A prop proplem.

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

What would you suggest closing them off with?

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

You might want to try closing off the top one or even two water intake holes on the lower unit...

Bob

Are you talking about the slotted grill over my water intake ports. I am assuming you are telling me to seal the top one or two slots? Will epoxy work well on this?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: A prop proplem.

No, you have the newer style pick-up and I believe there are scoops available for that unit...Dhadley will know the P/N...

 

[Dhadley]

Re: A prop proplem.

If you have the original gearcase and it has a removable screen then the motor must be a 25". If so, the high volume screen is # 339247. You'll need two.

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

Walleyehed & Dhadley... you guys are my heros. The high volume screens are on their way. I'll let you know how they work.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: A prop proplem.

DH is the Hero...I'm the student in training.....8)

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

Okay, here we go again.

Took the boat out to the lake this weekend with the new prop and high volume screens installed and this is what happened.

The prop worked amazingly well. Holeshot was awesome. All of my gear either slid or rolled to the back of the boat by the time the boat got on plane. The boat almost instantly seemed to get on plane. No loss of top speed was noticed and rpm increased to 5600 rpm from the previous 5000 I was getting with the raker 20P.

But I still have the problem with the check engine light and buzzer going on. It only happens when at WOT and max rpms. I initially thought that my motor was overheating and that was the reason for me installing the high volume water screens. I have been told that this alarm could also be due to a fuel restriction. I had my wife along with me for this trip (bless her soul), so we tried something to test this theory. She sat at the back of the boat and pumped the squeeze ball while we were traveling at WOT. The alarm never sounded until she said she couldn't pump the ball anymore because it practically went flat. When the ball wouldn't "rebound" or "inflate" anymore because the engine was comsuming so much fuel the engine alarm would go off every time.

Where would you start with this problem? I know the problem may be due a faulty anti-siphon valve but is there anything else that might be worth checking first? My fuel tank is a motherbear to get to and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Crownie2]

Re: A prop proplem.

Yes, somewhere there is a vent for the tank with a screen over it. Check to make sure the vent/screen is clear...

Bob

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

What about the primer bulb? Have you ever heard of one restricting fuel to the motor and would it be worth replacing?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: A prop proplem.

It sounds like a vent problem, but a bulb "could" cause problems I'd guess, but the valves in the bulb work the other way, so it shouldn't restrict it.
An anti-syphon valve with a stuck check-ball can cause the same problems...the brass elbow on the tank. I removed mine and have had no problems with drain-back.
1 or the other it would seem, is your problem.

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

I was at the lake this weekend and tested the theory of the vent being plugged. I left the gas cap off for a couple of runs and the engine alarm still went off like usual. What should I do now? The odd thing is that when I had less than a 1/4 of a tank it seemed to happen more frequently and at lower rpm's.

I'm beginning to get a little more frustrated. What's next? Should I go ahead and have the antisiphon valve knocked out? What about the fuel pump? Whats the likelyhood of one of those going out?

I am certain that my problem is a fuel restriction but where exactly is the sensor for this and how does it sense a fuel restriction?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: A prop proplem.

Jason, if you can get to the fitting in the tank, remove the fuel line and remove the elbow...replace it with a std barbed elbow with no restriction. Try that and see what happens.

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

I worked up the patience last night to start in after that anti-siphon valve. After removing one seat, 4 batteries, battery charger, and numerous other things in the way I finally got to the antisiphon valve. I took it off and out of curiousity I sucked on the end that the fuel line attaches to and I could barely even get any air to come through. I can't imagine the suction it would take to pull fuel through this thing but surely this is indeed my problem. I took a punch and with just a couple swings I had knocked the checkball out of the fitting and I am planning to reinstall everything this weekend. I thought that since I am already in this far I will go ahead and replace my fuel line before I reinstall everything.

Will standard automotive fuel line work or do I need something more specific for boats?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: A prop proplem.

If it's not exposed to sun-light , automotive is fine...that's what I use on mine...gates 3/8", but I change it everyother year.

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

I finally have it back together and I am stoked. I haven't even put it on the water yet but I can already tell a difference with it on the muffs. The primer bulb ACTUALLY firms up when the engine is primed. It has never done that for me. Also, the engine fires right up on a cold start now. Before I had to crank and crank and it would finally start after a minute of cranking.

It's amazing how well an engine will run when it is actually getting enough fuel. I'm taking it to a small nearly lake Wednesday to try it out before going to Grand Lake in Oklahoma this weekend. I may be putting the 20P prop back on since it is getting the fuel it needs now. I'll repost to let you know how it turns out. Thanks for everything!

Jason

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: A prop proplem.

Removing the anti-siphon valve fixed the problem. It ran like a spotted cat all weekend with no problems whatsoever. It's a good feeling to be able to fix a problem yourself with the help of others here on the iboats forum. Once again, thank you very much.

Jason

 

[walleyehed]

Re: A prop proplem.

We need to get together some time and see if my 'ole 18ft alum will keep up with that nice rig of yours!