txbandit44
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- May 11, 2008
- Messages
- 182
Ok pretty sure I got this figured out but wanted to ask before I pick up a new fuel pump.
First yes I know I'm an idiot. I operated this motor without a fuel demand valve on a new EPA compliant portable 12 gal tank. I installed one and then took it off during the rig up because I thought I was having a fueling problem. This was a about 18 months ago. Turned out I had bought bad fuel like 1/2 of the fuel was water. Got that figured out, flushed the system and forgot the FDV. No issues until last weekend. Left the ramp ran out about 2 miles wide open to our spot, got the kids out on the tube pulled them for about 10 min and the motor just shut off . No warnings nothing on the vessel view system app for errors just quit running. Checked what I could on the water, voltage was good plenty of fuel ect. Waited a bit and fired up like nothing had happened. Tried to throttle up and she ran rough sputtered and died. Checked everything again nothing jumping out saying its me I'm the problem. So waited about 10 min and again it fired up and idled just fine, so we limped back to the ramp about a mile. As i got close I decided to throttle up would run ok under 2400 rpm any more and she would run rough. Hit the no wake gave the wife the helm and sat on the back watching and listening to the motor. Noticed the primer bulb had collapsed. It was not like that the last 2 times i had checked. Shut of the motor disconnected the tank and pushed in the valve inside the Attwood no spray connector and the bulb puffed back up.
At this point i figure I have a tank blockage so on the trailer and back to the house. I check the tank and nothing wrong there. Disconnected the hose from the motor and pumped the primer bulb fuel flows as you would expect.
I decided to install a glass fuel filter tube between the tank and the bulb as a sight glass to watch the fuel flow. Holding the bulb higher than the tank I primed until the filter was full and the fuel was coming out of the hose. Reconnected it the motor and squeezed it some more to prime the fuel system. Bulb got hard so i stopped. Started the motor idle was good. Looked at the sight glass and didn't see any fuel moving. Rev'd the motor no issues there. Go back and the sight glass is half full and slowly falling only a dribble being drawn in from the tank side. In about 3 min the sight glass was empty and motor was staring to sputter. Shut off the motor and I squeezed the primer and it filled right back up. So there cant be a blockage on the tank.
After reading some threads about the FDV and how not having it can damage the fuel system and I'm thinking the diaphragm in the fuel pump is ruptured. The pump is easy to replace and if I take it in for a warranty repair they are just going to kick it back to me at I'm sure a $100 diag fee $150 labor and probably $300 for the pump.
The Merc pump is $130 and 20 min work. Do y'all think im on the right track with the pump failure / FDV theory?
First yes I know I'm an idiot. I operated this motor without a fuel demand valve on a new EPA compliant portable 12 gal tank. I installed one and then took it off during the rig up because I thought I was having a fueling problem. This was a about 18 months ago. Turned out I had bought bad fuel like 1/2 of the fuel was water. Got that figured out, flushed the system and forgot the FDV. No issues until last weekend. Left the ramp ran out about 2 miles wide open to our spot, got the kids out on the tube pulled them for about 10 min and the motor just shut off . No warnings nothing on the vessel view system app for errors just quit running. Checked what I could on the water, voltage was good plenty of fuel ect. Waited a bit and fired up like nothing had happened. Tried to throttle up and she ran rough sputtered and died. Checked everything again nothing jumping out saying its me I'm the problem. So waited about 10 min and again it fired up and idled just fine, so we limped back to the ramp about a mile. As i got close I decided to throttle up would run ok under 2400 rpm any more and she would run rough. Hit the no wake gave the wife the helm and sat on the back watching and listening to the motor. Noticed the primer bulb had collapsed. It was not like that the last 2 times i had checked. Shut of the motor disconnected the tank and pushed in the valve inside the Attwood no spray connector and the bulb puffed back up.
At this point i figure I have a tank blockage so on the trailer and back to the house. I check the tank and nothing wrong there. Disconnected the hose from the motor and pumped the primer bulb fuel flows as you would expect.
I decided to install a glass fuel filter tube between the tank and the bulb as a sight glass to watch the fuel flow. Holding the bulb higher than the tank I primed until the filter was full and the fuel was coming out of the hose. Reconnected it the motor and squeezed it some more to prime the fuel system. Bulb got hard so i stopped. Started the motor idle was good. Looked at the sight glass and didn't see any fuel moving. Rev'd the motor no issues there. Go back and the sight glass is half full and slowly falling only a dribble being drawn in from the tank side. In about 3 min the sight glass was empty and motor was staring to sputter. Shut off the motor and I squeezed the primer and it filled right back up. So there cant be a blockage on the tank.
After reading some threads about the FDV and how not having it can damage the fuel system and I'm thinking the diaphragm in the fuel pump is ruptured. The pump is easy to replace and if I take it in for a warranty repair they are just going to kick it back to me at I'm sure a $100 diag fee $150 labor and probably $300 for the pump.
The Merc pump is $130 and 20 min work. Do y'all think im on the right track with the pump failure / FDV theory?