Tower of Power troubles

[bdbuster]

Been reading threads for help but now I need to start one because I haven't found the answer to my problem.

I have a 1979 Mercury 115 on a 17' Ranger Bass Boat. Three weeks ago I took my son out fishing before he had to go back home, the boat ran great, was a little slow getting up on plane but always has been. I brought the boat home and parked it. I wasn't sure when I would be able to use it again so I hooked up the muffs, disconnected the fuel line and ran all the gas out of the motor. I took the boat out a week ago and it started fine, I idled out of the no wake zone and eased into the throttle as always. The front of the boat started coming up and it acted like it ran out of gas and died. I had just filled it up so I knew it wasn't out of gas, I squeezed the primer buld but it was already tight so I started it back up and tried again. When I eased into the throttle the front end started to come up and poof it cut off again.

I have rebuilt the carbs, changed the fuel lines, checked the plugs and the distributor cap. Nothing has changed, it will start and idle but when you try to take off it just dies as if it's out of gas. Help....Please!!!!

 

[woodsyfeller]

Re: Tower of Power troubles

I had similar issues with the same motor tried everything nothing worked until I rebuilt the fuel pump.When I did inspect the diaphram ,I was actually shocked it ran at all, with all the poinholes and cracks it had in it.The rebuild kits are affordable and if you rebuilt the carbs, the pump is a piece of cake ,just make sure you put the one-way valves back in the right direction.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Tower of Power troubles

When you rebuilt the carbs, did you adjust the idle mixture to allow acceleration? They must be a bit rich to accelerate.

 

[bdbuster]

Re: Tower of Power troubles

I rebuilt the fuel pump yesterday afternoon and took it down to the river for a test run. It's back!!! It started easier, accelerated the way it should and was a monster on the top end. Thanks for the replies guys, it still may need a little tuning but after looking at the old fuel pump diaphram, I'm not sure how it even started before.