RogersJetboat454
Commander
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2010
- Messages
- 2,964
Hello All,
Just wanted to run something by the guru's to see what they thought.
I'm the caretaker, and main user (my cousin owns the boat) of a 1976 Glastron powered by a Volvo 170B.
Last year, after sitting on the mooring for a month, I went to start the boat to take it back to shore (putting it away for the winter). It wouldn't start, so I did some sleuthing and found that the carbs were empty. I equated this to the 34 year old fuel pump diaphragm, so needless to say I started scouting for a pump online. I found the appropriate VP fuel pump, (used on ebay for 10 bucks), and got a rebuild kit for it (ebay score too, pump + NOS rebuild kit was cheaper than a new rebuild kit from VP). I rebuilt that pump , while unbeknownst to me, my cousin took the original pump on the boat home and rebuilt it too. So now we have 2 pumps for the boat.
Anyway, I installed one of the pumps on the engine and still had no fuel. I found the rubber line connecting the pump feed to the fuel filter had a bad spot (sucking air) near the hose clamp, so I replaced that as well (the pump probably wasn't the problem after all, but at 34 years old a rebuild was in order anyway). Still no fuel. I then inspected the entire fuel system.
I pulled and inspected the pickup tube in the fuel tank. The tube was clear, and the screen was clean (and yes there is fuel in the tank). The tank vent is clear. The anti siphon/anti drain back check valve on the top of the tank works correctly (check ball moves freely, spring pressure is good). I checked the 3/8 fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter. The line is free of obstructions, and holds pressure. The line is flared W/ AN style fittings on the tank and fuel filter, and they are holding pressure. The filter is brand new, sealed correctly to the filter housing, and is the appropriate P/N (P/N matched the filter I took off). I tried swapping the pump to the other rebuilt unit, still no fuel.
Both pumps were rebuilt by competent people. I'm an ASE L1 Master auto tech W/ 10 years experience. He's a mechanical engineer, Master plumber, and at 60+ years old, has repaired his fair share of cars in his life. So the likelihood of both of us not rebuilding both the pumps properly is slim.
So I am wondering this; the pump size is nothing to write a novel about. Its a relatively small pump, trying to pull fuel through a dry fuel filter, from an 18+ foot tube (dry as well) connected to the fuel tank at the front of the boat. Is there a possibility that the pump needs to be primed in some way? My thoughts are to at least spin off the fuel filter, and fill it up with fuel so there is something in the system.
The boat is located in Maine, so it will be a while before I can play with it again (when I go back on vacation).
Any thoughts you guys have would be great...
Just wanted to run something by the guru's to see what they thought.
I'm the caretaker, and main user (my cousin owns the boat) of a 1976 Glastron powered by a Volvo 170B.
Last year, after sitting on the mooring for a month, I went to start the boat to take it back to shore (putting it away for the winter). It wouldn't start, so I did some sleuthing and found that the carbs were empty. I equated this to the 34 year old fuel pump diaphragm, so needless to say I started scouting for a pump online. I found the appropriate VP fuel pump, (used on ebay for 10 bucks), and got a rebuild kit for it (ebay score too, pump + NOS rebuild kit was cheaper than a new rebuild kit from VP). I rebuilt that pump , while unbeknownst to me, my cousin took the original pump on the boat home and rebuilt it too. So now we have 2 pumps for the boat.
Anyway, I installed one of the pumps on the engine and still had no fuel. I found the rubber line connecting the pump feed to the fuel filter had a bad spot (sucking air) near the hose clamp, so I replaced that as well (the pump probably wasn't the problem after all, but at 34 years old a rebuild was in order anyway). Still no fuel. I then inspected the entire fuel system.
I pulled and inspected the pickup tube in the fuel tank. The tube was clear, and the screen was clean (and yes there is fuel in the tank). The tank vent is clear. The anti siphon/anti drain back check valve on the top of the tank works correctly (check ball moves freely, spring pressure is good). I checked the 3/8 fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter. The line is free of obstructions, and holds pressure. The line is flared W/ AN style fittings on the tank and fuel filter, and they are holding pressure. The filter is brand new, sealed correctly to the filter housing, and is the appropriate P/N (P/N matched the filter I took off). I tried swapping the pump to the other rebuilt unit, still no fuel.
Both pumps were rebuilt by competent people. I'm an ASE L1 Master auto tech W/ 10 years experience. He's a mechanical engineer, Master plumber, and at 60+ years old, has repaired his fair share of cars in his life. So the likelihood of both of us not rebuilding both the pumps properly is slim.
So I am wondering this; the pump size is nothing to write a novel about. Its a relatively small pump, trying to pull fuel through a dry fuel filter, from an 18+ foot tube (dry as well) connected to the fuel tank at the front of the boat. Is there a possibility that the pump needs to be primed in some way? My thoughts are to at least spin off the fuel filter, and fill it up with fuel so there is something in the system.
The boat is located in Maine, so it will be a while before I can play with it again (when I go back on vacation).
Any thoughts you guys have would be great...
