Can you test a VRO fuel pump?

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

I have a 1987 Evinrude 40 HP E40TLCUD that starts and idles great. From about 1/3 throttle or higher, it bogs down and seems starved for fuel. Carbs were just cleaned, fuel is brand new with seafoam added. I checked the fuel filter and it was clean. Compression check was great on both cylenders.

All of my research shows its probably the fuel pump.

My question is, before I spend 400.00 on a new pump, is there a way to test the current one? it looks like a job and a half getting it out, but if thats what needs to happen thats fine. It doesnt appear there is a rebuild kit available for this pump, so if it turns out bad, I will have to decide going new used (for 150.00).

[Macgyver55]

Before doing anything check the fuel (and oil) lines going to the pump. I've run into a lot of them that were so hard and brittle that they literally fell apart when trying to remove them.

The last one I did the pulse line was so bad I was surprised it still ran.

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

Thanks for the reply. All of the hoses seem to be pretty new and are all in good shape.

[Bigtom]

I suppose any mechanic could rig up a pressure guage to see what the fuel pressure is. I am not sure that number is though.

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

Bought a new tank today. Wierd results. I will try to explain this as well as my pea-brain can get it in to text...

NEW TANK- pumped up bulb, motor started, backed off trailer, seemed like the issue might be solved, back away from dock, shift in to forward, motor kills. Fuel bulber flat. Cant pump it at all. Unhook the hose at the motor end of the hose, no change, unhook at tank end of the hose, pressure on bulber releases, can pump fuel again, but bulb never feels more then 1/2 full, cant get enough pressure on the bulber to pump fuel to keep motor running. Trolling motor back to dock, call wifey to bring out old tank because I was stupid enough to not leave it in the boat. Hook up old tank, bulber pumps up tight, stays tight. head back away from dock as motor start up again, idled fine. BUT, motor acted the way it has the whole time which is---

OLD TANK- bulber tight, pumping bulber while running motor makes no change to how crappy it runs. Idles fine and runs out to about 1/3rd throttle or so, then its bogged down, like the choke is on or like I am pulling 2 five hundred pound skiers behind me. Like I said, pumping bulber does nothing, BUT, if I push the key in, which I assume is some sort of primer or choke???, the motor revs right up, roughly, but the boat speeds up considerably.

So I am now totally confused. Why the two separate issues with the tanks? Do I have a fuel pump issue or something hosed in the carbs, that I was told were just gone through this spring?

Thanks in advance, I am going to go start drinking now….

[Macgyver55]

Pushing in the key is how you choke it. If it runs better when you choke it then its too lean. I'm gonna guess its a carb issue more so than a fuel pump issue. As far as the tank thing it sounds like the new one has some sort of obstruction if the bulb collapses.

[PierBridge]

Doubtful it's the fuel pump if the bulb is collapsed!

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

Update--

But first, I want to really, really thank everyone for your replies... even the one about having the hose on backwards, ha ha. Thanks for taking the time to help an [PoorWordUsage] like me out.

Ok, so today, I'd had about enough and decided to call the guy I bought the boat from. He couldnt have been nicer. He called the place that had worked on the boat this spring to explain that he had sold the boat to me and what was going on and that I would be calling. I called and could not be more happy with what I found out and most importantly how i was treated. The guy I talked to said he is 99% sure its plugged high speed jets. When the guy I bought the boat from brought it it, he told them to get it ready for resale, not get it water ready as he told me were his instructions. The difference to the shop was, resale = make boat start, make boat idle nice. done, water ready = that + put boat on dyno or on water and make sure its tuned under a load. Here is what makes me happy. they said they have a fuel additive make by Evinrude that he says there is a 50/50 chance will clean them out, and if not, they will clean the carbs at a discount for all of the confusion, he figured $50-$75 tops, unless there were broken parts. Now I wish I would have done this two weeks ago and not messed around with it myself, but at the same time, I know a lot more now and I have a new tank and all that. BTW, new tank works after I put a new end on the hose, so thats very good too.

Might be a light at the end of the tunnel yet. Thanks again for everyone's help and advice. I will try and post one more snip-it when the boat is running at full speed for sure.