WrenchHead
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2009
- Messages
- 120
I'm running a 17.5' Bass Tracker w/60 HP Merc, EFI, 4-cyl, 4-stroke and built-in fuel tank. I had a problem that was causing my boat motor to suddenly run out of fuel while motoring along on the water. When my motor stalled from lack of fuel I could squeeze the primer bulb, fill the filter bowl with gas and the motor would start up and run fine for a few more minutes. This symptom led me to believe it was a fuel pump failure or a dirty filter. I changed the fuel filter but that didn't help. I used a portable fuel tank and hose and the motor ran fine. That led me back to the fuel pump -- maybe it could supply the engine from a level supply but didn't have the efficiency to pump from my built-in tank which is on a lower level than the motor. I removed, disassembled and inspected the fuel pump but it was clean and I couldn't see any defects in the valves or diaphragm. I went to Lowe's and purchased a six foot length of clear plastic hose for $1.60. I connected it to my motor and placed the other end in the fuel tank. When I started the motor the hose immediately filled with fuel. That told me the pump was fine. I decided to drain my fuel tank and put in fresh gas. I used the primer bulb and hose to pump the fuel into a container. I then saw tiny flakes in the fuel which looked like pieces of dried varnish. The flakes only came out when I squeezed the primer bulb. When I let the fuel flow freely through the bulb there were no flakes. I cut the end off the hose and there I saw the problem -- the lining inside the hose had hardened and was flaking off. The flakes must have accumulated in the primer bulb check valve and stopped the flow of fuel to the motor, yet if the bulb was squeezed it would pump a good flow. I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a bulb and hose for $18. Then I installed it and later launched the boat on a lake and ran it back and forth across the lake at 5,000 RPM for 10 minutes. The motor never faltered. Problem solved!!! I hope this info helps someone.
I called the place where I purchased the boat three and a half years ago and spoke with the service manager. He confirmed the hose was from Mercury Outboard Company and said he was aware of the deterioration taking place after several years. I then called Mercury customer service in Wisconsin and explained how their hose had effected my motor, the times the motor quit on me in the middle of a lake or on a river and the several hours I had spent trying to troubleshoot the problem. The lady on the phone acknowledged they were aware of the problem and had discontinued using that brand of hose. I asked why there wasn't better research done on the hose before using it and also why Mercury hadn't sent out a service bulletin to alert owners. She didn't have an answer. She asked for my serial number which I supplied. Then she said my motor was out of warranty and they would do nothing for me. I then asked for a free replacement hose and primer bulb to compensate me for the faulty product, my time spent troubleshooting and my expense to replace it just as a courtesy to me, a Mercury customer. I told her I thought it fair to replace the part or refund me the $18. She again said no. So I told her that was probably the reason people were switching to Honda motors. She said Honda wouldn't do anything for me either -- I said maybe. I say the part didn't wear out under normal use, the part was inferior and Mercury should replace it, warranty or not. That would be good public relations.
For a lousy hose, or $18, they could have made a happy camper of me and got some positive praise from me about Mercury. Oh well, so be it. You win some and you lose some
I called the place where I purchased the boat three and a half years ago and spoke with the service manager. He confirmed the hose was from Mercury Outboard Company and said he was aware of the deterioration taking place after several years. I then called Mercury customer service in Wisconsin and explained how their hose had effected my motor, the times the motor quit on me in the middle of a lake or on a river and the several hours I had spent trying to troubleshoot the problem. The lady on the phone acknowledged they were aware of the problem and had discontinued using that brand of hose. I asked why there wasn't better research done on the hose before using it and also why Mercury hadn't sent out a service bulletin to alert owners. She didn't have an answer. She asked for my serial number which I supplied. Then she said my motor was out of warranty and they would do nothing for me. I then asked for a free replacement hose and primer bulb to compensate me for the faulty product, my time spent troubleshooting and my expense to replace it just as a courtesy to me, a Mercury customer. I told her I thought it fair to replace the part or refund me the $18. She again said no. So I told her that was probably the reason people were switching to Honda motors. She said Honda wouldn't do anything for me either -- I said maybe. I say the part didn't wear out under normal use, the part was inferior and Mercury should replace it, warranty or not. That would be good public relations.
For a lousy hose, or $18, they could have made a happy camper of me and got some positive praise from me about Mercury. Oh well, so be it. You win some and you lose some
