Electric fuel pump swap for mercruiser 140

[Scott_Smith]

I just picked up an old (1979) Starcraft cabin cruiser with a 140 mercruiser I/O with a alpha one drive. Sorry boat is elsewhere at the moment so no serial numbers. Anyway it has a bad mechanical fuel pump, and I want to replace it with an electric. Yes I know, I know, mechanicals are more reliable, but I can swap out an electric in rolling seas on a hot motor in seconds with few tools. How can I find out what electric fuel pump to use, and any other considerations (pressure regulation, etc.) I might have overlooked? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[DJ]

Re: Electric fuel pump swap for mercruiser 140

Scott,<br /><br />Electric fuel pumps in a boat are bad news. Should you have a line failure or something, it will fill your boat with fuel anytime the key is on.<br /><br />Mechanicals are reliable and the chances of one failing is pretty slim. That boat is 24 years old and that's probably the first time that part failed.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Electric fuel pump swap for mercruiser 140

carter and holley make cg approved pumps. if wired to cg and abyc standards you will not fill your bilge with fuel. oil psi switch on block, a relay and wiring diagram in addition to pump. the mechanical pump is probably more reliable. if my block had provisions for mech pump i would put one on for backup.

 

[Coolerman]

Re: Electric fuel pump swap for mercruiser 140

I would have to agree that mechanicals are more reliable! I went through three electric pumps in the FIRST season I had my 1996 Sea Ray! Turned out the pump (Bosch) had a factory defect that caused it to lose the electrical connection internally. Finally they put one on that worked! On my boat the engine has to have full working oil pressure before the pump will even kick in. <br />Still I carry a spare pump with me...<br />I would think you would need to know how much flow and pressure your carb needs. I know there are adjustable fuel pressure regulators available so that you can tune these variables.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Electric fuel pump swap for mercruiser 140

my carter has been trouble freefor 10+ years. about the ONLY thing on the boat that has been. my pump starts at less than 5 psi and bypasses oil psi switch when cranking.