Air in gas line???

[iggyw1]

I have a 1991 6 H.P. Evinrude outboard motor, model # E6REIA. I am having a problem keeping it running this season. Last year after having the carb rebuilt and a new fuel pump added, it was still VERY hard to start, but once it started, I can troll all day long at idle speed, and if I shut it off, it would start on one pull after it was warm.
This year, I am still having a very hard time starting it (gotta keep pumping and pumping the primer ball). When motor starts, it does not run long at all before I have to choke it again and squeeze the ball a lot of times again.

I have the gas line hooked up to a water seperator on the boat along with my big motor. Both motors have the gas lines coming out of the top of the water seperator on differant discharge nipples. Today, I removed the gas line from the fuel pump after pumping the ball at least 12 times and it sounded like air and ball did not get hard, . When I removed the gas line from the fuel pump and pumped into a jar, I had to pump the ball four or five times and i started getting a good flow of fuel and a hard primer ball.

Thinking about trying to put a gallon of gas in a regular gas can (with oil) and trying that instead of the water seperator to see if that works. This will tell me if I should run a separate gas tank for my trolling motor, correct? Should the motor run O.K. out of a regular gas can since it is only a one hose system to the motor, and is not pressurized? Is there a problem hooking this little motor to the top of the water seperator at the appropriate discharge nipple on it?

Thanks!

 

[racerone]

First thing I would do is test the starting with a separate tank and hose.----Does the primer bulb go hard , yes or no ?-----Is the choke flapper closing and staying closed when starting this motor ?

 

[iggyw1]

Racerone, Thanks for the reply. Can I take the hose end that is connected right now to the water seperator and remove it from the seperator and just place it into a regular gas can (one that is not a gas tank for the motor)? I mean, is it meant to work like that to test things out before I go out and purchase a separate gas tank with the right fittings and things?? I have a manual choke on the motor that is pulling out and it is closing good until I push the handle in to close it.

I pumped the ball again when I just came home after a few hours of pumping it earlier (without starting the motor) and the ball was soft again. I removed the hose from the fuel pump and squeezed the ball and all I got was air for four pumps again.

 

[iggyw1]

O.K. Today, I got the motor running. I had to leave the choke closed about 1/2 way or the motor would cough and quit running. When it did that, I had to fully choke the motor (even though it was warm after running) or it would not start again. After it started up again, i had to leave the choke closed about half way or it would quit again. It even trolled at a slow RPM as long as the choke was closed part way. If I fully choked her, she would quit. If I opened the choke all the way, she would quit until I fully choked it again to get her started back up.

Could the problem be the fuel pump which was replaced just last year, or the carb which was rebuilt last year, or may it be just some minor adjustments needed to the carb? Should I shoot some carb cleaner thru the carb??? Thanks!

 

[Vic.S]

O.K. Today, I got the motor running. I had to leave the choke closed about 1/2 way or the motor would cough and quit running. When it did that, I had to fully choke the motor (even though it was warm after running) or it would not start again. After it started up again, i had to leave the choke closed about half way or it would quit again. It even trolled at a slow RPM as long as the choke was closed part way. If I fully choked her, she would quit. If I opened the choke all the way, she would quit until I fully choked it again to get her started back up.

Could the problem be the fuel pump which was replaced just last year, or the carb which was rebuilt last year, or may it be just some minor adjustments needed to the carb? Should I shoot some carb cleaner thru the carb??? Thanks!

I would be concerned about both fuel lines coming off the same water separator unless there are check valves in each connection. I am wondering if you are pulling air in from the other motor's fuel system. For that reason I would definitely try running from a separate fuel tank or container ( just a fuel can with the suction hose dipping wel down inside will do to test things out... just be sure you cannot suck in air.

Other possibilities are air in-leakage due to a bad O ring in the fuel connector or a bad fuel pump but if the fuel pump is new that is unlikely.

 

[iggyw1]

Thanks Vic. I will try the idea of a separate fuel tank (gas can) for the kicker motor. Was wondering too if it may be the primer ball itself that is faulty? I think I will get a new one for the price it is cheap insurance. Also going to change the spark plugs in my little motor as well. Thanks for your input. The water separator has two outlets on it to hook up two motors at the same time. I would have though the separator has built in check valves going to each outlet?????

 

[Vic.S]

Thanks Vic. I will try the idea of a separate fuel tank (gas can) for the kicker motor. Was wondering too if it may be the primer ball itself that is faulty? I think I will get a new one for the price it is cheap insurance. Also going to change the spark plugs in my little motor as well. Thanks for your input. The water separator has two outlets on it to hook up two motors at the same time. I would have though the separator has built in check valves going to each outlet?????

I expect you are right about the separator but a separate can as a test will eliminate it as a possible source of trouble.

You will soon know if the ball is Ok or not. Hold it outlet end upwards so that the air is purged from it.

New plugs never a bad idea. QL77JC4 gapped at 0.030", alternative QL86C. L77JC4 would be OK too but not suppressed.

NGK BZ7HS-10 or B7HS-10 also OK. I have a pair of Champions and a pair of NGK. If there is any difference the NGK ones are better , but they are newer (-10 only means supplied gapped at 1.0 mm ( 0.040")

 

[iggyw1]

Thanks again, Vic. One more question for you (or anyone else that cares to chime in). I am looking at new fuel lines & new primer balls on line and they are all showing the ball is coming off of the tank ( or water seperator in my case) with the short end of the hose at the seperator, then the ball, then the long end of the hose going to the motor AFTER the ball. I currently have it the other way around. The long end is off of the water separator before the primer ball, then the ball, and then the short end of he hose AFTER the ball to the motor. Could this be my problem???

 

[Vic.S]

Thanks again, Vic. One more question for you (or anyone else that cares to chime in). I am looking at new fuel lines & new primer balls on line and they are all showing the ball is coming off of the tank ( or water seperator in my case) with the short end of the hose at the seperator, then the ball, then the long end of the hose going to the motor AFTER the ball. I currently have it the other way around. The long end is off of the water separator before the primer ball, then the ball, and then the short end of he hose AFTER the ball to the motor. Could this be my problem???

The relative lengths of the hoses wont matter but there will be a limit to how high above the tank the ball can be.

They dont suck particularly well, relying on how well the ball wants to return to its normal shape after being squeezed.

How high a ball will pump depends on how strong your grip is.

 

[iggyw1]

Thank you one more time, Vic. I have a great grip, so that will not be an issue. The water separator is not too high above the tank under the floor. I will add that everything worked fine two years ago when I put the separator in. Last year, I did not use the boat but a few times due to my health problems I had last year, and this year, the motor just will not troll. Thanks for all of your input. It will be awhile now before I get things done as I am ordering parts on line. I will update this post when I get it completed, probably a bit over a week from now. Until then, no trolling with the boat!!