Fuel bulb

[Ram58]

We took our boat out on the river Sunday. 90 H.P. Mercury 2 cycle. We hooked up with some other folks that had 15, 25 and 40 H.P.'s on theirs. So much of the time we were just putting up river. After a while our boat sputtered like it was out of gas. I started it and it died. I felt the fuel bulb and it was out. Fuel gauge showed 1/2 tank. I pumped the bulb up and started the engine back up. We took off down river for around 1/2 an hour and no more problems. Does the bulb need replaced or can we not putt around? Ideas please.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Fuel bulb

Do you have an inline fuel filter or fuel/water separator? Last year my fuel bulb kept colapsing I thought the fuel pickup in the tank was clogged but it turned out to be a clogged fuel/water separator. Funny thing is when I bought the boat I put a separator on it because I didn't think it had one, turns out the manufacturer had installed one up under the deck in the bilge. I had owned the boat for 5 years and never changed the filter because I didn't know it was there.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fuel bulb

If the bulb is simply going soft, that's normal. You pump the bulb before starting the engine to fill the carburetor float bowl. Once the engine starts, fuel is drawn (sucked) through the bulb by the fuel pump so the line is really under slight vacuum, not pressurized. Soft is perfectly normal. If the bulb is collapsing, then there is a fuel problem between the bulb and the pickup tube in the tank. However, in your case, it sounds like you need a fuel pump rebuild or a new pump. Generally, if squeezing the primer bulb causes the engine to restart and run normal for a while and then starve again, its a fuel pump going bad. Kits are really inexpensive and easy to replace.

 

[22E6441]

Re: Fuel bulb

My last boat had a plastic gas tank and the cap had a little thumb screw vent on it. If I didn't open the vent, the boat would eventually sputter out and die.

My new boat has the old style steel tank with no manual vent of any kind.

Does your tank have a vent screw?

 

[Ram58]

Re: Fuel bulb

This only happened the one time and it was when we were just putting around and idleing for awhile. I then had to pump the bulb back up. After that we ran back down the river at mid to higher rpm it never happened again. I do have an inline fuel filter that I have not changed this year. I have a vented fuel cap with a built in tank.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fuel bulb

I do have an inline fuel filter that I have not changed this year.

Ayuh,... If changing the Filter doesn't Fix it,... The Fuel Pump is probably getting Weak...

 

[Ram58]

Re: Fuel bulb

I'm going to change the fuel filter first. If that don't do it, I've never had a fuel pump apart for an outboard before. Is it self explanitory or do I need a manual? Are the CD's you can buy on Ebay for $10 any good? They have them for all motors it seems.

 

[gss036]

Re: Fuel bulb

The fuel pump repair kits from Mercury come with the same instructions as the OEM service manual. Very simple to fix/repair. When you take things apart . lay them out in the order you removed and put them back together in the same order as removed. There are really only 4-5 pieces max.

 

[Ram58]

Re: Fuel bulb

Thanks all for the help. Even I can handle that.