Fuel problem

jeffmo · #1 05-28-2013, 01:29 PM

Over the last several years while I've been out on Erie I had a problem w/ the motor shutting down and it's driving me nuts trying to figure it out. It has to be a fuel delivery problem and my guess is that it's in the line from the tank to the motor. I'll be running and it'll shut off like I've turned the key off. The fuel bulb will be collapsed and all I have to do is remove the line from the tank side of the bulb, allot it to fill again and then re-attach it. Then the motor runs fine. This has happened maybe 3 time in as many years. The vent is open and clear so I'm guessing that isn't the problem. I had heard that I need to replace the fuel line from the tank to the motor fuel line to correct it.
Any suggestions would surely be appreciated and thanks ahead of time!

Cam · #2 05-28-2013, 02:27 PM

You definitely have a blockage of some sort. Could be a vent line or could be your fuel line is collapsing. It could also be a clogged fuel screen in the tank or a faulty anti-siphon valve on tank...

smokeonthewater · #3 05-28-2013, 03:35 PM

WHS

I once fought this problem on a dirt bike for over a year... took the fuel valve apart several times, kept cleaning the carb, replaced fuel line, multiple filters.... it would just die but I would hit a big bump or shake it and it would live again.... Gas tank was visible and spotless inside... I FINALLY found a piece of cellophane like from a cigarette pack floating in the gas...

macojoe · #4 05-28-2013, 07:03 PM

Could be something in the tank that when it gets to a certain level it sucks it up. when you fill the tank again it floats to high to get stuck, I also took out my little ball that was in the line to stop the siphon and it took care of mine. Also on the Sea Ox I had a loop in the vent line, if it gets kinked or filled with fuel it will block the vent.

Blue_Runner · #5 05-29-2013, 09:37 AM

I have the exact symptoms and it is trash in my fuel tank. I pumped it out last year and got lots off junk out of it, thought my problem was fixed but low and behold it is still doing it. When it happens I have to blow into the tank side of the fuel line to clear it then everything is fine. Only happens once in a while but I will be pumping the tank again before I take it to the coast. I dont' like the motor starving like that even if it rarely happens. Always something.....

jeffmo · #6 05-29-2013, 06:25 PM

I believe I'm gonna try replacing the fuel line from the tank to the motor first and see if it cures the problem. I was told that an old line can collapse and cause the problem. If it works I'll post.
Seems like it could be a whole range of problems.
The first time it happened I was 8 miles or so out on Erie and it wasn't a very good feeling.
Thanks for the help and suggestions.

reelapeelin · #7 06-10-2013, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffmo

I had heard that I need to replace the fuel line from the tank to the motor fuel line to correct it.

If that one length of fuel line isn't rated for ethanlo fuel, that very well could be the problem...I was by my shop here one day and the tech showed me some old fuel line...split down one side, easy to spread apart, the inside of the hose looked like gator skin and crumbled when touched...those small pieces of crumbling rubber were going straight into the carbs...the rubber compound was not formulated for alcohol, only gasoline...replacing that line should be relatively easy to do...I would follow that advise next...

spareparts · #8 06-11-2013, 07:22 AM

Reel, if that was grey line, it was actually an early attempt at alcohol resistant line, little did they know it would cause more problems than it fixed. I have yet to find a fuel line that I really like, some seem to hold up but are very limp and kink easy, A! type line does well but if its outside where the sen hits it, it breaks down quick, I've replaced more fuel line in the past 5 years than I have in the previous 15