Suzuki BF25A Gas issues, won't start, water in injectors?

[Tomtina3]

Suzuki BF25A 2016, never seen a single drip of ethanol. But I run it for duck hunting, cold, very very wet conditions, slush and snow..... today was out on the big lake, running half speed, engine started to sputter and died, looked down and the fuel line got knocked off at the tank connector (big clumsy waders on feet). So the tank connector was in or at least close to, water in the bottom of the boat. Motor restarted and died about 15 times... then finally fired less and less until no firing. Does not fire now, just turns over and over.

Am I correct in assuming it ran out of gas when th eline got knocked off, and sucked in some water from the bottom of boat? I know how to drain the lines, do i have to disconnect the injectors to clean it out? Now that I'm back home in the garage (after getting towed in) should I just keep trying to start it and see if it works the water out? Or could there be another problem I am not seeing....

Many thanks to all in advance for help!!! And have a wonderful New Years Eve!!!!!
Thanks!

 

[Clawtooth]

I am not an expert but I have a DF30A and it looks like you could disconnect the fuel line at the bottom of the fuel rail. That would drain the rail in case there is water in there, then you could make sure you have clean fuel in tank and hose then with the safety halyard removed, squeeze fuel bulb tight and try to start engine, then squeeze tight again and try to start. Doing this a few times should push fuel from the hose that you disconnected from fuel rail until you get all the water out.

After you are sure the fuel coming out of the hose near the fuel rail is clean, put line back on the fuel rail and sqeeze ball tight and start another time or two in order to fill the fuel rail , and then put the safety lanyard back on and give it a try.

Happy new year to you too

 

[Tomtina3]

Thanks Clawtooth. It looks like I will have to try that. I tried starting it in the driveway just now with muffs on, and it fired up and ran rough for a few minutes, then sputtered again and died again a couple times. I think tonight or tomorrow I'll try draining at the fuel rail like you suggested.

I'm really hoping I don't have to pull each injector and clean them?

 

[Clawtooth]

Well since it is trying to run I will assume it is not an ignition problem but you could check and make sure it has a spark when you are turning it over and it does not start. If it has a spark then you are most likely correct to assume that you sucked a bunch of water into it.

If there is water in the fuel and its in the mess of hoses behind the intake and inside the fuel rail, you could try starting it for a very long time before you pushed all that contaminated fuel out. If you disconnect the fuel line and let the fuel out of the rail that the injectors are attached to then do as I suggested and push all the contaminated fuel out of the lines by squeezing the ball tight and trying to start it, you will clear all the contaminated fuel out a lot faster. What little that is left in the injectors themselves should clear out very quick once you have it all back together and try to start it.

 

[Tomtina3]

Update - well first of all, Suzuki put a very easy to change fuel filter on the right rear side of the motor, right next to the fuel rail. I popped that out and drained it in a dish, it was half full of water. Pumped the ball to clean out the fuel lines up to that point, then replaced the filter. The filter has a drain on the bottom which you could use to empty water in a pinch, but better to completely replace it. Removing the lower right half of the plastic midsection of the motor cowl makes accessing this area much much easier, and its only like 5 or 6 screws.

Next disconnected the bottom line on the fuel rail. Note to others - this is likley to still be under pressure, and gas will likley spray out at your face! Drained the rail, pumped ball and turned over motor, did this about 3 times until no more water in the gas that came out. It was easy to see water in the gas in the collection bowl.

Reassembled, fresh non-ethanol gas in the tank, added a can of drygas/injector cleaner, and she fires up now in the driveway. Will run it tomorrow in the water to make sure its all cleaned out. Fingers crossed....!!!

 

[Clawtooth]

Congratulations

 

[Tomtina3]

Took it to the lake, it bogged down again after about 2 mins. Back home, more water in the fuel rail. Cleaned the filter again, no water coming from the filter or lines or tank - thats good. But still getting water in the fuel from the fuel rail. Sputters and runs for 2-30 seconds then dies. Emptied fuel rail about 10 times now, still getting some water droplets in the gas.

Any better way to get the fuel system cleaned out?!?! When I disconnect the fuel rail, and squeeze the bulb or turn the motor over, nothing comes out of the fuel line at the rail. The bulb just pumps up hard. Is there any better way to purge the fuel system?

I'm certain the gas coming into the system is clean, checked it three times, no water coming in from tank lines.

 

[Clawtooth]

Well I in my original reply I suggested removing the lanyard from the emergency stop switch but that may be keeping the high pressure fuel pump from running when your turning it over trying to purge the contaminated fuel. I suggested removing it so there would be no spark to cause a fire.

In the manual showing the fuel pressure check procedure it states that " ensure emergency stop switch lock plate is in place" while performing the pressure check.
If you are not getting fuel flow with the lanyard removed then it appears that you must have it on there in order for the electric pump to operate. just be careful with any fuel that may be spilled while cranking.

 

[Tomtina3]

Thanks Clawtooth for your help! Yeah I do think the pump was preventing fuel flow from pumping the bulb.

Now here's a revelation... None of you other 61 views on this thread, thought to say Hey Dumb@ss, there's a fuel system drain valve located about 1" above the pee-hole outlet? And guess what its designed to do? Yeah... collect and remove water from the system... lol. What a novel idea! And kudo's to Suzuki for including this very helpful engineering marvel.

So hopefully that helps any future users. Motor is running great now, I've drained the valve about 5 times and still getting a small amount of water, so will keep doing it.

 

[Clawtooth]

Well glad to hear it was just the water in the fuel and not some more expensive problem. I am not sure that drain would drain the entire system as good as if you could have got the pump to run and push fuel out the line near the fuel rail. I dont have my lower cowling off so it is hard to see in there behind the intake but looking at the schematics, it looks like that drain valve would mainly drain the fuel from the vapor separator, and from the lines on the low pressure side of the high pressure pump. There is still a lot of other places water could have been. I tried to help best I could but I could not adjust on the fly as I would have if I was working on my own engine, and seen that cranking the engine wasn't pushing fuel out of the hose. I installed a water separating fuel filter with site glass near my fuel tank, so hopefully I never have the same problem you did.