Air in primer ball when running...

[mixin]

Hello,

After some exhaustive searches- I can't find my answer, so...

I have a one line "universal" plastic fuel tank with an aftermarket OMC male connector and a new BRP fuel line and primer ball assembly. The setup primes easily and the ball becomes totally full of fuel with no air. When I run the boat the primer ball becomes full of air sometimes, this sometimes associated with the motor stalling at WOT. Sometimes the motor runs great at WOT.

If the primer ball should not get air in it after I fill it full of fuel when first starting the motor, then I know that I probably have a leak in the pickup tube or male fitting on top of the tank.

Thanks for your help!

Mike

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

It's not going to stay completely solid while running, but if you're truly getting air in the ball, you're probably picking it up from the aftermarket fuel connector or tank connection. Pretty common problem.

 

[kennyk]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

I had a similar problem of running out of fuel at higher speeds last week. Also had a plastic tank. Turns out the plastic tube that was attached to the hose barb inside the tank was cracked just below the barb and I was picking up air and not gas. Weird thing about mine is the primer bulb was being sucked closed even though I was running with the cap off. Ken

 

[mixin]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

Yeah, when you plug the BRP hose onto the "taiwan" brand male connector, it is pretty wiggly. I will check the pickup tube as well! Should I go ahead and get a BRP male connector for my plastic tank just for good measure? Thanks!

Mike

 

[mixin]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

I unscrewed the fuel fitting from the tank and pulled the pickup tube out. The pickup tube looks good - no cracks or defects that I can see on either end or the middle. And the filter/strainer at the tip looks like new - very clean. So I guess my problem is with the brass male fuel fitting? I'll check around to see if I can get a BRP part number to replace it. Thanks!!

Mike

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

I don't know if you're going to find a BRP/OMC 1/4 npt fuel connector as they're usually integrated into the vent assembly on the nicer brp tanks. Moeller makes better fittings than "attwood/seasense". They may come from the same factory for all i know, but the Moeller one's have been of better quality to me.

 

[mixin]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

I don't know if you're going to find a BRP/OMC 1/4 npt fuel connector as they're usually integrated into the vent assembly on the nicer brp tanks.

I have seen those - wish I had one too!!

I'll go to the boat shop and see what they have or would recommend. I'll bring the whole tank and hose down with me so they can check it out.

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

They are gorgeous tanks. $65 US is pretty spendy though.

 

[mixin]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

Took tank and hose to a very good shop I deal with for parts. The guy at the parts counter did not think that a new male fuel fitting would fix the problem. He thought the check valve in the hose assy could be allowing fuel to drain out of the primer ball while running, but other than that he was stumped. I didn't want to spend another $50 to replace the BRP fuel hose assy I just bought this spring, so I'm at a loss I guess.

This winter, I'll go through the carb and take the intake manifold off to see what the previous owner did exactly when converting the engine over to a fuel pump. Maybe then I'll find out the problem - I have already fixed a lot of "fixes" that have been done by him! We'll see...

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: Air in primer ball when running...

those check valves are easily replaceable as well - if you wanted to try. Not sure about your fuel pump conversion or if that could be contributing to the issue.