Fuel Issue/Primer Bulb? Fuel Line? Pump?

[ShawnQ]

OK Guys, <br /><br />I've been fighting a minor problem on my boat since I bought it.<br /><br />If I cruise around in idle too long, or if I sit at the dock idling too long, the motor will die. It will run low on fuel, sputter, and die.<br /><br />If I reach down to pump the fuel bulb, it starts running again, just fine, and will run again for several more minutes.<br /><br />Now, if I am running high RPM's, I have no trouble at all. I've run for 25mins+ at WOT, and it ran fine the whole time, never ran out of fuel.<br /><br />But, when at low RPM, it will run the fuel out of the bulb/line, and I have to prime it to keep it going.<br /><br />Any ideas?<br /><br />New Bulb<br />New Line<br />Pump should be good (works fine at High RPM's)<br />New Filter<br /><br />What else?<br /><br />Let me ask you this:<br /><br />My Fuel Primer Bulb is a good 4ft away from my engine, tucked away inside of a compartment. I have noticed that 99% of primer bulbs that I have seen are within 12" of the engine itself. Could this be a problem? The fuel hose does make a few weird turns in the compartment (to make it all fit). I did notice that if I set the primer bulb in a horizontal position, I have less trouble (versus it being vertical). <br /><br />I can get pics of the setup if necessary.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Shawn

 

[Walker]

Re: Fuel Issue/Primer Bulb? Fuel Line? Pump?

I don't remember what engine you have Shawn, but if I were you I'd go ahead and rebuild fuel pump and replace pulse limiter if you have one. Unless you have a kink in your fuel line none of that stuff about length and distance from engine should cause your problem.

 

[ShawnQ]

Re: Fuel Issue/Primer Bulb? Fuel Line? Pump?

Walker,<br /><br />I have an 88SPL on this boat, 1995 model.<br /><br />I have noticed a bit of leakage coming from the engine cowling, seeping down and out of the cowling, down the lower unit. I wonder if I have a leaky pump or carbs? I recently sprayed/cleaned the engine really good, so I thought it was just excess grime dripping down. But, it did smell a bit like fuel.<br /><br />I need to look into it better I guess.<br /><br />Any idea what a pump, or pump rebuild kit would run me? Is there a pulse limiter?<br /><br />There are no kinks in the line. The line has several odd turns in it (to hide it, mainly), but there are no tight bends.<br /><br />I would think that if it had problems at low RPM, it would do the same at high RPM, if not worse, but I guess with the manual pumps, it may be different. Aren't they run by vacuum? This would make sense..(I'm an electronic-era kind of guy...never rebuilt a carb or manual fuel pump, but I can do anything with EFI)<br /><br />By the way, one quick question while I got ya. I used to race 2-stroke yamaha Go-Karts, and the higher the RPM's would could run at, the better. Will it hurt my engine to run it at WOT a lot of the time? My boat is on the verge of being 'under powered', and I tend to run it wide open more often then not...should I back it off a bit? At wide open, I'm running about 5200rpms.<br /><br />Thanks for the help.<br /><br />Shawn

 

[Walker]

Re: Fuel Issue/Primer Bulb? Fuel Line? Pump?

WOT is fine except on your pocket book at the gas pump.

 

[ShawnQ]

Re: Fuel Issue/Primer Bulb? Fuel Line? Pump?

That's what I figured...<br /><br />The 18gal tank kind of limits me to where I can go down at the coast. I can only run so far...<br /><br />Where's a good place to get a price on a fuel pump or rebuild kit?<br /><br />Thanks<br />Shawn

 

[bigredfish]

Re: Fuel Issue/Primer Bulb? Fuel Line? Pump?

hey shawnq, I'm having the same idle issue that you described on my 115. did the fuel pump rebuild work out for you?