Weak fuel pump?
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27757
Printed Date: November-13-2024 at 9:49pm
Topic: Weak fuel pump?
Posted By: Tom_Madison
Subject: Weak fuel pump?
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 4:25pm
| If my '78 Ski Nautique (350 Chevy) sits unused for about 2 weeks it will be hard to start (a lot of cranking) unless I pour about 1/4 cup of gas into the carburetor, at which point it will start fine. You can also get it to start by spraying engine start into the air cleaner, but I suspect this is something to avoid. Can the fuel pump be getting weak? Or is there something worn in the carb? |
Replies:
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 4:34pm
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I experienced this on my Ski Tique, which had a brand new fuel pump and a freshly rebuilt carb. Anything short of 2 weeks and it started with 2 pumps... but anything longer and I needed to pour some gas down the carb throat. A few other people have posted with this same issue, not sure if anyone has solved it yet! I always suspected the antisiphon valve, but never got it nailed down. ------------- |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 4:45pm
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Do not use starting fluid on an engine. It's the worst thing you can do. The ether in it is a strong solvent and washes the oil off the cylinder walls. Sorry but using it you are trashing your engine. A few pumps of the helm throttle should "prime" the engine. I was just up north to put the Tique away for the winter. It had sat for 4 weeks. A few pumps of the helm was all it took to get it running. The same goes for starting it after it's winter sleep. Same for my 312 in my X55 or any other V8 I've started. Who told you to use the starting fluid? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 5:41pm
Well no kidding, Pete... if this behavior was normal, I doubt he'd be coming in and asking for help! ------------- |
8122pbrainard wrote:Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 6:00pm
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'Motorboat' more often ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 7:18pm
Tim, Are you having a bad day?  Come on, I've pumped the throttle on tons of boats that have sat for extended times!! It's more than the norm. What are your ideas?------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 7:24pm
Its a Friday and Im at work... so Ive had better days.  Yes, 2 pumps of the throttle is normal. No argument there. If it will crank and crank and crank without starting, after sitting for an extended period (my Tique would run the battery dead cranking if it sat for more than 2 weeks) then that is NOT normal. If I read the OP correctly, that is what he's describing. I dont have a fix... but telling him his boat is acting abnormally isnt exactly helpful either. ------------- |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 7:49pm
At least you are on the job and working!! I've been sending my resume all over and am on craigslist 5 or 6 times a day. It's tough out there especially for an older guy like myself! All I can add regarding the priming problem is the check valves in the fuel pump can go bad allowing the reverse flow of fuel over time. But, even a new pump may even have check valve issues. The crap we are getting from overseas is really junk!! Pump the throttle! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 8:39pm
But the crap we call gasoline today and what we put in it, is of our own make ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: September-07-2012 at 10:44pm
And now they want to go 15%!!! Not wanting to go off topic here but the ethanol production is robbing out basic grain production! I feel this topic regarding ethanol should be be moved to the "off topic" section? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: September-08-2012 at 2:01am
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Come on we should be proud to be the first country in history to burn up all of our food on purpose. On a more serious thread jack, Pete are you jobless? I haven't been paying much attention lately, only had the boat out a couple of times last month so staying away from here helps me forget how this summer has gone terribly wrong for some reason called life. |
Posted By: Dreaming
Date Posted: September-08-2012 at 3:22am
| I was wondering that too... If yes, I hope you find something soon. My dad was laid off a few years ago during a corporate shuffle, he ended up starting his own construction buisness, and has been far happier working for himself than he ever was working for "the man"... btw, he's 73 and still at it. I've tried working weekends with him and he puts me to shame. Nothing wrong with getting older, you just know how to do more stuff, and hopefully do it smarter. |
Posted By: Big t
Date Posted: September-08-2012 at 3:46am
| I have hade this problem with antique cars the two ways that I have found to "fix" the problem are ( 1 convert to an electric pump) or( 2 add an in line primer bulb from an outboard motor) the fule is "flashing off" or evaporating out of the carborator(s) but look at the bright side all the cranking befor start up makes shire all the barings are well lubed!!!!!!!! That has been my experience working on 1956- 64 mopars. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: September-08-2012 at 6:25pm
Don, Yes, a few of our members knew about it a month ago but I didn't want to publicly announce the issue. It was certainly a shock after over 21 years at the same place. When the CEO called me into his office, I was dumbfounded and couldn't even say a word! All I did was shake his hand and thank him for the years I served. The outfit that bought out the assets of the old company is BIG corporate and backed by GE Capital. GE sends in their auditors every month so when they saw the orders on the books drop as well as the receivables, the word went out to make the cuts. First to go are, like myself the highest paid middle management & 7 others went down the tube with me. For several years, we were going "balls out". Even with temp help, it was a struggle to get the orders out the door. It was like someone turning the faucet off. I don't care what the Ahole Obama says, it's tough out there!! BTW, they replaced me with a existing employee that was making 1/3 of my pay. Yup, good luck!!  In the 4 weeks of my being gone, they have already called me 6 times asking for advice!!------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: TX Foilhead
Date Posted: September-09-2012 at 7:40pm
|
Sounds like your a consultant now, send them a bill. That truely sucks, happened to my wife in the spring, but she found something she would rather be doing before the severance ran out so we ended up with a bonus. There seems to something down here for everyone that wants to do something, I don't know of anyone around here that has had this happen that hasn't bounced back so keep your chin up and maybe look south if nothing happens where you are. |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: September-09-2012 at 11:43pm
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Don,it used to be that if you lived in Chicago area you could always get a job,and a good one at that. Now with this "service" economy things have changed. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: 62 wood
Date Posted: September-12-2012 at 12:55am
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Tom, My 73 SN does the same thing. I installed a new fuel pump. Might have helped a bit, but still hard start after setting a few days. I have even had hard starts on the river after setting for half hour or so. Next time try taking the flame arrestor off and manually push the choke closed while cranking it over. (My choke stays open about a 1/4"... not sure if this needs adjustment?) btw, I have been carrying a can of ether with me as well. I HATE to use it, but has gotten me off the river once this summer. (I only hit it thru the arrestor, for maybe a 1/2 second, and only while cranking the engine.) Qjet rebuild planned before next summer. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1117&sort=&pagenum=6" rel="nofollow - 64 American Skier 62 Classic.. 73 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: Tom_Madison
Date Posted: September-12-2012 at 2:14pm
| When I take the flame arrestor off the choke seems fully closed. I will try more preliminary pumping, but the gas in the carb does the trick every time, at the first crank. Like you I only use the engine start thru the arrestor while cranking, and now only carry the spray can for if I am really stuck, like if I've let the battery get worn down and don't have a safe way to pour in some gas. Hopefully I won't need to use the ether again. |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: September-12-2012 at 10:03pm
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Well, my boat started up with 2 pumps & 5 revolutions after 9 months of sitting, so I don't think it is a condition that can't be fixed. Don't know the answer, but maybe a custom check valve between the pump & tank (or shut off valve) may be a fix. Pete - Sorry to hear of the 'downsizing'. Go for contract work, that is the only thing companies will spring for now, since it isn't a commitment. Ever think of working on antique boats? ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: CanyonLakeBowman
Date Posted: September-14-2012 at 2:13pm
|
I had this problem and it ended up being little holes in the fuel line. The line was very old and should have been replaced a long time ago. I put in a new fuel line and also put an "out board" pump ball in the fuel line to prime the system when it is sitting for a while. I have never had a problem again. ------------- Pat Bowman |
Posted By: Tom_Madison
Date Posted: September-14-2012 at 4:50pm
| I just learned another trick. With the knob pulled out that prevents you starting in gear I can only "pump" going forward a bit, because the shift lever hits the knob. But I can leave the knob out and accomplish the same pumping action stronger by swinging the shift lever a lot further BACKWARDS 2-3 times. I'm going to give that a shot. The primer bulb idea seems logical, but I've never seen something like that in the fuel line for such a large motor. It would sure beat removing the flame arrestor and pouring in gas. |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: September-14-2012 at 5:21pm
Yup, it's definitely setup to be easier to give it throttle by putting the lever back, and you'll get a more complete accelerator pump stroke that way. |