Fuel filter question...

[JSGOLD]

I removed the carb from my 1995 Mariner 9.9 to clean it and replaced the fuel filter assembly and hoses as it was pretty old and stained. My new filter housing will not sit level no matter what I do to it. Is this a big deal? I would think not but hate to assume anything anymore....It has been replaced with a newer superseded model and hoses now come off one side on it.

 

[JSGOLD]

I really need to explore more before asking for help....The new kit has the little round ball on the top of the housing, but is solid, where I noticed last night the old one had a hole in it that let you adjust the round ball lower....so I switched balls , recut hoses. Seems OK to me. This motor is just so different than what I had before I tend to "panic" a bit, lol. Hoping the carb cleaning and new filter assembly clear up acceleration issue I was having with it. The motor starts fine, idles well, and WOT runs great all day long but I noticed it stalling out when shifting into gear and accelerating. Once you get it up to speed you can go up/down fine but on restarts she acts up a bit. Found by tapping the electric choke a couple of times it took off on a new start fine. I did find some dirt in there but not as much as I thought. If this does not work may be time for a kit, although everything looked good.

 

[Texasmark]

A picture would help. Only thing I know about Merc inline filters is that you look at it and install it inline of the fuel hoses with the arrow pointing in the direction of flow. Attitude makes no difference. Is your engine a 4 stroke? Picture might help. Opening the low speed jet on the carb helps to improve your situation. On the carb, crud inside can clog ports and cause the problem also. Did you use compressed air as part of your maintenance activity and do a thorough job of blowing out everything, especially little holes and tubes?

 

[JSGOLD]

Yeah I tried to get a pic on there but could not get it to go.....But all is well on that end now at least. Yes, i used a lot of compressed air and carb cleaner...being careful not to hit anything rubber with it.It is a 2-stroke. I have not had the motor long and was unsure if the performance was due to dirt, lack of use(was a kicker motor on a much bigger boat) or the new vent-less tank i bought before our first use of it. I did find some dirt in it, although actually cleaner than I thought it would be. If this non stop rain would ever let up we hope to try it out again soon.

 

[Texasmark]

Ventless tank?

 

[JSGOLD]

Yep.....Thanks EPA..... It has a one way valve so when the engine is running it lets air flow "in", but can't vent fumes. It can swell up but is thicker so it is supposed to be a "great thing"....Kicking myself in the arse for letting my other tank go with my old 8hp kicker I sold recently. While this may not have been the issue I hate the tank just the same. A lot of discussion on here on them...some love them others hate them.

 

[Texasmark]

True test of the tank venting system working is the squeeze bulb not collapsing when running the engine. It pumps up firm and holds it prior to starting which says your carb needle valves seal off the flow of fuel into the carb and that there no holes in your fuel lines in the engine. Then as you run it is no longer firm but remains fully formed but soft to the squeeze. Pop a plug and look at the piston crown and the plug. What do you see in the way of crud, like carbon, gooey mess or such as compared to a relatively clean piston top and slightly oily, but otherwise relatively clean plug ceramic?

 

[JSGOLD]

I will try and post a pic of the plug later tonight...I pulled one yesterday as I am new to this motor and trying to make sure all service is up to date. To my surprise the plug is not oily but more like a 4 cycle plug...some carbon but color resembled a 4 cycle plug...At least it looked that way to me. The pump felt a little soft to me when starting originally but after the cleaning it is hard. All the fuel lines are new from tank to the carb now including the filter housing. Did not look at the piston but will tonight. Wanting to take it on a test run but we have been hit with almost daily rain it seems for weeks here. Will test fire in a barrel in a day or so, but fuel system seems OK so far.

 

[Texasmark]

I will try and post a pic of the plug later tonight...I pulled one yesterday as I am new to this motor and trying to make sure all service is up to date. To my surprise the plug is not oily but more like a 4 cycle plug...some carbon but color resembled a 4 cycle plug...At least it looked that way to me. The pump felt a little soft to me when starting originally but after the cleaning it is hard. All the fuel lines are new from tank to the carb now including the filter housing. Did not look at the piston but will tonight. Wanting to take it on a test run but we have been hit with almost daily rain it seems for weeks here. Will test fire in a barrel in a day or so, but fuel system seems OK so far.

Don't rely on what the barrel tells you. About all is that it will start. Need to get it out and run it when you can.

 

[JSGOLD]

Yeah, am just checking for leaks etc. with the test since I took the carb apart etc. Wish I could take it out for a spin....We have been hit pretty much daily with rain, thunderstorms, you name it. One area close to us we frequent with two lakes got hit with a tornado recently and we just don't see this sort of thing very often. The rain has screwed up the lakes we go to and makes planning anything very rough... Stuck in a weather pattern we just can't get shed of. Plan on doing the barrel test tonight, but forecast is calling for severe storms again so who knows.....

 

[JSGOLD]

Well we finally got some dry weather at least enough to test the motor in the barrel...ran great but obviously we have to take it somewhere to try it out. The lakes are a mess right now so first chance we get we will try it out.

 

[JSGOLD]

FINALLY got to take the boat out to test out the motor....Been a nightmare with rain here...Anyway the motor performed very well. Very happy with it. the ONLY issue (and it may not be an issue) is that we ran it around a while to test it, then settled into a spot for 3 hours to fish. When tine came to move on the motor started right up but stalled. It would not start until we hit the primer bulb on the tank a timer or two then it was fine. We stayed I another place for 3 more hours and I hit the bulb again before he headed back and it fired right up, no issues. Seems to me even on my old 8hp evinrude I had to hit the primer once in a while as we generally sit for long periods when fishing or use the electric tolling motor once we are in an area we like to fish.