1995 350 Mag Mechanical Fuel Pump Issue?

[ThndrSki]

Hello, I have a 1995 350 Mag Alpha with a mechanical fuel pump placed between a fuel/water separator and the Weber carb. Last time I ran the boat, everything ran great - a few months later, I go to fire it up, turns over nice but nothing.

Plenty of fuel in the tank, so I pull the separator, dump the contents to make sure no water was in there, fit it back on and prime the carb with a syringe of gas. Starts right up, and dies. Did that a few times and cranked it on its own and checked the separator again, and it's bone dry.

Did I just diagnose my mechanical fuel pump? Any suggestions on best procedures from here?

 

[alldodge]

Hello, I have a 1995 350 Mag Alpha with a mechanical fuel pump placed between a fuel/water separator and the Weber carb. Last time I ran the boat, everything ran great - a few months later, I go to fire it up, turns over nice but nothing.

Plenty of fuel in the tank, so I pull the separator, dump the contents to make sure no water was in there, fit it back on and prime the carb with a syringe of gas. Starts right up, and dies. Did that a few times and cranked it on its own and checked the separator again, and it's bone dry.

Did I just diagnose my mechanical fuel pump? Any suggestions on best procedures from here?

Your pump could be bad but it could also be done by a restriction in the tank, the fuel line, the anti-siphon valve on the tank and the pump.

You could remove the gas line and crank the engine with your finger over the hose to see if you get suction. If suction is felt, put the hose end in a gas can. Then do what you did and see if it will still be dry or the engine will run.

 

[Bondo]

Hello, I have a 1995 350 Mag Alpha with a mechanical fuel pump placed between a fuel/water separator and the Weber carb. Last time I ran the boat, everything ran great - a few months later, I go to fire it up, turns over nice but nothing.

Plenty of fuel in the tank, so I pull the separator, dump the contents to make sure no water was in there, fit it back on and prime the carb with a syringe of gas. Starts right up, and dies. Did that a few times and cranked it on its own and checked the separator again, and it's bone dry.

Did I just diagnose my mechanical fuel pump? Any suggestions on best procedures from here?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Like AllDodge says, plumb a short hose from a can of fresh gas to the nipple on the filter, to eliminate the tank from the equation,...

'n ya really shouldn't be reusin' fuel filters,.... might still be junk in it, 'n coulda gotten the the other side, gasket leaks would also be more likely,...

 

[Fun Times]

It takes a little while to prime an empty filter by cranking the engine over relying on the pump. It's best to fill the (a new ) filter back up with fresh fuel yourself.

The quickest way to know if the pump is supplying fuel to the carb is by carefully removing the fuel line at the carb and crank the engine over for a few seconds to see if you're getting fuel to the carb. Direct the fuel into a container. If you see fuel, you have a carb problem.