Got Gas?

[cliffy]

I have a 2000 Honda 75hp 4-stroke (attached to a 2000 Alumacraft Magnum 165) that I am having a very difficult time getting started & running. I am pretty sure it’s a lack of gas to the engine type of problem. I don’t feel any pressure when I pump the gas bubble thingy. I have checked the rubber gas line and it looks ok. I even replaced it and used the old connectors and it still didn’t move gas or build pressure. The only thing I can think of to do next is to replace the connectors…both the one to the engine and the one on the built in gas take. Could this problem be caused by anything in the motor? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

[Chris Haley]

Did you put the bulb back on the right way??

[ChuckN]

I had the same problem with one of my motors on Friday for some reason. My gas tank was even full. I'm guessing you have plenty of fuel in your tank(?)
I pumped the fuel bulb many, many times while cranking the engine over at the same time and it finally gave way and worked fine ever since. It was a real nasty air pocket in the fuel line. It must have taken 15-20 minutes to get the fuel to pressure.

[Surface Tension]

Replace the bulb. You'll see an arrow on the bulb which indicates the gas flow direction, it should be pointed to the engine.

[cliffy]

Yup, when I changed the rubber hose, a new bulb was put in place..and yes it was pointing the right direction. The connections seem solid. For some odd reason and I just cant get gas to be sucked up into the hose. The gas tank may not be full but its at least 3/4. I am still thinking it may be the connector from the gas tank...maybe a bad check valve. I did take it apart and it looked ok, but to be honest, I am not sure what I am looking for.

Could there be some problem with the engine that could be causing this problem? I dont think there could be but this is my first boat and I am learning as I go....thanks.

[eyes']

Did you drain the gas out of the carbs last fall before you put it away?

[Surface Tension]

Any chance you have the gas and vent lines mixed up? The gas line should have a pickup line that lays in the bottom of the tank. That pickup line could have come off or maybe a curl in it. Remove the bulb and blow into it the gas line. You should hear gas bubbling.

[cliffy]

I don’t think it’s the pick up line as I took that out as well and everything looked ok. I just came from the local marine dealership. He checked the connection thingy from the gas tank and said it was working fine. (I had removed it from the tank) He also didn’t think it would be the connection to the motor as that part does not routinely fail. He thought might be the bulb…..even though I had already replaced one with a “universal” bulb kit. He gave me the impression that the universal kits that you can buy at Fleet Farm were of little value. So, I got a name brand bulb…just in case.

Even with the old bulb and the universal bulb, I could not get gas to come up the line. I had one end disconnected from the motor and pumped to beat heck and nothing happened. I even cut of the motor connection to try to pump and spray gas out the line and nothing happened.

He suggested the idea that perhaps the motor’s fuel pump was not working. I would assume that the bulb should still get hard even if the fuel pump was bad. Any more ideas?

[cliffy]

eyes:

I bought this boat this past winter. The previous owner said that he had winterized it every year by using Stabil to condtion the gas for storage. It was also stored inside a garage each witner. He is a resort owner and I would assumed by speaking with him, he had a very good understanging of boats/motors. This was his personal boat. By the looks of the boat and motor, it was well treated.

I would assume that he didnt drain the carbs. How would that effect the gas line/bulb? I am not trying to be silly, just stupid when it comes to this stuff.

I have had the motor running a few times this spring...and its always been fairly cold blooded to start...but if I choke it right and use the cold idle...it fires up...I would let it idle for a minute and she worked just fine. This past weekend I started it and it ran fine for a few minutes and then it died as if it was not getting gas. I checked the bulb and couldnt get it hard. I then tore it all apart and thats where I am today.

[cliffy]

I am starting to think ChuckN is correct. When I bought the boat, the previous owner said the gas tank was almost full. The gas gauge said the same. I poured another 4 gallons into the tank when I got it home (would have poured more but ran out of gas). I am thinking perhaps the gas gauge is wrong and the previous owner's memory is incorrect..... but I would assume the 4 gallons I put in would be enough gas to get it to the level needed for the intake tube to work. Thanks for help guys...I plan on working on it some more tonight...so I probably will have more questions tomorrow.

[ChuckN]

Clint, it's won't hurt to drive it to the gas station and fill 'er up. If you have never filled an Alumacraft boat before at the station, be careful. Don't ever step away from it while fueling, and you must stand and listen for the gas tank to fill.. It can be one heck of a mess if you put that gas nozzle on "auto".

[Ole1855]

ChuckN,

Been-there-done-that!!!! It come's up really fast!!

Ole

[cliffy]

That is the first thing I am going to do tonight...I would kick myself in the butt if that is the problem...but its worth checking. So, do I just un-screw the flooring to get to the gas tank? Thanks for your help.

[ChuckN]

If the problem continues after a fill up, I would go straight to the tank. There should be about 10 screws holding that floor board in. Just take a drill with a screw bit and the screws should come out easily, and there's your tank with all the connections to inspect.

I just hope the gas tank doesn't get too full to inspect the sending unit inside the tank. Be careful with the gaskets so you don't tear them...that's about it. It's a piece of cake.

[cliffy]

That sounds simple enough...but of course I make it look harder then it is. I have be thinking about this problem all day...its driving me crazy! Thanks for the help.

[cliffy]

Update for Chuck and others who gave me suggestions:

I tried to take the flooring off to check out the gas tank BUT like I said above, I make easy things look so hard. I striped a couple of the screw heads so I gave up on that idea. Drank a beer...felt better.

I then placed the old gas line, bulb and connections back on the motor/gas tank....and for some unknown reason...IT WORKED! I pumped up the bulb and started the motor. It was a little difficult to start but I assume that was due to the lack of gas in the motor/line. I let it idle for about 20 minutes and it seemed to work just fine. Drank another beer.

I also filled up the gas tank and noticed the gas gauge was off. Before filling, it showed 3/4 full. I was able to put another 10-11 gallons in...and the tank holds 22 gallons...so its about half off. Drank another beer.

Any suggestions on how to fix the gas gauge?

Thanks guys for all your suggestions/help. I dont know what the problem was but it seems to have worked itself out.....

[psegriz]

Glad to see you got it fixed, cause I thaught I might have to send my brother to help drink your beer. Then in the morning when you guys went fishing (if you know my brother) there would be no GAS problem. hahaha

GRIZ

[cliffy]

ok, this is getting strange. I checked the old bulb & connections and compared it to the new ones and they both seem the same. They both hold air pressure just fine. This make me think the problem is in the gas tank take-up tube. Like I said earlier, I checked it yesterday and it looked fine but I think it needs a double check.

Now about that fuel pump...what would be signs that I have a bad fuel pump. Would the motor even start?...or would it just die out at higher speeds....?

Thanks.

[ChuckN]

If you could not pump gas through the hose without the connections on, it's not the fuel pump.

I'd say you might not have as much gas in the tank as you thought you had (not to be smart...it happened to me with a bad fuel gauge/used boat), or the hose/sending unit inside the gas tank has issues.

Your boat has a removable floor board down the middle of the boat. Unscrew it and inspect the tank. There's only a few fittings that enter the tank and easy to work on. See what's going on and pump the bulb and listen for any unusual sounds, etc..

[Ole1855]

Sounds to me like you have something clogging the up-take line in the tank, someone mentioned earlier to blow back down the gas line to see if you can force air into the tank, if not it's plugged. One other thing, if you stick a nail into the gas line connector to hold the ball open then squeeze the bulb does gas come out the line?

Ole

[cliffy]

that is not the kind of gas I need......

[cliffy]

I was a step ahead of you Chuck...bought the gas in town and brought it to the lake....dont want to take any chances...Thanks.

[Dobber]

cliffy,
It's pretty obvious what the problem was.

YOU WAITED TOO LONG TO CRACK OPEN THAT FIRST BEER!!!!

Just don't let it happen again

Dobber

[ChuckN]

Good to hear! When I have issues like that, I usually go to beer too. It seems to allow me to think deeper. LOL But I wouldn't be driving to the gas station to fill up the boat after all that beer LOL! See ya on the water.