Have fuel issues need a little help

[Bull54]

I have a 1995 Evinrude 50HP, non VRO. I its on a Carolina Skiff J-16 Center Console. I have a 12 gallon gas tank and it is mounted in the front left corner of the boat. I have the fuel line from the tank running through PVC pipe to the back where it is connected to a water seperator, then the fuel line with the primer bulb to the engine. The fuel line is NEW and has about a foot of line from the water seperator to the bulb, then about 4-5 foot of line to the engine connector.

The engine lopes or cuts out at WOT. When you back off the throttle to have or 3/4 speed it runs great. It idles great, and no other problems are noted. Now it does not do this all the time probably about 3/4 of the time. It seems like it is not getting enough fuel. When you pump the fuel bulb it runs great till you stop pumping. Which to me indicates the fuel problem but I can't seem to get it to stop.

Now the problem started about 2-3 weeks ago and I have been doing various things to try and correct the problem.

#1. The first thing I did was check all connections and found a few that were loose and changed out/replaced the connections. Ran motor no change.

#2. Then I changed out the fuel line and primer bulb with an OEM line. First time out with this change I ran from the ramp to the fishing spot about 13 miles one way NO problems what so ever! I thought I had fixed the problem. Then after fishing for a few hours cranked it up and as soon as I got up to WOT it started cutting out, not dying just cutting out like it was starving for fuel kind of loping? until I pulled it back to half throttle.

#3. Rebuilt the fuel pump. Ran fine for about 5 miles then acted up again and only on WOT as usual.

#4 This week I have clean the 12 gallon gas tank spotless, poured in 1 can of Sea Foam, also ran in the yard on muffs and sprayed some sea foam(1/2 can) through the carbs intake. I have NOT ran the boat on the water yet, will be doing that this Saturday. It did smoke like crazy while I was doing the intakes with the spray.

Now the question I have is this: Have I missed anything? Is there anything else I can do to solve this issue? What are my options at this point?

I realize I may have solved the problem with this weeks work on it but with everything I have done to it up to this point I am not so sure

Any thoughts? Ideas?

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[fireman57]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Usually if you pump the primer bulb and it picks up it is your fuel pump but you say that you rebuilt it. Get some clear fuel line and put in on going into and out of your fuel pump and get some smaller clear line to run to the carbs and look for bubble in the line at WFO. If you get air in the line then you aren't getting the fuel you need and will have to find the source of the leak.

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Thanks for the reply Fireman. You dont think it is carb related for a rebuild job or anything do you?

 

[fireman57]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

I never said that. I would start with a good carb cleaning especially the high speed jets. Run a small piece of wire thru them an spray them out well. Any little piece of crud can cause a fuel restriction. The clear line will let you find an air leak or lack of fuel getting to a carb.

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Ok Thank you!

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Ok I put the clear tubing on and man it was full of air bubbles. So I borrowed a good fuel tank and ran the new hose with the primer bulb straight from the tank into the new fuel pump and still had air bubbles and no WOT. It is possible to have a defective hose and primer bulb out of the package? I have double and triple checked the connections and I can't get them any tighter.

With the air bubbles in the line prior to the fuel pump, I don't know what it could be. Any guidance from this point?

Thanks

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Sorry for the repost but cant figure out how to get rid of it.

 

[fireman57]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Is the air from the tank to the fuel pump or the fuel pump to the carbs? The clear line that I got fit much tighter on the carb nipples and fuel pump than the black line did. Got bubbles initially but went away after running for about a minute.

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Well I had both but after a few minutes the one to the carbs went away but still had them int he clear tube from the tank to the fuel pump. After that I went straight to the fuel pump and had air bubbles again. I am just baffled. And the bad thing is it has been running perfectly and I had made NO changes to anything until it started. That was why I first thought it was the primer bulb so replaced the line and the bulb with an OEM set. I am STUMPED!!! I can run 1/2-3/4 throttle on plane all day long but can't get the WOT.

 

[fireman57]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

did you ever remove, disassemble and clean the carbs?

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

No I have not done so yet, because the bubbles are before the fuel pump. So figured I needed to get rid of the air bubble first to see if that solved the problem before going to the carbs. Was I wrong in my thinking? It is driving me crazy!!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Have you checked the piece of pipe that sticks into the fuel tank and sucks up the fuel? If that has a hole or a loose connection, you will get bubbles.... How about where the fuel line connects to the tank. Is there a brass hose barb? Maybe it leaks air around the threads?

 

[fireman57]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

He has tried a known good tank. I wouldn't worry too much about bubbles before the fuel pump as I would bubbles from pump to carbs. Do you see a lot of bubbles going to each carb? If I am losing WFO I would clean the carbs, it's a half hour job and make sure that my high speed jets are clear. It doesn't take much of anything to restrict them.

 

[Bull54]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

Well I decided to put it all back to the way I had it prior to the problems and just say to hell with it for now and go fishing Just went fishing today and it ran PERFECT not even a hiccup so I have no clue what the problem was or is. But it ran great today. I wonder if the sea foam I put in maybe cleared a clog in the carbs up? Anyway I sure APPRECIATE all the help. Thank You! I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!!!!!

 

[fireman57]

Re: Have fuel issues need a little help

It could have but I would still clean the carbs good to avoid a problem on the water.You can also put a small inline fuel filter in your fuel line from your tank.