Need help with a fuel issue..

[DrifterzElite]

Hey Everyone,
First off, thanks in advance for the help! I have a 1995 Ranger with a 150 Johnson Fast Strike that is becoming a real pain in the neck. I will first explain my on going problem and then the parts i have installed to "Fix" the issue.
Recently got the boat... took it out for the 1st time and it was hesitant to get on plane.. but it did and would run fine at WOT
-Took it out a second time.. ran great with 3 people on the boat, not problems whatsoever
-2 days later i go out to the lake again and the boat would bog and die under any load.. was lucky to get 5 mph.
-Installed a power pack, OTC sensor, spark plugs, coils and changed the impeller.
-took the boat out.. ran BETTER.. but not great. Idle was better, the motor felt stronger (when it got going) but would take a couple trys to get the boat to plane out without bogging down.... towards the end of the day, the boat would get on plane fine and then bog and die a WOT.
-removed fuel/water separator and installed a see through fuel filter, new primer bulb and fuel line from the filter to the motor. When i removed the old fuel line, there was a plastic liner that was eroded and bent.
-installed a primer solenoid rebuild kit
-TODAY i went out to the lake with a buddy, thinking my problem would be fixed!!.. well no, i was wrong. Boat ran like crap all day.. would not get on plane and would go maybe 5-6mph.. i could hear air bubbles passing out the carb, almost like it was farting puffs of air, so i looked at the fuel filter and saw that it was half full of air.. when i dropped my buddy at the dock i turned the boat around and tried to get on Plane.. it hesitated a split second then started got on plane..(kinda felt like a down shift on a car).. then proceeded to take a hot lap around the lake with no issues

Also, at my house, i pulled my fuel line off and filled a jar filled with half seafoam / half fuel.. fuel pump sucked it up no problem.

So my question is.. what is going on with my boat? its obviously a fuel delivery system.. but why is my boat running fine when im by myself and crap with my buddy.. he does have a sketer.. maybe my ranger knows that? haha

any help / advise would be much appreciated!
thanks!

 

[mjf55]

Hi DrifterzElite, welcome to iBoats.
I am not an expert here, but I suspect you have an air leak, since you hear bubble. I would try running on a small stand alone tank with fresh fuel. Also make sure yiur inline filter is tight and the o-ring to it is good ( I Assume the is one unter the hood).

Also, perhaps a mod can move this to the Johnson forum. I think you will get more traffic.

GA_Boater

 

[Grub54891]

I'd change all the fuel lines, not just half of them. You already found some bad ones.

 

[82rude]

In boat tank?Look at a faulty or dirty anti-siphon valve as a possible culprit.Also as stated check all lines right from the beginning.Make sure your getting a proper connection from the line to the motor ,that one caught me out years ago.

 

[Faztbullet]

Rangers that have dual tanks HAVE problems with the fuel selector switch and some are a B@@#* to get to. Replace all lines from tank to engine.

 

[oldboat1]

As a start, sounds like a good idea to test with a spare or borrowed tank and lines, as suggested above.

 

[Tim Frank]

Well, you could just keep throwing parts at it and hope that you get lucky....even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut.
It seems like you are at least $400- down that road already.

As you are discovering, there is no substitute for systematic troubleshooting....it is the most efficient and cost-effective methodology.
Order an OEM service manual for that engine ASAP. It will save many times the cost in unnecessary part "trials".

At present you do not even have a baseline....from your OP, it is a new-to-you boat/motor, and I see nothing that indicates how you "screened" it pre-purchase or that it ever ran well for you at any point since.

Best to start at zero and verify compression, spark, and then you are pretty much assured that it is a fuel issue.

1) Do a compression test on all cylinders. You are looking for even readings (+/- 10% max) across all cylinders. Use a gauge....not your thumb.
2) Using an open-gap spark tester, ensure that the spark will jump a 7/16" gap.

Move on to fuel. First test, per Oldboat and others above....try a known-god portable tank and line.....quick and CHEAP!

 

[DrifterzElite]

Thank you for the replies.. i changed all my fuel lines this past weekend, bypassed the dual tank and ran the line straight to 1 tank.
I took the boat out with a buddy.. put it in the water, let it warm up a bit.. went to take off, the motor hesitated a little then started to get on plane.. tried to accelerate to WOT and motor kinda just stayed flat.. didnt accelerate nor get on a plane. brought it back down to idle speed.. tapped the choke a few times, tried to get on plane again and it did no problem.. i was at 3500 rpm WOT.. which is low.. fished all day and when i went to leave, i had to tap the choke a few times to get on plane and was only 3500rpm WOT again.. i could feel the motor trying for more, but couldn't get it there... brought it home, no air bubble in the fuel filter.. did a compression check with a gauge and i was at 97-103 PSI on all 6 cyl.. also another concern i now have..when i couldnt get the boat on plane, i put it in nuteral and revved the motor briefly to 4k RPM to get fuel moving (at least thats what i have been told to do) and i noticed a ping/tap sound when it reached a higher RPM, the sound is inconstant, i could probably count the number of taps i hear and goes away when i bring the motor back under 2500RPM ..doesnt make the noise when it is in gear high or low rpm..

what could the fuel issue be? carbs, jets, reeds?
what could the knock be? fuel related, timing off.. maybe i bumped something when installing the OTC sensor?

as dumb as this sounds.. there was a sticker on the black part of the CDI brand - OTC sensor (blue sensor), and i could not get it off without potentially scratching it.. is this sticker a problem? should i put old OTC back on?

thanks again for the help! And yes ill be ordering a OEM Manual

 

[Tim Frank]

Thank you for the replies.. i changed all my fuel lines this past weekend, bypassed the dual tank and ran the line straight to 1 tapped the choke a few times, tried to get on plane again and it did no problem..
i was at 3500 rpm WOT.. which is low.. fished all day and when i went to leave, i had to tap the choke a few times to get on plane and was only 3500rpm WOT again.. i could feel the motor trying for more, but couldn't get it there... brought it home,

You may have a couple of cylinders dropping out; if it is carb related, that implies an absence of lubrication to those cylinders. You should avoid running it until you solve the issues.

.. did a compression check with a gauge and i was at 97-103 PSI on all 6 cyl..

Did you check spark yet?

also another concern i now have..when i couldnt get the boat on plane, i put it in nuteral and revved the motor briefly to 4k RPM to get fuel moving (at least thats what i have been told to do) and i noticed a ping/tap sound when it reached a higher RPM, the sound is inconstant, i could probably count the number of taps i hear and goes away when i bring the motor back under 2500RPM ..doesnt make the noise when it is in gear high or low rpm..

Revving to that level in neutral is never a good idea. Under no-load, 2 strokes can fragment alarmingly quickly.

what could the fuel issue be?carbs, jets, reeds?

If I had to pick one, I'd say jets. They should be checked.

what could the knock be? fuel related, timing off.. maybe i bumped something when installing the OTC sensor?

If it truly only appears when you over-rev in neutral and is absent in gear, .if you stop over-revving in neutral, the problem should disappear; hopefully you have not damaged anything.

as dumb as this sounds.. there was a sticker on the black part of the CDI brand - OTC sensor (blue sensor), and i could not get it off without potentially scratching it.. is this sticker a problem? should i put old OTC back on?

Call CDI to be sure.

thanks again for the help! And yes ill be ordering a OEM Manual

It will be worth every penny!

 

[DrifterzElite]

I ended up taking the boat to a shop and had them check it out.. Found out today that my stator is bad.. They are checking the reeds next to see if there is an issue there as well!