Fuel line part question

[Raylang]

Hello! This is my first post on iboats. I bought a new (to me) boat last year. It is a 1988 stratos 201 pro with a 1996 225 hp mercury EFI outboard.

The boat has 2 built in fuel tanks and some sort of manifold or pump that both fuel lines come into, and only one line come out. I took a picture of it. Hopefully you can see it.

The issue I am having, is that one of the 2 inlets is blocked or some other issue not allowing the fuel to flow through it. So, I continually have to switch the fuel lines in order to keep my fuel levels in each tank balanced.

I have removed it and tried to clean it, run air through it, and nothing works. I would like to replace this device, but I have no idea what it is! Thoughts I had were a fuel pump or water separator. But I can't find any identifying marks on it. Is it as simple as just a manifold taking 2 inlets to combine them into 1 outlet? It has electrical running to it.

Thanks for any help!

 

[dingbat]

Looks like a tank selection valve. If so, its functioning properly.

The valve is used simply to to select which fuel tank you want to draw fuel from. They are not designed to "balance" your fuel tank levels.

Drawing fuel from both tanks is a balancing act it itself. I'm not aware of any "auto balancing" device on the market or how that would even work in a cost effective package.

 

[Raylang]

Thanks dingbat! I just found my exact one on ebay! Do you think it is needed? Mine seems to not be working correctly as I have "run out of fuel" a few times only to find out that I had to disconnect the fuel lines and switch them. Thank you.

 

[roscoe]

There is a switch somewhere near the helm, that allows you to select either fuel tank.
Find the switch.

Those fuel lines should each have 2 hose clamps on them.

 

[dingbat]

Thanks dingbat! I just found my exact one on ebay! Do you think it is needed? Mine seems to not be working correctly.

lm not a fan of "gadgets" on boats.

I too have twin tanks but use a manually operated 3-way selection valve .
The way I look at it, just one less thing to go wrong at the most inopportune time.