D'oh! Did I waste a weekend?

[loganmenk]

So I took the boat out for the first time with the new motor this past weekend and got mixed results.

It started well, idled great, the new impeller and prop worked like a charm.. Until about 4 minutes out on the lake. Putt putt putt die... It seemed like it ran out of gas so I pumped the primer bulb and away she went. It did the same thing again, but only it died faster. We spent the weekend with someone giving a small squeeze on the primer every few seconds. It worked, but now I had an AH HA! moment at work..

I forgot to open the vent on the tank! Could this cause my problem? When the bulb was squeezed she ran great, planed out and really flew compared to the 20hp I had before. Before I go tearing down and cleaning carbs and replacing filters and pumps I wanted to pick your brains..

The motor is a 1994 40HP.

 

[sschefer]

Re: D'oh! Did I waste a weekend?

It was the vent.

With a sharpie, on the winch station write the following:

Plug
Vent
Lights
Safety

Before Launching

Plug (means put the plug in)
Vent (means open the vent)
Lights (unplug the lights)
Safety (remove the tie downs/safety chain) (boat not trailer)

Before getting back on the road

Plug (pull the plug)
Vent (close the vent)
Lights (connect the lights)
Safety (check all tie downs/safety chains)

Wish I could claim this idea as mine but I can't.

 

[loganmenk]

Re: D'oh! Did I waste a weekend?

Ahhh... Well I guess I should take that as good news, right?

I'm glad it wasn't something else. Quick and easy and you can bet I'll be checking that every time now..

Thanks!

 

[CharlieB]

Re: D'oh! Did I waste a weekend?

If you made it through the day with pumping the primer to keep the motor running, your problem may be a weak and dying fuel pump.

Rebuild the fuel pump.

An UN-vented or restricted vent on a tank often will 'suck' a primer bulb down, not necessarily totally flat, but enough that the bulb will not totally refill and enable you to keep pumping it to keep the motor alive.