Fuel Problem

[turbinedoctor]

I have a Merc 90 inline 6 with out an external fuel pump, it ran fine for three years until the other day when it died on me. I was not related to not haveing an external fuel pump though.

Did yours run ok with the external pump?
Is you internal pump working ok?

Turbo

[genesis08]

Yes ,engine pump is working fine and yes the last time,when the electric pump was fitted, it was ok.I have not used the boat in a couple of years.What are these steel balls in the tank that Hammerhead is on about?Are they in the siphon pipe?If so they would be restricting the fuel and thats why an electric pump was fitted what do you think?By the way the weather is bad here for the last week so I have not been out to the boat since the last trip.

P.s please look at the photo that I have uploaded of the pump.

Regards Brian.......

[RidgeRunner]

I had a pump like that on a airboat. Nice little lift pump, low pressure,not real noisy. The existence of one on a outboard probably indicates there was a problem at some point.
The steel ball is in the check valve either installed onto the pickup, or is built into the pickup tube on most permanent fuel tanks. Portable tanks don't have them. I refer to it as the fuel flow preventer. Not sure if it is ok to remove them, there may be an unforseen consequence but I can't fathom the need on a outboard with a primer ball. Maybe it is more critical with I/O's? They do foul up from time to time.
Primer balls have been known to fail. Just recently I had one fail on the flats boat. It would idle for a while without a problem but as soon as you tried to plane it would start to die. The only way to keep it running was to pump the primer ball. Removed the fuel pump, no problem internally. Tested the motor on the trailer in gear at 2000 RPM but he ball didn't feel right it would never get firm. Nine dollars later the problem was fixed.
I just read you haven't had the boat out in a couple years. You may need to give the entire fuel system a good once over. Pull a fuel sample and see what you have. If you layed it up right you might be ok. Fuel system problems are at an all time high. Hope it helps. Hope the weather improves too..

[genesis08]

Thanks Ridgerunner,I had both tanks out and cleaned a ferw months ago,new fuel lines istalled aswell.My engine is actually an inline six inboard and I am beginning to believe that removing that pump was a mistake!Anybody else got any Ideas?

[spareparts]

if everything is right, you shouldn't need that fuel pump, check the anti siphon valve, and replace the filter element on the mechanical fuel pump(most people don't know they are there)

[genesis08]

Thanks Spareparts,I will check at the weekend.It is blowing a gale and lashing rain here at the moment,tail end of hurricane Bill.Went out to the boat this evening to check mooring before this hit.Tried starting engine and it went straight away.I am going to fit the electric pump,I still think it is the main cause of my problems..hat are these siphon things that you mention?

[spareparts]

look at teh fuel tank, there is a 90 degree fitting coming out of the tank pick up, then there is a hose barb, remove the hose barb and look thru it, there shoudl be a spring loaded check ball in place. replace teh anti spihon valve with a regular hose barb, thry the boat and see if it runs better, if it does, you have found the problem, I recomend that you replace teh snti siphon valve with a new one, they are put ther in case you have a fuel leak, it won't siphon all the fule out of your tank and into the bilge. They are required on any gas tank that has a feed line that runs below teh highest point on the tank

[genesis08]

Does anybody know where I would get an electric fuel pump similar to the one I put a picture of earlier on this thread or mayby reccomend a replacement.I cannot that pump over here.I would appreciate the help?

Regards Brian