Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

[TomOwens]

Hi group,

I recently acquired a Sea King 35hp outboard that is probably about 1960 or 1961 vintage.

This motor starts and idles well, but cannot rev up without coughing and stalling. I figure that the fuel pump is just not working well. The filter bowl, which is glass, only shows a small amount of fuel in the bottom after the motor starts. I can fill the bowl with the squeeze pump, but the level just drops again after running for a minute or so. Surely, that's not normal, is it?

Is there still a possibility of finding a replacement for this fuel pump or at least a rebuild kit? A replacement may be preferable as I'm not quite certain about the proper assembly any more. Yeah, I pulled it apart and now I'm not sure of the orientation of all the parts any more. But, it is acting the same as it did before, so maybe the previous owner messed it up for me.

Thanks for any help.

Tom Owens

 

[steelespike]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

Welcome,
Should be a model number on the top front of the mounting bracket.
Up to and including 63 Sea King was built by Gale a devision of OMC now BRP.Its important to have the model number to confirm the builder.also the year. The Sea Kings used a pump before E/J did.
Very similar to Evinrude Johnson of that era. Fuel pump kit 18-7801.here at iboats Fits a number of similar E/J models with a 3 hose pump. Pulse hose,fuel in fuel out.
Pretty basic kit; Diaphram ,couple of gaskets and a strainer.BRP dealer will probably have a fuller kit.You can probably figure what E/J model is similar to yours in iboats catalog.While your pump may have been weak the symtoms you describe may be a gunked up carb especiually if the motor sat for a long time.Carb kits are available here again based on E/J models.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

Welcome to the iboats.com forum! You already have one of the experts providing help with your motor. While I am not an expert, I scanned and saved a copy of a non-factory service manual that covers all 30-40HP outboard motors built by OMC from 1956-1964. If you would like a free copy, send me your email address in a Private Message and I will reply with it attached. Good luck with that great old motor.

 

[TomOwens]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

Thanks for the responses. I'll look at the model number as soon as I get the chance.

Are you saying that the filter bowl only maintaining a small amount of fuel is more likely a carb problem than a pump problem? r is it normal for the filter bowl to remain mostly empty while running?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

No the fuel bowl would normally have more fuel in it.
What I was saying is if the the motor sat for a long time
the symtoms you describe are usually carb related.
If fuel pump related squeezing the primer bulb would usually solve the problem.

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

The question is valid...what tank do you have? Two hose or one. The oscillating pressure on the two hose pumps pressure back to the tank to keep it "pumped up" under pressure. The one hose tank uses a fuel pump diaphram to pull/push fuel into the engine.

Maybe you can figure out from there which you need to look at. By the way, you did check compression right??????????????????????????????????????

 

[TomOwens]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

I have some more information:

I think my Sea King 35hp is actually a 1959 model. Here's what I found.

Model No.: GG8997C
Serial No.: 95X765658

The fuel pump looks like the Sierra catalog part no.: 18-7350, but I cannot tell the size of the Sierra replacement from the on-line catalog here. Would it make sense to have that pump on this motor?

My fuel pump is square like the one I mentioned and it very well may be assembled wrong. Ask me how I learned that you only need to remove two of the four screws to pull the pump off of the motor. I'm not sure I found all of the springs again. And at least one of the plastic parts can be installed upside-down.

I do appreciate all of the help offered here. Thanks!

Tom Owens

 

[F_R]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

I have some more information:

I think my Sea King 35hp is actually a 1959 model. Here's what I found.

Model No.: GG8997C
Serial No.: 95X765658

The fuel pump looks like the Sierra catalog part no.: 18-7350, but I cannot tell the size of the Sierra replacement from the on-line catalog here. Would it make sense to have that pump on this motor?

My fuel pump is square like the one I mentioned and it very well may be assembled wrong. Ask me how I learned that you only need to remove two of the four screws to pull the pump off of the motor. I'm not sure I found all of the springs again. And at least one of the plastic parts can be installed upside-down.

I do appreciate all of the help offered here. Thanks!

Tom Owens

That is not the original fuel pump, but very well might be the correct replacement since the original is obsolete. But if it has been taken apart and not correctly reassembled, it will never work correctly.

Sorry, I have to disagree on the glass filter. They never do run "full". In fact, running nearly empty is normal. Don't try to figure it out, just believe.

Here is a link on assembly of the fuel pump. Follow it to the letter, including the positon of the parts as related to "up". http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/Rebuilding_fuelpump.htm

Some last comments: Your running problem may not be fuel related at all. Make sure your diagnosis is correct. Cracked coils are notorious for fooling 'ya.

 

[TomOwens]

Re: Sea King 35hp Fuel Pump Question?

That link is most helpful. Thanks!

As soon as I saw the mostly empty filter bowl, I jumped immediately to "aha, there's the problem, no fuel". This is my first experience trying to resurrect one of these old outboards.

I will re-assemble or replace the pump and then continue on with the troubleshooting.

It seems that I can run just fine while testing at home behind the barn, but once shes in the lake, it's a whole different ballgame. I'll have to come up with a better bench-test plan somehow.