Problem with plastic gas tank...

[JJsays77]

I have a 75' Johnson Outboard and a plastic tank to feed the gas. My engine started last time I used it a couple weeks ago but now it wont start. I believe there is a problem with the pressure. After 15 seconds the bulb is not tight anymore. The cap is tight. The gas is going to the other end, because when I pushed the connecter, it sprayed when it had pressure. And after a while I push it and there isn't any more pressure. There isn't a gas leak anywhere in the line, it is dry from start to finish. Do I need to replace the gas tank and/or bulb?

 

[erwinner]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

Sounds more like the fuel pump to me. Someone else more wise will chime in though.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

try disconecting the line from the tank, remove the connecter if it has one at the tank, put the fuel ine directly into the tank through the gas cap hole. make sure the open end of the line is submerged , post back.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

try disconecting the line from the tank, remove the connecter if it has one at the tank, put the fuel ine directly into the tank through the gas cap hole. make sure the open end of the line is submerged , post back.

So I disconnect the line from the gas tank, then put it inside the tank through the gas cap? Then what? Pump bulb and try to start?

 

[F_R]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

The tank is not supposed to hold pressure. Neither is the primer bulb. The fuel pump on the engine SUCKS gas from the tank.

Anyhow, if you have gas (not water) in the carburetors, the tank is not the fault of a no-start condition, unless it is full of a non-gas whatever-it-may-be.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

The tank is not supposed to hold pressure. Neither is the primer bulb. The fuel pump on the engine SUCKS gas from the tank.

Anyhow, if you have gas (not water) in the carburetors, the tank is not the fault of a no-start condition, unless it is full of a non-gas whatever-it-may-be.

Soooo there is a problem with the fuel pump on the engine you're saying?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

Is there a vent on the plastic tank? If so, open it and then try to start! The fuel pump will not be able to suck fuel out of it if it is a closed tank with no vent. Built in tanks also have vents.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

sold a 2000 johnson 25, last winter, primer bulb would pump up great, motor would start great, then sputter and miss, it only had 10 gallons of gas run through it, gave the buyer what was left of the original 1 gallon injection oil. problem was inside the tank, pickup line rusted through that quick.....well 9 years in the shed. it worked great with the open ended line put directly into the tank through the cap hole.
(and yes, put the line, without the connecter, directly into the the fuel, make sure it cant get air.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

I don't really see any vents. It's the kind of fuel pump from wal-mart. The red rectangular one. But I will give that a shot.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

sold a 2000 johnson 25, last winter, primer bulb would pump up great, motor would start great, then sputter and miss, it only had 10 gallons of gas run through it, gave the buyer what was left of the original 1 gallon injection oil. problem was inside the tank, pickup line rusted through that quick.....well 9 years in the shed. it worked great with the open ended line put directly into the tank through the cap hole.
(and yes, put the line, without the connecter, directly into the the fuel, make sure it cant get air.

Now I'm lost. How do you make sure it can't get air?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

Wasn't talking about the fuel pump. If your fuel tank has a vent, open it!

I don't really see any vents. It's the kind of fuel pump from wal-mart. The red rectangular one. But I will give that a shot.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

Wasn't talking about the fuel pump. If your fuel tank has a vent, open it!

Sorry I meant fuel tank.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

It may not be your issue, the vent also may be on the cap.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

It may not be your issue, the vent also may be on the cap.

I really have no idea. I loosened the cap and that didn't seem to help. I think I flooded it now. Either that or the fuel pump just cant pump anything up?

Does anyone know if there is a way to test the engine without the fuel pump?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

did you try what i mentioned? you can also gravity feed the motor.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

did you try what i mentioned? you can also gravity feed the motor.

I don't understand what you mentioned. I'm pretty sure putting the connecting end of the fuel tank directly into the gas wont do anything? As there is a pin thing that needs to be pressed to allow flow.. I guess I will try going through the trouble of making another hose connecting fitting (as my current gas line is run to the front of the boat) and try the gravity thing.

As mentioned before, gas is getting pumped to the engine end when I press the bulb. It just loses the pressure in about 15 seconds.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

its very simple, put the fuel line through the cap, just the open ended fuel line, no connecter, pump the bulb , and see if the prob is still there. (just to confirm that the metal line into the tank hasnt rusted through.

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

its very simple, put the fuel line through the cap, just the open ended fuel line, no connecter, pump the bulb , and see if the prob is still there. (just to confirm that the metal line into the tank hasnt rusted through.

\

That would require me cutting off the connecter...

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

its very simple, put the fuel line through the cap, just the open ended fuel line, no connecter, pump the bulb , and see if the prob is still there. (just to confirm that the metal line into the tank hasnt rusted through.

I can hear the gasoline going through when I am pumping it....

 

[JJsays77]

Re: Problem with plastic gas tank...

Alright, so I finally found a spray bottle that could handle the mixed gas and sprayed into the carbs. It started.

I noticed a small leak from the end connection today where it feeds into the motor, so I cut it off and now I'm buying and putting a new one on tomorrow. Hopefully that helps. It isn't the flow of gas, because I pumped the fuel just fine into the bottle after I cut of the end piece.

If the problem persists tomorrow with the new end piece for the motor end, it is likely to be the fuel pump?