Should've stuck with golf!!!

[NateL]

Just bought an 89 Thundercraft I/O has a 2.3 Ford 4cyl 2 barrell carb OMC outdrive. Here's the problem. Put 18 gallons of fuel in it first time out on water ran awesome for 15 minutes then on came the spit and sputter and no power, dying when I shift forward and reverse blah blah blah so on and so forth. Told to put marine stabyll in it. Did it. Took it out today same problem only it took it less time to start the spit and sputter. At idle purs like a kitten put in gear to go, get it around 3000 rpms gets really bad. Lower rpms not as bad but still does it. Boggy and grawgy sounds like it's flooding almost. Nearly kills the motor when I open it up. I've had a few people say fuel problem. If so where do I start? Filter? Hose? Fuel Pump? Carb? know zero about boats but can work on cars. Boats seem like a whole different animal here.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Spit and Sputter / Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Spit and Sputter / Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sure sounds like a fuel issue..

Everything you mentioned could be suspect..I would get a remote jerry can with fresh gas in it and see how she runs..If she doesnt "act up" you know the carb is OK..If it does, well I guess a carb overhaul is in your future, as well as making sure the filter, hose and even the boats gas tank itself doesnt have junk floating around in it bogging you down..

Good luck

 

[NateL]

Re: Spit and Sputter / Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Spit and Sputter / Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Took off the fuel filter poured it in a jar to check for possible water in the fuel and found no water but did have a bunch of what looks to me like rust particals floating in it. Put an attachment of a picture of what was in it. Don't know how that works to open it on here but it was the best I could do. Need some feedback Thanks very much for your replies guys

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Spit and Sputter / Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Spit and Sputter / Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would start by changing the fuel filter element and also the filter thats in the fuel inlet of the carb. Looks like ethanol is at work "cleaning the fuel tank out" got to keep up with the filters til the junk is gone.

 

[NateL]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Had planned to change the filter and like I was told before maybe try a can and run some new clean fuel through the whole system. How can I clean the tank out with very little access to it? Tank is under the floor and has non original seats built over the top does have the black access thing on the top of floor. Would this ethonal problem make the boat do the things I explained at the top of this post? Heard it will make you have a really bad day I guess that was all true. Cleaning the tank could pose a problem for me the way its in the boat but willing to try anything. Tired of the aggravation. Haven't enjoyed a minute of this boat yet. Always to steemed about the no go with it. Thanks everyone for the help all assistance is greatly appreciated. One more thing. Fuel filter/ Fuel water seperator. Same thing? or totally different?

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Same thing

 

[jthor3277]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

The fuel filter and water seperator are completely different systems. The water seperator is a kit and well worth it. Cost around $50-60 bucks and not to hard to install. Ethanol is everywhere now! Also check your gas cap/vent seal and make sure water isn't getting into the tank that way. Sea Foam and marine stabil might work but it depends how much water was in that tank before you filled up. I did the same thing with Sea Ray and had to have all the gas drained because of the water in it. If that doesn't work, your carb passages and accelerator pump might be clogged due to the containiments and rebuild time is required. I hope things work out!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

You should open that cover and see if you have access to the fuel gauge float assy, you may be able to remove the float assy and then use an inspection mirror through the hole to see inside the tank, you at least could pump out every last drop of bad fuel and then rig up a small mop and swap around in there and see what you get. the mounting hole for my sender is about 4" diam. enough room to get in there if i had to.

 

[NateL]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

So what do you guys think of the junk that I got out of the filter? Does it look like ethonal problem or junk from the tank? I'm thinking junk from the tank. I think when I filled it I stirred some stuff up in there that had settled for a while when the previous owner had it sitting for sale. I think after I burned all the uncontaminated fuel out of the line and filter it was sucking junk and is why it only went 10 to 15 minutes without problems. Makes sense to me but like I said I am only 5 days into my boat ownership. Got a lot to learn. Thanks guys your definantly helping me understand all this stuff. appreciate it all.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

I think your exactly right on track.

 

[aktrucker]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

So what do you guys think of the junk that I got out of the filter? Does it look like ethonal problem or junk from the tank? I'm thinking junk from the tank. I think when I filled it I stirred some stuff up in there that had settled for a while when the previous owner had it sitting for sale. I think after I burned all the uncontaminated fuel out of the line and filter it was sucking junk and is why it only went 10 to 15 minutes without problems. Makes sense to me but like I said I am only 5 days into my boat ownership. Got a lot to learn. Thanks guys your definantly helping me understand all this stuff. appreciate it all.

Looks like varnish particles from inside the tank...the ethanol is cleaning the varnished gas off the walls, mine is doing the same thing, I am on filter number 3 in 5 trips.

 

[NateL]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Well guys I pulled the fuel gauge unit out and looked at the inside of the tank as much as i could see. It's all brown on the bottom like the stuff in the jar pic. Is it supposed to be that way? everything was settled at the bottom i assume so I went and got some Star lite additive and plan to put some in but Ive already put some stabil marine stuff in there. Don't want to over kill the additive thing. So is it supposed to be that way? or do I have a major problem here. I'll scrap the tank and put all new in if I have to, but would rather not. Also found that i just have a fuel/water serperator on it. Should I add another in line fuel filter? or is that to much. Any suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated. Need all the help i can get. Thanks

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

Re: Pic of fuel filter junk/ Normal? or Not? Feedback Please

If you can get into the tank try this: raise or lower the bow so the gas and garbage settles to the corner of the tank and use a hand pump / kerosene pump to pump out the garbage. You can use a piece of hose to extend the reach of the hand pump.
Dont use anything electric while working with gas!!

 

[sethjon]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

Just bought an 89 Thundercraft I/O has a 2.3 Ford 4cyl 2 barrell carb OMC outdrive. Here's the problem. Put 18 gallons of fuel in it first time out on water ran awesome for 15 minutes then on came the spit and sputter and no power, dying when I shift forward and reverse blah blah blah so on and so forth. Told to put marine stabyll in it. Did it. Took it out today same problem only it took it less time to start the spit and sputter. At idle purs like a kitten put in gear to go, get it around 3000 rpms gets really bad. Lower rpms not as bad but still does it. Boggy and grawgy sounds like it's flooding almost. Nearly kills the motor when I open it up. I've had a few people say fuel problem. If so where do I start? Filter? Hose? Fuel Pump? Carb? know zero about boats but can work on cars. Boats seem like a whole different animal here.

Start with the cheap stuff that probably needs a change anyway. Fuel filter for sure. Then try to adjust the carb and make sure its getting enough fuel. Look down the guts to see it. It could be the pump. How old is it? I wouldn't do that just yet. Next, a tune up. Pull the plugs first. They could be your problem and cheap to replace. The last obvious thing to check too is the points. Pull them and replace and make sure the gap is right. After all that then you should write again and let us know what if anything changed.

 

[cautionneeded]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

I am currently going through the same thing with my 1975 boat with a 140hp MC. Take the time to become familiar with the entire fuel system from the tank to the carb. I have found that almost all minor parts in line need replaced as I try to solve my problem. It has not been expensive and it's fairly easy to work on but not so fun to be on the water and broke down. I have spare filters, a spare tank to bypass the main line, added in-line filters I can see and now I need to check the screen in my fuel tank and may replace fuel line full length.
I have to assume that the boat sat for an extended period before I purchased it or a serious change in fuel formulation in the last 3 yrs has occurred.

 

[NateL]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

Need to check the plugs yet but did pull the wires one by one and they didn't looked new to. Points look to me like there brand new, checked vent tube its clear, fuel line from tank to filter is clear gonna put new filter on tomorrow and run a jerry tank and pray lol. Ive only ran the boat without this problem for the first ten minutes of ownership and bam here comes this problem took it out a second time and it was worse then the first. Dunno but I'll figure it out sometime. Hope tomorrow goes well if so I'm gonna scrap the tank and never look at it again. Install a fresh one so i know it's good to go. Thanks again guys. Happy boating!!! Hopefully mine will be happy soon to.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

One of the easiest ways ive found to empty out the tank of the old fuel is go to Pep Boys and buy a cheap electric fuel pump and a few feet of fuel hose. Drop the hose into the tank and hook up the pump to the battery. voila!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

This has actaully become a common problem because of E-10 gas having more solvent characteristics than straight gas...the tank will have a build up of varnish in it from years of use and then the ethanol cleans it out and clogs filters and carbs...

The BEST thing to do is to have the gas tank cleaned out...esp if it has that much deposits on the bottom of it...some people have had good results from changing fuel filters (the water separating filter) till it clears out...or you could get a Racor with the metal bowl and drain it often...

Keep in mind it's over 20 years old now...the service life of many aluminum gas tanks is less than that depending on how it was installed and maintained...

I have a neighbor who is going through the same thing for several years with an older Wellcraft 28 footer with twin 350s...I keep telling him to get the tanks pulled/inspected and cleaned...he keeps dumping water out of his filters...but the thing never runs right...

Start at the source of the problem and then work forward....
And as far as boat vs auto....boat is vented to the atomsphere so it's easy for water to get in cause phase separation (water seperates out from the gas pulling the ethanol with it...you get water on the bottom of the tank)..

finally one thing that can cause lots of trouble is the anti-siphon valve on the tank...this is a spring loaded valve that keeps gas from siphoning into the bilge if there is a leak in the fuel line from the tank to the pump...if it sticks from corrosion the engine will starve for fuel...I'd replace this too...along with the fuel lines if original....

 

[6meter]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

Clean out everything in the tank, gas included. Blow out the fuel lines and rebuild the carb. It won't stop running bad unless all steps are done.

 

[NateL]

Re: Should've stuck with golf!!!

Think the problem has been solved finally. Bad Bad Bad gas or tank. Hooked up a jerry can today she ran like a dream until I ran out of fuel that is lol. So I'm gonna drain the old tank and scrap it. Got a new one on the way and gonna install it where I can actually get to it to service it if need be. The boat was redone before my ownership and can't even get into it to clean it out so I'm going the easy and I think better route in buying a new one so I know what i got. All other parts are working as they should. Wanna thank you guys for all your help it's helped a lot.