Mariah 180 SE 3.0LX needle valve sticking
 

just wondering if any one has similar expereince. I have been dewinterisng my boat and when I intitally tried to start it on the trailer with hose pipe on the intake water muffs it wouldn't fire.
Its usually starst very easily.
I took the flame arrestor off and opened the throttle, no fuel was squirted into the barrels. Checked the fuel supply by undoing slightly the inlet fuel union an dfuel squirted out.
Dismantled the carb to find the inlet valve stuck up. Cleaned the rest of the carb, very little deposition in the flaot chamber. Insected the needle vale it self ( little rubber cone on small metal body) it looked ok. Reassembled with new gasket kit and it started no worries.

2 weeks later before dropping it into the water, checked to see if she would fire up and no go!!!
Again checked the accelerator pump no fuel! Gently tapped the carb body and heard a small squirt. The needle valve had got stuck agian but a tap released it. Dropped boat in and off we go. Try to start her the next day and the same issue. A quick tap. I have decided I need to replace the inlet valve assembly. Is this available as a small kit or do I need a total rebuild kit.

Is this common or just one of those things that periodically requires changing out.

Unsure if a fresh tank of fuel will help as it still on last yeasr fuel. My Seloc manual states to fill fuel tank fully over winter. This is the first time I have done this and the first time i have had grief, so wonder if the fuel is off casugin gumming up issues of inlet valve.

Suggestions or feedback would be welcomed as I am relatively new to boats only 4 th season.

Re: Mariah 180 SE 3.0LX needle valve sticking
 

Did you use Sta-bil or some similar fuel stabilizer when you winterized the boat last fall? If not, the fuel starts to deteriorate & gel which will cause carb/jet problems. A fresh tank of fuel will help but you have to get rid of the old stuff first and you may be able to run some carb cleaner thru it too.