Ran out of gas

[Relic]

I've got a 50HP merc 500 (1967 I think) that runs great. After a day of fishing today I was going to take one last spin around the lake to charge up the battery a bit.Opened her up and just when I get to the opposite end of the lake (of course) she dies. As soon as it died I knew what it was. Got a tow back to the boat lauch..got my can of gas and put a couple gals in. Won't start. I felt air going through the bulb so I'd crank it then pump the bulb some more and do it all over again. Did that until there was no more air going through. <br /><br />Gave her a little squirt of starting fluid and it fires right up until it burns up the starting fluid then stalls again. (I know on a two-stroke that's not a good idea) It's not getting fuel. I'm waiting for my manuel to come in the mail but it's going to take about a week to get here. I loosened the fuel line right where it comes out of what looks like a filter(?) on the side of the motor, and I had fuel pressure there..it goes to the carbs from there. <br /><br />It's getting zero fuel..not a pop. I would check out the filter if I knew for sure where it was. <br /><br />Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JB]

Re: Ran out of gas

Hi, Relic.<br /><br />Sounds like you sucked some crud and/or water out of the bottom of the tank and now your pickup, antisiphon valve, primer bulb, fuel pump, filter and/or maybe even carbs are gooped.<br /><br />I would start with the tank and work toward the carbs.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[JerseyJim]

Re: Ran out of gas

isnt uhh...starting fluid...fatal to two strokes???<br /><br />i thought it removes all lubrication from the cylinder walls.

 

[Relic]

Re: Ran out of gas

Hello<br /><br />Thanks for your replies..<br />That's kind of what I thought JB...just needed a second opinion..thought I'd try some reverse psychology on it by duct taping my shop vac up to the fuel inlet(on the motor).I still can't believe that worked...I don't know exactly where the blockage was, but she's running like a champ again.<br /><br />Jersey..it only runs for about a second before the starting fluid is burned out of there. It probably does burn all the oil out of there as well but..I'm sure some people will disagree with me on this.. I don't think that's long enough to do any damage (I'm talking about ONE short blast of fluid..when I change the oil on my truck it runs for a full four or five seconds before I get any oil pressure. Normally I've got a big syringe with a hose hooked on the end I use to squirt fuel into the carbs, but I didn't have it with me.<br /><br />I KNOW there's a market for starting fluid for two-strokes..I have no idea why they don't make it.<br /><br />Again..thanks for replies

 

[Hooty]

Re: Ran out of gas

Starting fluid (ether) doesn't do it's damage when it's fired, it does the damage on the way too the combustion chamber, in the crankcase and cylinder walls.<br /><br />WD40 use to be a pretty decent starting fluid for two strokes but they quit using lpg as a propellent.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[JB]

Re: Ran out of gas

I don't know any details (yet) but I understand that there is an aerosol starting fluid on the market for 2 strokes that contains a lubricant.<br /><br />I used to use an ethanol/ether/castor oil mix as fuel in some of my kart racing engines before I discovered the benefits of nitrated fuels.