Is it the Fuel Filter?

[muddasick]

Hello,

I took my boat out today and used the built-in Fuel tank for the first time (typically I used containers). It ran fine for about 2 minutes then the engine wouldn't turn over, I knew it was a gas issue because the engine sounded like it was out of gas, but the gas line was connected. I ended up using the containers to get going, and everything went fine.

Later while out in the water I hooked up the internal to the engine again... It ran great for about 15 minutes then did the same thing, as if the engine was out of gas. So I reconnected the containers for the rest of the trip.

I don't think the gas filter has been changed in ages, it's the one that was on when I bought the boat. Could this be the problem, and to change it do oyu simply screw (turn) it off and replace with new one, or does it involve taking the whole system down???

Thanks

V-20 200 Merc. (94)

[chumbucket]

Spin on a new filter cartridge and check your tank vent to be sure it's clear.

[muddasick]

CB:

Tank Vent????

what is this and where do I find it?

thanks

[reelapeelin]

Mudda the vent allows air into the tank as the motor pulls gas out of it...it's like puttin' your finger over the end of a straw with water in it...it won't come out until you remove your finger and allow air into the other end...vent will be a smaller hose that runs to the top of the tank from a fitting outside you hull somewhere...do you open a vent on top of your portable tanks?... ;) :)...

I went back and looked at the pictures you posted of your boat...there is something that MIGHT be the vent fitting under the rub-rail on the port side...that's the left if you're at the wheel and facing the bow...look under the rub-rail and tell us what that is... :)...

[macojoe]

could be filter, vent, ball ???

First change the filter

if that don't work then check the vents, blow some air in there, from a compressor, spiders like to make a nest in there and they can screw things up easy!!

Check tank for water!! The vents under the rub rail are pron to allow water to get in!!

I moved my vent location so they would not spilll fuel any more and water never gets in now!!

If the ball is old it might have some cracks in it that does not allow it to maintain its hard on :o I mean it won't stay hard and you lose fuel

Last of all fuel pump, but if you are running portable tanks with no problem I am sure thats fine!!

Easy fix just have to see which problem you have.

My bet is water or bad gas, caused by the vents.

[Sea_Rover]

Muddasink,
From one newbie to another...I'm not sure of your vintage, but my 1974 has saddle tanks and I am having similar problems....just getting ready to get into more indepth investigation after 2 frustrating years.

What year is yours and I'll see if I find anything of note that might be worth passing on.

Mine seems to "stumble" not completely shut down..i'm guessing vacum leak somewhere along the line. Do you shift from portable to built in via 2 way switch valve or do you disconnect from one to the other??

[reelapeelin]

Rover...if your '74 has vents BELOW the rub-rail, I'd bet THAT'S your problem...my '74 had same issues til I relocated vent to ABOVE the rub-rail...no more water in the gas causing the "stumble" you refer to... ;)...

You can see new location of vent here just aft of the cleat
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/reelapeelin/Image008.jpg
this will SOLVE the "stumbles"... ;D...

[JeffXJ]

Hey Rap, that boat looks nice and shiney, you must've waxed it.... hehehe ;D

[Franco]

Hey Rap, I like the cleat there. For spring lines?Or an extra place to secure your Norton Snagger?

[reelapeelin]

Spring lines mostly, but you've a KEEN eye for Norton Snagger attachment points!! Works well for both... ;D...

[paradis]

that sounds SO MUCH like a tank vent problem.

[Skools Out]

Hey RAP what's the thru hull fitting for in the front below water level?

[muddasick]

OKay, I don't think I will ever relocate my vents.

So with that said, do I just stick a hose up there and blow air into the vents?

If there is some blockage, would it then go into the gas tank and create even more headache?

I'm purchasing a new water/gas separator filter to see if this is the issue.

I'm new to a lot of this, so it helps when you guys "break it down" for newbies like me...

Thanks

[Franco]

Blow air into the hose coming out of the tank, before the bulb. That would clear any obstruction in the fuel line and pick-up tube. Do it slowly, and have a friend stand near the gas cap and listen for a hissing type sound. That would be your fuel tank vent. It lets the pressure inside and out side of the tank equalize. If you dont hear a hissing sound shortly after blowing ait into the tank you probably want to loosen the gas cap. If you dont have a vent that could be the problem instead of a blockage. With out a vent there is no way for air to get into the tank to take place of the gas going out of the tank. It creates a vacum in the tank, The fuel pump only creates a few ( 2 to 5 ) inches of mercury, or vacum - to draw the gas out of the tank. once the tank vacum equals the vacum of the pump it becomes tie and gas isn't going anywhere. If you tank is in the deck ( you'll see the access hatch in the deck) it should have a deck plate that allows you to get to the fittings on the tank that attach to the fuel fill hose and the vent hose. Most of the time it's the deckplate closest to the front.
The smaller hose is you vent hose. You can take it off at the tank and blow thru that and if you should be able to track it down then. If it does not have one, you may want to install one.

[reelapeelin]

Hey, Skool...that thru-hull was there when I got the boat...ANOTHER one on the other side...pulled 'em out and resealed 'em and plugged 'em off...never been used far as I know...think previous owner was thinkin raw-water wash-down or somethin'...it's been so d--n HOT lately, been thinkin' about running hose from there straight to helm for a 40 mph FACE-SQUIRTER :o...

Mudda...keep in mind gas FUMES are more volatile than gas itself...we'd hate to hear you blew your a$$ up down there in paradise :o...

[muddasick]

I found the problem (although another has been created).

It wasn't the filter or the line or the vent. It was the little clip thing that you click onto the engine at the end of the gas line. I just bought some new ones and they fit, although I did realise that they didn't "click" into place like the older ones (I have new one attached to internal tank line and old one attached to container line). So what would eventually happen is it would work it's way off the gas end on the engine and stop flowing gas into the engine, thus the periodic shut downs.

So I was happy to discover that.... but...

[reelapeelin]

Good news, miudda, but?...

[shicks007]

Glad you figured it out. ;D

[muddasick]

but...

My engine cut out and wouldn't turnover, it was water in the engine. Got in there from the inboard tank...

[Franco]

Pull the plugs and squirt the cylinders down with a lubricant, try turning the motor over by hand before reinstalling the plugs

[Blue_Runner]

I sank one once :o

I did what Franco just said - pulled the plugs, tilted the motor, filled each cylinder with Marvel Mystery oil. Turned it by hand, lowered the motor to let the oil run out. Turned the rest out by hand. Turned even more out with the key, then repeated that 5 times before putting the plugs back in. Fired her up and never looked back!

[muddasick]

Well, that's kinda what I did or something similar. A friend of mine who's great with boats (and also an auto mechanic) took a look at it and opened the back panel and drained the carbs, water came out. We then flushed them out with fresh fuel a few times and put all the pieces back together again. Fired it up, took a few times before it turned over, but once it did, that was it. The engine runs better than it ever did.

[Franco]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[reelapeelin]

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[Blue_Runner]

;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[shicks007]

That's what I call Swedish...................AKA..................... ....................Sweet As Sh%# ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D