adding electric fuel pump

[mickab]

Hey all just had a couple questions. Im having problems keeping a good prime to my engine. (1994 mercury 150 XR6). The motor runs great when I first prime it in the morning. But when I stop and fish for a bit I have to re prime. The ball is completely empty. I have not seen any leaks or anything like that. The questions are what else do I need to check, if a electric fuel pump is a good idea, and what kind to get? Im basically just needing it to just prime the engine or figure a way to keep it primed. the mechanical fuel pump works great once it has fuel to it.

things ive done
ive replaced the prime ball 3 times with mercury prime balls and made sure they were in an upward position.
rebuilt the carbs and replaced fuel lines and clamps.
installed a new fuel water separator and fuel filter.

any suggestions would be helpful thank you

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: adding electric fuel pump

you might to rebuild your fuel pump. even though its working, it is possible that one of the valves is leaking a tiny bit letting fuel flow back from the carbs. the bulb should also do that but guess its not.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: adding electric fuel pump

But when I stop and fish for a bit I have to re prime. The ball is completely empty.

Thats a air leak between tank and bulb check all connections/hoses between bulb and tank. What is happening is air leak lets fuel siphon back to tank....

 

[Texasmark]

Re: adding electric fuel pump

While you have things apart, blow back through your fuel line from the engine......disconnect from the engine adapter as necessary. The check valve in your bulb should prevent you from being able to do that. If you can blow back through it, get a new bulb and folks say that you need to stay with Quicksilver, not after market. I did and have no regrets.

On the electric fuel pump, I had an I6 that would run out of fuel at WOT after being there for a few minutes. Cutting the throttle back several hundred rpms would solve the problem.

I bought an adjustable pump and could vary the pressure from 3 to 6 psig. In short, the pump didn't work for that engine. What worked for me, different situation I know but the point here is usage of a pump, is that I rerouted my fuel lines and shortened them which solved the problem.

Mark

 

[mickab]

Re: adding electric fuel pump

thanks for the quick responses. ya ill try to find an air leak I did remove the lines from the fuel water separator in the boat so I could replace the filter as its not in an easy to get location to remove a stuck filter. I had to remove the whole housing. so may have not gotten the lines back on correctly. but would I be able to see a fuel leak if that was the case. and I have rebuilt the fuel pump within the last three months and this problem didn't happen until I replaced all the fuel lines.