Boats For Sale:
Outboard fuel issue |
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
winniskier 
Senior Member 
Joined: March-15-2008 Location: Gilford, NH Status: Offline Points: 192 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: Outboard fuel issuePosted: August-26-2017 at 8:31am |
|
I have a 4 hp 4 stroke outboard on my sailboat. It runs great when it gets fuel. I use an external tank at the other end of a six foot hose. When pumping the priming bulb, it sounds like air is being blown back into the tank. This happened with the new hose and the one it replaced. Is this normal? Is there a check valve in the tank?
|
|
|
Jim
|
|
 |
|
|
KENO
Grand Poobah 
Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10637 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August-26-2017 at 9:23am |
|
Primer bulbs have and inlet and an outlet check valve in them.
They're spring loaded ball check valves. There's no check valve in the tank It sounds like the inlet check valve is leaking or you have the bulb on backwards. Usually there's an arrow on the bulb that should point toward the engine. Maybe the new bulb is defective |
|
|
|
|
SNobsessed
Grand Poobah
Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August-26-2017 at 10:21am |
|
The aftermarket bulbs are junk. Get an OEM one, it will work much better.
|
|
|
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
|
|
|
|
skutsch
Grand Poobah
Joined: June-19-2008 Location: Racine, WI Status: Offline Points: 2874 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August-26-2017 at 11:36am |
|
I suppose it really doesn't make sense to run a fuel pump, regulator and return line for a 4 HP, but that is how my outboard is set up... HA! Sounds like these guys have you headed in the right direction.
|
|
|
|
|
winniskier
Senior Member
Joined: March-15-2008 Location: Gilford, NH Status: Offline Points: 192 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August-26-2017 at 1:04pm |
|
I just bought a OEM primer bulb and swapped out the old one, confirmed for the 1oo0th time the arrow point toward the engine. Still same thing -- bulb is soft, When it is squeezed, I can hear air going back into the tank. When released, no feel of fuel being drawn from the tank., Repeating many times does not change things. Any ideas?
|
|
|
Jim
|
|
|
|
|
SNobsessed
Grand Poobah
Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August-26-2017 at 2:55pm |
|
Maybe the oring on the hose/tank connector is bad, allowing air to be sucked in.
You could test this by hooking up a line to the bulb & pulling directly from a can of gas. |
|
|
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
|
|
|
|
shadow
Newbie 
Joined: July-27-2015 Location: badin lake, nc Status: Offline Points: 34 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August-26-2017 at 4:55pm |
|
The pick up tube in the fuel tank may be cracked sucking air, the primer bulb would not pump up tight on my outboard this year and that was the problem, had the same problem 4 years ago. Drop a fuel line direct into the tank, if the bulb pumps up tight that may be the problem, I made me a pick up tube out of copper this time.
|
|
|
shadow
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options