Dual fuel tank problem

[Thunder7869]

I have just purchased a 1974 wellcraft v20 with dual fuel tanks ( one port one starboard) and last week we were out and had an issue trying to get fuel from the port tank to the engine! ended up having to call US boat tow for gas. We had 3/4 of a tank on the port side, ran the Stbd side empty. no matter how long we pumped the fuel bulb, we got zero fuel from the port tank.... any suggestions?

[13Echo70271]

there may be a valve between the tanks that has to be opened, or a manual splitter valve that changes from one tank to the other. It may be accessible on deck or inside a small inspection hatch.

[tsubaki]

Welcome to the site!

So was this your first time using the fuel tank?

Do you have a selector valve to swap between the two tanks?
Or do you unplug the fuel hose to swap to the other tank?

Several things it could be, tell us how your fuel system delivery is set up.

[Destroyer]

In addition to the already mentioned items, there could also be a plug in the gas line or tank. The vent line could also be plugged so as fuel is used it creates a vacuum and starves the engine. But again, we need more info to help narrow the possibilities.

Additionally, did you check the tank for water? if you've got water in the bottom of the tank, and you're sucking water instead of fuel then the engine will not run no matter how good it is.

[smokeonthewater]

To get down to brass tacs...

The fuel starts at the pickup in the tank and flows through the hose, valve if equipped, any fittings, squeeze bulb, etc to the motor....
If it is plugged OR has a leak anywhere in that path it won't work...

Start at the beginning and follow it's path, testing each component until you find a problem...

Also a plugged fuel tank vent can stop fuel flow but would be obvious if you open the tank and is pulls in a bunch of air.

[Thomas Point Md]

check the in line fuel filter just below the screw in elbow at stern of tank...it is in the pick up tube...just replaced mine yesterday I too have a 74 with original tanks ...same symptoms as mine and running great now.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Thomas Point Md

check the in line fuel filter just below the screw in elbow at stern of tank...it is in the pick up tube...just replaced mine yesterday I too have a 74 with original tanks ...same symptoms as mine and running great now.

Good advice and Welcome to the greatest site for V20 boaters on the web. Hope to see more posts and pics from you.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Thomas Point Md

check the in line fuel filter just below the screw in elbow at stern of tank...it is in the pick up tube...just replaced mine yesterday I too have a 74 with original tanks ...same symptoms as mine and running great now.

Thunder - I can almost guarantee you that Thomas Point MD has given you the exact answer. I have a 1975 w/ dual tanks, and experienced the exact same problem several years ago. The boat would maddeningly cut out under high throttle/load, only to run fine at other times. I replaced the VRO pump and did a lot of other troubleshooting before ultimately testing with a portable tank. When I ran on that I found no problem. I then pulled the saddle tanks and was really astonished to find tiny metal fuel filters in-line; right at the pick up tubes. Needless to say, they were almost completely clogged after 30 years.

I should have taken photos at the time, but didn't think of it. I highly recommend you just remove those filters, because you undoubtedly have at least one primary filter between your tanks and your engine, and that's sufficient. It's not too hard to remove the tanks. The vinyl and wood cover is held down with two screws, and as are each of the tanks. Once you take the cover off you just loosen the hose clamps on the fuel inlet and air vent hoses, then slide the tank out.

[Fitz]

Another longer-term suggestion: install a manual selector valve. I have three tanks (two saddle and an added one under a rear bench seat). I originally just tied them together, but soon found that the fuel draw was never the same among all tanks, and was not even consistent among them. I then installed a manual three-way selector valve.

The selector valve works great and has the added advantage of definitively letting you know when one tank is exhausted. So if you have two tanks and are running offshore to fish, that exhaustion will warn you that you've reached the outermost limit of your trip. I personally never run that skinny on fuel offshore; I stop at the end of the first tank and keep the third as insurance for the sometimes difficult seas I encounter on returns. You can burn a lot more fuel running back against a stiff wind and hammering through an angry inlet, and the last place you want to run out is right there.

[smokeonthewater]

Yep 1/3 out, 1/3 return, 1/3 reserve...