I started a thread in the Johnson outboard board, but it turns out to be a general problem.<br />I ran out of gas and afterward I could only get one of two engines restarted even after switching from the empty tank (port) to the one with fuel (starboard). I though the nonstarting engine (port) was fouled with water/crud from the tank being low. But why didn't the other motor foul? I could get the port one to run rough and smoking bad by giving it gas, but at idle it died. <br /><br />The rest of the story:<br />The next day I replaced filters and drained the carbs but no start. I couldn't get the bulb to firm up at all for the port tank. I checked and rechecked all the engine side fuel connections an all looked good. So I start on the supply side. Well I still had the port and starboard engine taking from the starboard tank. As I stated before the starboard engine runs fine. OK maybe a clogged pick up for the port engine's supply in the starboard tank. I remove the pick up and it is dry. Now I just ran the starboard engine and I know there is at least 4 gallons in it. So I take out the alternate pickup (there are 3 per tank: one starboard, one port and one alternate unused one). It is not only wet with gas, but about a half or a third longer then the port engine's pick up! So no wonder it wouldn't run and I guess the smoke was due to the port engine getting intermittent fuel as the level dropped below the pick up? Why make the pickups significantly different lengths? Why shouldn't I just switch the port engine to the alternate pick up? I wonder if the port tank is the same way (different length pick ups)? <br /><br />Bottom line: Don't play it close with fuel.
