Fuel Pump Question??.....Maybe

[turtle1173]

I took my boat out in the mississippi by myself today for the first time. I was very nervous but things turned out OK. My boat ran great all day until I was almost back to the ramp. I was at 3/4 throttle and it just died all of a sudden. I started it up and it died immediately. I went back and squeezed the bulb a time or two. It started right up and ran for a minute or two, then died. Did the same thing again and it managed to get me back to the ramp. It started to die again and I put it in neutral. It didn't die this time, it idled.<br /><br />Question: Does this sound like fuel pump problems? If the fuel pump is bad will it idle but not run at higher speeds? By the way, this is a 1976 55HP Chrysler. The fuel pump hasn't been changed in at least 10 years (it set for 7 without being run). Does the fuel pump either work or not, or can it work a little bit?<br /><br />Thanks for your help.<br /><br />Shane in MO.

 

[Fouled Plug]

Re: Fuel Pump Question??.....Maybe

They can indeed work just a bit, but not enough for higher RPM's. A good test is to run the boat, and have someone pump the bulb when it starts to cut out. Assuming the hose, connections, bulb and tank are OK, that would point to the fuel pump.

 

[turtle1173]

Re: Fuel Pump Question??.....Maybe

I just checked my fuel tank and I found out that it was not vented. My plastic tank had collapsed some and when I turned the vent screw you could hear the air flowing into the tank rapidly. Could this have been my problem? Since I was traveling at 3/4 throttle, would that have eventually caused too much pressure and caused the engine to die?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Shane

 

[DJ]

Re: Fuel Pump Question??.....Maybe

Turtle,<br /><br />You found your problem, but you may have overworked your fuel pump diaphram. It does not cost much to rebuild it-about $10.00.