Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

[FAV453]

One of my motors (225 twin carbed) quit this weekend. It was pulsing and the engine alarm like a fuel starvation problem. The bulb was flat. I switched tanks in case I was out of gas but the motor did the same thing at speed. It idled fine and ultimately I was able to get back up to speed. I was wondering if I was just out of gas or did the tank pickup or vent get blocked, but then why did it not run right when I switched tanks almost like it had to clear something out before it would work. Could it have been water?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

The bulb will collapse like that when the pump is sucking like it should, but something prevents gas from entering it (the bulb) on the tank side. Could be debris in the tank, faulty fitting, or faulty bulb.

Are both tanks served by the same primer bulb and fuel hose?

 

[FAV453]

Re: Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

Both tanks are served by the same bulb. Would running out of gas cause the bulb to collapse or water in the tank?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

Out of gas, the bulb would get soft (no resistance when you squeeze it), but it wouldn't get sucked flat, or refuse to open back up when you squeeze it.

Water doesn't affect the way the bulb functions. Except maybe if you have a clogged water separator between tank and bulb.

Possibly lost a little pressure while switching tanks and the pump couldn't catch up with demand until you idled awhile.

If tank #1 was empty or nearly empty, sounds about normal. Maybe look for debris or blocked vent in there, just to be safe.

 

[FAV453]

Re: Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

Sounds good. I was wondering if the tank vent might have been clogged, I will check that too.

 

[floatingwoody2006]

Re: Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

hose facing the right direction?

 

[FAV453]

Re: Bulb Flat=problem on the tank side?

Yep bulb is on correct. Update seems I was wrong. Bulb was going soft at cuising rpms. pump it back up and it is fine. so looks like a pump side problem, but I installed a new pump this winter. I have checked and rechecked the connections and everthing looks good. I still might have had bad fuel as I refilled and the problem seems gone, but I havent run it too much since the fill up. What issues sould I be looking for if the pump isnt right or I did have water in the tank?