2003 Marathon intermittent starting issue

[BigRed77]

Ok, so I am out of ideas
My 2003 gas marathon runs great a lot, then just out of nowhere it will decide it doesn't want to start cold.
It just did it to me again, after not doing it for weeks.
I hadn't run it in a few days, so I kicked it in neutral and it started up great. Threw it in reverse and it cranks and cranks and cranks like it doesn't have any gas. Back in neutral and it won't fire.

When it does this, if I pull the choke, it seems to bog the engine down and doesn't help.
Only thing that seems to work it to hold the pedal down for like 10 to 15 minutes of cranking then it will finally fire off.
Today doing that resulted in a dead battery before it started.

I recently changed out the fuel hoses and took the carb apart cleaning out a big blob of junk that was sticking the float and making gas come out of the vent holes.

Once before when it acted like this I pulled the carb and sprayed it with cleaner inside and put it back on and the cart fired right up.

Typically if it starts after cranking for a long time, it will run all day no problems at all.

I'm just perplexed.

Fuel pump has been a thought.
I replaced it a couple of years back when I had another issue,. It was a cheap fuel pump off Amazon. That issue turned out to be the solenoid.
So recently when this current issue started, I put the original back on and it seemed to make no difference at all. Same intermittent issue. But maybe it is the pump.
My fuel filter (recently changed) does seem to be only a trickle of fuel through it,...... should it be full?

Again, 9 out of 10 times it starts and runs fine all day,
If it starts it typically runs fine all day.
Just every now and then it acts like it has no fuel and the choke seems to bog it down. Then if I hold the pedal down for a really long time of it cranking it will finally fire off and run fine.

Sorry for the stream of consciousness post, I'm kinda frustrated atm.
Any ideas or help will be explored.

[BigRed77]

Ohh, just thought to add...
I have fairly recently replaced the plugs
Once at the same time as the fuel pump, because I was an idiot and bought a 'tune up kit or whatever from Amazon that was all cheap ****.
And the second time with actual NKG plugs because I was having this issue and thought it might be the cheap plugs

[BigRed77]

After charging the battery overnight, it was the same story today. Engine just cranking over but no fire.

Decided to pull the carb again and found the airbox holding a deep puddle of gas, not sure why. Any ideas?

Pulled the carb and sprayed it all out, including pulling the bowl and float and spraying everything in there

Put it back together and it fired right off, and runs great.

So, I am thinking whatever caused the fuel to run out the front of the carb is the problem, but I dont know what causes that.

[Marsh Bandit]

Did you ever figure out what was causing your fuel issue. I’m having similar problems

[BigRed77]

Originally Posted by Marsh Bandit

Did you ever figure out what was causing your fuel issue. I’m having similar problems

I think It was actually mostly the valves adjustment
Adjusted my valves and it seems to be much better,
Only thing is it doesn't want to start without a quick pull on the choke, which I think is result of the valves being adjusted cold
I'll get in there and re adjust them hot soon and see if it all comes together

[trig123]

Originally Posted by BigRed77

I think It was actually mostly the valves adjustment
Adjusted my valves and it seems to be much better,
Only thing is it doesn't want to start without a quick pull on the choke, which I think is result of the valves being adjusted cold
I'll get in there and re adjust them hot soon and see if it all comes together

You always want to adjust them cold.

[Marsh Bandit]

Similar issue, I did a compression check and it was 160 on both. Should I still check the valves?

[BigRed77]

Originally Posted by Marsh Bandit

Similar issue, I did a compression check and it was 160 on both. Should I still check the valves?

I am no expert, but from what I have read, yes
Out of adjustment valves does not necessarily equal poor compression

[BigRed77]

Originally Posted by trig123

You always want to adjust them cold.

Is that the definitive answer?
Seems like I found varying opinions, even saw someone say adjust to .006 if cold or .004 if hot

[trig123]

Originally Posted by BigRed77

Is that the definitive answer?
Seems like I found varying opinions, even saw someone say adjust to .006 if cold or .004 if hot

.004 cold. Correct answer