1999 Force 120 outboard (fuel starvation issue?)

[dave SS]

I had this boat out 3 times since buying it last year. It ran well until about 2 hours of running around the inlet on the last day. The motor stalled and would not restart. I checked the fuel bulb and it was soft. I pumped it A LOT. No good. After a tow to the doc, I started to doubt my fuel load. I added 4 gallons of gas and messed with it for about an hour. finally, I got pressure to the bulb and it started. I was thinking, well dummy, you relied on a gauge that you're not sure of and miscalculated fuel consumption! Well, I siphoned the tank empty last week and got about 18 gallons. So I wasn't empty! I'm going to replace the fuel line complete from the motor to the tank, change the filter, and put in non ethanol gas with marine 2 cycle oil. Is there anything else I should be thinking about? Anything else I can trouble shoot? I'm confident it will start today. I'm worried this will recur on the water. I'm about a hiccup away from my wife never setting foot on another boat! (And before you say "that's a good thing" I actually want her as my fishing partner)! LOL Thanks for any advice to this new member.

 

[jerryjerry05]

While your at it: change the squeezie, remove any inline connectors in the fuel line, rebuild the fuel pump, and check the vent line from the tank to the outside of the boat(bugs get inside and clog it).Add a fuel/water separating filter. Make it accessible so it can be drained/checked easily.

Non-ethanol fuel isn't needed as long as you can keep the tank full when not in use.
Infrequent use? add stabil or ethanol treatment.

The squeezie's only job is to draw the fuel from the tank and it gets hard when the carb's and pump are operating right.
Once it starts to run it should go soft.
It has a one way valve that goes bad and allows fuel back to the tank.

I wish my wife liked fishing too.
One day she claims she caught the same puffer fish 7-8 times and doesn't need to catch it again EVER!!

 

[dave SS]

Thanks for the response Jerry. I have a new bulb ready to install! I'm ordering a fuel pump rebuild kit now. I'm also going to replace the lines from the QD to the pump and the pump to the carbs. I checked the fuel vent hose and found it disconnected from the thru-hull fitting! (Yikes) I'm going to inspect, clean and reinstall that here in a bit. This is an older motor but it's all I can afford! I don't expect miracles out of it, but don't want to swim home either! Thank you again for your time and knowledge! Dave