Kicker and mercruiser fuel sharing

GA_Boater

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Those are best prices I've seen for 3 ways, maybe I always found aircraft valves. No idea.

The 3 way will work feeding 2 motors from one tank. Get one with a detent so vibration doesn't cause it to shift closed.

On the thru-wall/hull - Is 1/2" enough depth for where you plan on using it?
 

JoLin

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Is the valve really needed? I ran a 175 hp outboard and 15 hp kicker together. One line into the fuel/water separator and 2 lines out- one to each motor. I know this is an I/O and kicker setup, so maybe I'm missing something, but wonder why it's necessary.
 

redneck joe

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Those are best prices I've seen for 3 ways, maybe I always found aircraft valves. No idea.

The 3 way will work feeding 2 motors from one tank. Get one with a detent so vibration doesn't cause it to shift closed.

On the thru-wall/hull - Is 1/2" enough depth for where you plan on using it?



Good catch. Going thru transom so i hope not..... actually i think it might work that high up. I'll check in a but when i have a bit more daylight.
 

redneck joe

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Is the valve really needed? I ran a 175 hp outboard and 15 hp kicker together. One line into the fuel/water separator and 2 lines out- one to each motor. I know this is an I/O and kicker setup, so maybe I'm missing something, but wonder why it's necessary.



Yeah just looked and that sure seems to be the simple (and cheaper) answer unless anyone tells me different that's what I'll order. I can get the extra connection at the separator from the local auto parts store



GA - I checked and I plan to run thru the transom at the cap part so yes it will work as there is no wood, just the glass. Thanks for the heads up tho'.
 

redneck joe

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Finally - I'm assuming I still need the bulb on the kicker? Would you mount outside or in a very easy to reach inside area? Shouldn't be a reason for either I think just checking. Anything with an anti-siphon valve?
 

Redrig

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Is there anyway you can add another pick up tube to your gast tank ? So they are not sharing one ?

The reason that I ask is that I have a valve just like you posted that is my selector between my main engine and my kicker , and on a few occasions I have fired up my main engine with the valve set to "kicker" and didnt catch it until my main engine started to struggle.

I am trying to find a way to eliminate the valve so I dont have to worry about that anymore .

looking at getting a Tee with 2 anti syphon valves so the engine arent pulling from the other , IDK if that will even work, ideally I am going to add another pickup tube for my kicker so they each have thier own lines .

So thats just my experience with the 2 way valve , I am sure there are better ways cuz whether youre trolling or whatever sometime you will forget to flip the valve back to the main engine , its just a busted fuel pump waiting to happen.

Luckily my valve is within reach of the wheel so I flipped it back before anything terrible happened , but I have stressed over losing a fuel pump because of it .
 
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Redrig

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Is the valve really needed? I ran a 175 hp outboard and 15 hp kicker together. One line into the fuel/water separator and 2 lines out- one to each motor. I know this is an I/O and kicker setup, so maybe I'm missing something, but wonder why it's necessary.

Wouldnt each engine pull from the others line until it dry ..... then basically just suck air ? or did your seperator have anti syphons built in ?
 

GA_Boater

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The valve would avoid stress on the fuel pumps, especially the OB pump diaphragm and check valves because the IO motor has a stronger fuel pump.

Probably doesn't really amount to a hill of beans when both pumps are in good condition.
 

JoLin

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Wouldnt each engine pull from the others line until it dry ..... then basically just suck air ? or did your seperator have anti syphons built in ?

No. Never happened to me and I used the kicker fairly often. The separator and bracket were standard off the shelf Sierra.
 

redneck joe

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No. Never happened to me and I used the kicker fairly often. The separator and bracket were standard off the shelf Sierra.



The valve shows anti siphon and is set for two tanks to one engine so it would block the flow? It would have two inputs and one output. I'm needing one input and two outputs. At least that's how I drew it out.

I'm leaning to using the separator and anti siphons. I'll have to draw it out.
 

redneck joe

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No. Never happened to me and I used the kicker fairly often. The separator and bracket were standard off the shelf Sierra.



ok been poking around on the net, which of course mostly brings me back to iboats and in the case of outboards it would have been the bulbs acting as an anti siphon although a couple people think it is the separator.


so my question is then - of course the kicker will have a bulb on it could one of those ba added to the I/O to act as an anti siphon? It would be much easier to get that done given the the way my separator is set up and of course metal lines on the main.....
 

Rick Stephens

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Joe,

I used a 1/4 pipe thread bulkhead fitting and then screwed a 3/8th nipple on the inside and a street el with a quick disconnect fitting for the line on the outside.

I also ended up adding a check valve between my fuel filer and electric pump on the main engine to keep from draining back out of the pump when running the kicker. fuel-connect.jpg
 

Rick Stephens

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Those quick disconnects come in several flavors for different brand outboards. I don't think it matters which you get as long as you get a set. Both sides have a check valve built in.
 

redneck joe

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I went ahead and ordered, had to go to mommas house to do some son in law work. If i switch only a couple bucks out. I found the thru hull but can i get the disconnects here on iboats? I'm on tablet and shopping is not pleasant
 
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