Sputtering Kicker - Gas line pulling air? Bulb gets soft.

[stick]

I have a 9.9 HP 4 stroke kicker on my boat, and have had issues where I need to keep pumping the gas line bulb every 5 minutes or so when the engine starts getting starved for gas and sputtery. The bulb gets soft, so I am simply assuming that I am pulling air into the line somewhere. I "T"'d from my main line with a brass T when I originally hooked it up, and have checked and re-checked those fittings for tightness. My next step is to change the clip connection to the motor. Any suggestions? Am I on the right path thinking that I am pulling in air somewhere? Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

[danfall]

You have an opening from the other motor to the T. Everytime you pump the bulb, you send gas into the larger motor, then the kicker is drawing it back because it is easier to pull from the motor than the tank (closer, less restrictive). If you don't run dual lines from the tank and dual bulbs, I'm pretty sure you must add a 2 way fuel valve after the primer bulb to distribute to the chosen motor and shut off from the other motor.

The gas line is pulling air from the other motor. This is probably not a big deal with your larger motor because it can suck like mad, except you are probably running it lean as well.

Get a two way valve that allows you to select or pull another line and bulb.

Dan

[stick]

That makes perfect sense. I will get some hardware today and change my setup this weekend. Thank you! Another example on how excellent this HSOforum is.

[leechlake]

I had a similar problem once a few years ago. To isolate the problem hook up the kicker to a seperate gas tank and line and see if you have the same situation, then you know it's not your fuel line set up you are presently running. My problem on my 15 horse was in the motor and it was not the fuel pump, frankly I can't remember what it was but it took them over a month to figure it out and get it back to me.

Also, if your set up is like mine there isn't an "open t" the t runs from the fuel tank and then branches off one line to the kicker one to the main motor, I assume one side of the t isn't open? My set up is fuel line from tank, "T" with one line to main motor one line to kicker, both lines to motor do have bulbs and do not have any shut off valve. Never had a problem with it and I know a lot of people who run the same system. Also, this was set up by the dealer.

[Surface Tension]

I agree your probably pulling gas from the main engine. At your T connect 2 lines with their own primer bulb to each engine. The bulbs have a check valve in them. Or leave your setup as is but add a check valve to each line after the bulb.

[ChuckN]

Is it a Mercury? If it is, I have different tactics to try as I had the same problems.

[stick]

Nope. The main motor is an Evinrude 150 Ficht, and the kicker is an Evinrude 9.9 HP 4 stroke.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[gspman]

When I saw "sputtering kicker" I was thinking the Vikings inability to get a decent kicker.

[ChuckN]

Well, I had the same problems with my kicker and my boat has a seperate 6 gal. gas tank just for the kicker. My issues turned out to be a dirty carb, (occasional) stuck float and the needle seat was bad.

My Merc also has a complicated automatic choke system that still gives me a pain at times that needed some attention. They don't make them these motors like they use to.