Possible defective fuel pump or clogged fuel lines?

[Bassman42]

I have a 97 evinrude 115, I just recently put on a remanufactured Powerhead on it, with all carbs rebuilt, new hoses, new fuel pump and lines. After about 15 hours I started having a hard time getting it to run right. The bulb started to collapse occasionally after sitting within 10 minutes after running. Now it's gotten to the point to where the only way she runs is if you continuously prime the bulb. I put on a new oem bulb and it helped some. But still has a hard time running, especially loading on the trailer, soon as you give it gas, and get it as far up as the boat goes on the trailer, it dies instantly everytime too. Any suggestions would
Be greatly appreciated!

 

[racerone]

If the bulb is collapsing the fuel pump is working fine.------Look for issues from bulb towards your fuel tank.-----Run with a known good hose and portable tank as a test !

 

[Bassman42]

I'll give that a shot later today! I figured some trash from this 20 year old tank got in the hose and just kept on building up, especially since it gradually got a bit worse day by day. And it ran a bit better when I put techron fuel cleaner in it. From the hose to the bulb I was thinking about taking an air compressor and seeing if it would blow back in the tank, and then clean it from there

 

[gm280]

Sure sounds like you have tank issues. Is the tank vent clear and open? Because the fuel pump is trying to pump fuel and collapsing the primer bulb. So either the tank vent is blocked or the fuel line and pickup in the tank is. Time to work the tank, fuel lines and fuel pickup in the tank is seems. JMHO!

 

[Bassman42]

Yeah it's also something I might try to do when I get home. I'm meeting the family 2 hours from here for lunch for Easter/ my birthday; hopefully it isn't dark when I get back. I thought it could've been a defective fuel pump since the last one was, but the fact that it's gradually gotten worse everyday sure sounds like something is getting more and more clogged like you guys have stated. I still have to get anew coil because my top two cylinders are running low. That's all the mechanic said. I have good compression, but that fourth one is running between 135-150, while the other 3 are at 120 on the nose. He said that my top two cylinders aren't getting enough power under load, yet I'm firing on all 4.

 

[Chris1956]

A clogged antisiphon valve is a good candidate for your issue. Also, the fuel filter screen on the fuel pickup in the tank could be clogged.

 

[Bassman42]

What would be a good way to unclog these? At least if it's a hose or something, if it's the screen I can get new screen put in. Would the whole air compressor idea work?

 

[Chris1956]

The antisiphon valve is usually the last fitting on the fuel tank pickup. Pull the rubber hose off and then unscrew the A-S valve and clean it. Pull the fuel pickup tube out of the fuel tank (screw or press fit) and clean it.

 

[Bassman42]

Well guys I think I have found the culprit. Tank vent isn't working. I unscrewed the gas cap and just the motor idle, and sure enough it didn't have an issue. I didn't take off like that lol but it's a real pain to idle, and it works with the gas cap open.

 

[Chris1956]

Fuel tank vents do clog. Clean or replace the vent fitting.

 

[Bassman42]

Okay so the shop is telling me the fuel system is fine, and they have checked all the carbs, they've checked lines, filters, screens and hoses and everything checks out. They apparently haven't even tested to see if the bad coil fixed the issue or not. Is it a possibility that the bulb wasn't collapsed like I thought, and that the whole issue was just that coil. My compression was good, but they said I didn't have enough power running on the top two cylinders. But that the bottom two are very strong. And my outboard is the type to have only two coils controlling 4 cylinders. So could it just be that coil and that I just had to run it rich to get the 4 cylinders to run right? Cause she's still smoking like it's too rich oil mix, I've run nearly on empty before, and only doing a pint of oil per 6 gallons of gas.

 

[racerone]

Where is the red lever positioned on the electric primer ??

 

[Bassman42]

Tbh I have no clue.. The guy that came to my house to look at it tested and said that the fuel pump was pumping like it should, and the choke was working properly. That's all I really know from having him out here a couple weeks ago.

 

[Bassman42]

Oh btw the shop also told me they put on a new power pack on last night to see if it that was it and claimed the motor is running like it should. Could this have been it?

 

[Bassman42]

I know I said I had to prime the bulb constantly to make it run, which I did, until I replaced the 3 year old attwood bulb with a manufactured evinrude bulb and then it stopped. When the engine
Bogged
Down trying to plane I primed the bulb only once or twice and it got hard again, so I guess that means that it wasn't collapsed?

 

[racerone]

The electric primer has a lever for manually opening this valve.------Find the primer on the motor and post a picture !

 

[Bassman42]

Okay, It will either be tomorrow or Saturday, that's the plan at least. They broke a plastic cover while testing so they had ordered a piece for it and should be there
Tomorrow, he claimed that the start bendix may have caused it, but they aren't charging me for that. Anyways said it should be available to bring the boat home tomorrow

 

[Bassman42]

okay update guys, went to pick it up today, after about 30 seconds of running the problem came back, luckily I was just testing it there before I left, after 2 hours of standing there waiting, they found the real issue in showed me, the wiring harness is missing a very important piece called a dioload or diode? not sure which but along with that, we looked closer and the #1 and #2 cylinder pistons are in the wrong place, #1 is in 2 and 2 is in 1. sad part is it's a remanufactured which was the place we ordered it from called OBR. mechanic would rather ship it off and put yet another new powerhead and restart again, then tear the whole thing apart and fix it himself. OR I could get $5000 for my motor from them, take that towards a brand new motor, and it be labor cost free. What y'all think?

 

[racerone]

How was it determined that a " port side " piston was on the starboard side ??----------Did you say it ran well for some hrs with proper power ??

 

[Bassman42]

From what it sounded like yes, but they could tell that with the writing on the piston.. I saw it with my own eyes cause I didn't believe it. It wouldn't cost me anything but the time of not having a boat.. The whole issue would be free of charge. When they put the new power pack on my rpms went back up by 700. Which tells me why I'm barely
Hitting 39-40 mph instead of at least 43-45. Plus the bigger prop we had pushed it 49.