1990-90H.P. needs fuel line ball squeezed to stay running.

[fishr2eat]

Warm or cold, my '90 - 90h.p. merc will not hold idle for more than a minute or two. Higher speeds are o.k. but if you try to leave it in gear at idle (ie. trolling) it will eventually sputter and die.(usually within a couple minutes). If you are fast enough, you can squeeze the fuel line ball and keep it going otherwise you have to pump the ball to help restart it.

 

[JB]

Re: 1990-90H.P. needs fuel line ball squeezed to stay running.

Sounds like a failing fuel pump to me, fishr2eat.<br /><br />Other possibilities are restriction or air leak in the fuel lines.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[fishr2eat]

Re: 1990-90H.P. needs fuel line ball squeezed to stay running.

^

 

[TenE307]

Re: 1990-90H.P. needs fuel line ball squeezed to stay running.

i had the same problem with my 1991 100hp. it was the fuel pump rebuild. was two little dime size rubber baffles that had creases in them. with plastic baffles on the backs. the new rebuild kit didnt come with rubber ones. it only came with the clear plastic ones. so if yo have both like i did. try to take the rubber ones out and use just the plastic ones.

 

[clove]

Re: 1990-90H.P. needs fuel line ball squeezed to stay running.

It's best to rebuild the pump all together. The plastic retainers for the valves are not reusable and, to my knowledge, are not available by themselves. The pump kit is about $12 and takes about 30min to 1hr to complete. The hardest part is removing the old valve retainers and installing the new ones without damaging the new valves. Good Luck!