Fuel tank pick ups

[woodnknots]

I have a 1978 Starcraft 22ft cabin cruiser. When I bought it about 6 years ago, it had original o/b's on it, and the gas/oil was premix in the tank. I started having fuel delivery issues, and originally thought it was one of the motors, so bought a 200hp yamaha o/b that I got a great deal on, and thought I had fixed the problem, not so much. I found that the tank was full of algea, so I cut up the floor, pulled the tank, and cleaned it thoroughly (or so I thought). Starting last season, my motor keeps having an issue with fuel delivery at high rpm periodically. I have pretty much narrowed it down to the tank, and am assuming my pick-up is clogged. I can usually blow compressed air back into the tank and get most of a trip out of it before it starts bogging, but it seems to be getting more and more severe. Is there any way to fix this short of cutting up the floor, cutting out the pick ups and replacing them? I am open to any and all suggestions! I am in no way looking forward to taking that tank up again!

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel tank pick ups

Check the tank vent. The can clog over time and give the same symptoms as a clogged fuel pickup. Alos check/clean/remove the antisiphon valve. Same reason.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: Fuel tank pick ups

Check the tank vent. The can clog over time and give the same symptoms as a clogged fuel pickup. Alos check/clean/remove the antisiphon valve. Same reason.

I am having a similar problem and want to check/clean the antisiphon valve. How to get at it?

 

[jdlough]

Re: Fuel tank pick ups

I am having a similar problem and want to check/clean the antisiphon valve. How to get at it?

You need access to the top of the tank where the fuel pick-up tube exits the tank. The anti siphon valve will be the first fitting screwed into the top of the pick up tube, and will have the fuel hose clamped to it. It looks like this:

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel tank pick ups

Garbage guy, JD's advice is correct the vast majority of the time. However, on my '88 SeaRay, the antisiphon valve was inside the pickup tube itself. The tube unscrewed to expose the A-S valve and it's filter.

 

[woodnknots]

Re: Fuel tank pick ups

Well, it turns out we were all wrong... After pulling up the floor and exposing the pickups and checking them, I started going through hoses (I know, should have done this from the beginning) only to find that when I replaced the fuel bulb about two seasons ago, the fuel hose liner bunched up on either side of the bulb, restricting fuel flow. Replaced the fuel lines, and all seemed well. I did have some minor surging, it seemed to take a long time to catch up to where I had the throttle set. At WOT, it wouldn't come up all the way (close, but not quite), and then all of the sudden it would hit it's stride, but only to back off a little later, and then go back up, etc... But I am thinking that after all the other fuel problems finally getting fixed, I am going to enjoy the boat for a bit and that is a problem for another time. It's probably time for new plugs anyway.