;1 or 25;1 . if your motor was made after 1968 then it can quite happily run at 25;1 if its older than that, stick with 10;1

jon