LDWF agents investigating fatal boatin Cobia move in close to Port Fourchon during September. Cancer and Reproductive WWW.P65Warnings.com. It certainly is a relief to figure these kind of things out after so long a time. If everything around you looks true, you checked more than once, then the problem is in any earlier assumption. Glad it's fixed though. Looking at our fuel hoses, it seemed impossible that there was a collapsed or kinked hose. Everyone we talked to and all the books we read agreed that the basic problem was fuel starvation. Thankyou for posting this we were just about to start trying to diagnose a similar issue. All of them. 
2018 Skeeter SX210 (I Know it's not a Tidewater but still love Tidewaters), This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, Engines, Props, Jack Plates, Trim Tabs and Fuel. What I found was lots of soap bubbles coming out of the banjo fitting on the inlet to the fuel pump. With the 6 gallon tank hooked to the engine, it ran flawlessly for over an hour. The pickup and vent fittings are on opposite ends of the tank. fuel thoughts Had this problem last week, tracing fuel lines, looking at filters, connections, pumps, etc then I went to the injectors, noticed 3 out of 4 of studs on the return line didnt have washersthey were so tiny, but as soon as they were replaced, the engine ran great. Changed duel filter no luck, Im not a very handy a person. When enough detergent oil was in the system it would foam up and foul the injectors. Clogged Fuel Line or Filter from Portable Tank to Engine. I totally understand the frustration we had it in spades. As of now we carry a lot of filters! This would cause the fuel system to suck air. If all else fails I can get another fitting an install it in the other hole, at least that is what I think that other fitting is.
Your link has been automatically embedded. I'm sure the same could go for any manufacturer. I suppose it's obvious the finished product should be leak tested. I was getting air in the fuel. This eliminated the entire fuel tank, fuel pick-up, fuel hose and water-separating system from the engine. It is possible for this filter to develop a small pinhole in the outer casing usually caused by rust. This also has the advantage of allowing zoom. Replacing things based on guesswork is always more expensive and usually not productive. [], Its not only important to wear a life jacket, but to make sure it is functioning properly, especially if it is self-inflating. We knew that the leak had to be somewhere between the tank and the fuel pump. When we were struggling with a hard to diagnose fuel problem on our new-to-us boat, I read this carefully. Thanks for reposting this Carolyn.we are literally right in the middle of sorting through this problem. For this trip will just blow out and fill tank. There is such a thing called preventive maintenance and no doubt with all equipment on board a vessel you should have the respective manufacturers manuals and they will always have a preventive maintenance schedule include..and of course they should be followed at the recommended intervals. Great article.thanks for sharingair leaks like that can be unbelievably frustrating! Its hard to see the pickup tube in the photo as its black, but its attached to that metal piece that the Visegrips are pulling out. By Once a vessels gets to 3-4 years old insulation tests should be carried out on the entire electrical on an annual basis due to vibrations and buffeting vessels undergo when at sea. found that one of the unused port plugs had never been screwed in all the way, let alone had any thread sealant used on it. We had no water whatsoever in the Racor, so ruled that out. So thanks! In this case stainless steel bulkhead fittings and stainless steel pickup tubes.
Sigh. We then pumped all the diesel out of one tank, pulled the tank out and cleaned the inside of it, reinstalled it, then ran the fuel back into it through a Baja filter (no significant water or crud). With my luck I figured I may have gauge issues post-install. . Copyright 2005-2022 | TheMalibuCrew.com Perseverance pays off. Found a loose hoseclamp and no more bubbles and engine is running like a dream.
He drained the gas, replaced the fuel line from the tank to the water-separating fuel filter and refilled the tank with fresh fuel. Cummins traced it to a very small crack in the Fuel Injection Pump which requires complete replacement of the pump. All we can figure is that there was one last bit of air, maybe trapped in a high spot, that dislodged. Thanks for posting! This is the second step of my fuel problem diagnostics. []. The e-mailer said the dealer had already replaced the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter, but no mention was made of the water-separating filter. I installed a, Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 1, Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling, Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape. This is a very common problem on CF. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Ive got the answer. We called Westerbeke tech support and they said to use a 30 micron if we were having fuel starvation issues. He began inspecting the fuel line, and discovered that the primer bulb was soft and had no pressure. Thanks for the photo, I literally ran into this issue this week trying to diagnose the same exact problem. He could not get it to restart. West Marine will email you when your order ships from the vendor. Also check closely the length of the pick-up tube. Clear fuel lines are available for gasoline engines and diesel does not seem to affect the lines for short term, investigative use. 3/8"ID x 12"L chemical-resistant nylon tubing. Question where do you purchase parts. [More] The Ultimate Answer, All cruisers have unexpected problems come up. Of course the engine dies in the worst and waviest conditions when the crud gets stirred up. He explained that he had performed the usual break-in, and liked what he had seen up to that point.On his next trip, everything went smoothly for the first half hour of operation; then all of a sudden, the engine started to sputter, and it died.
For compatibility then, you'd want to use aluminum or plastic fittings next to the aluminum. His girlfriend would top off the oil, certain Porsches would leak, with a detergent oil. . If you hire someone, its going to be expensive. We havent had even a sputter since and our crossing of Hecate Strait was horrible (weather forecast calm seas and no wind hahaha). Your email address will not be published. Or at least the way to start the answer. We did some more reading on the Tempo fuel tanks that we have and found that (a) a crack in the pickup tube is a semi-common problem and (b) someone had cut off the permanent fitting, fixed the cracked pickup, and then reinstalled it. The lessons that we took away from finding this fuel problem: Wondering how much of what foods to take on your next trip? If I hit something that means the pick up is part of the tank. New articles & podcasts I did use a remote tank and the engine ran better that is why I took off the 90 in the first place. The first batch of fuel has been disposed of, the second batch polished twice. I think that would have been and easier way to do it. The pickup tube was permanently installed (we called the tank manufacturer to confirm this) so we did not remove it to check it for blockages or cracks. Our fuel polishing made no difference. I was able to get about 2-300 more rpm by doing this. When Dave replaced them, the new ones seemed to have as much play as the old ones. Soo 2300 bucks later, its fixed. He got a 6-gallon tank and hose, which he hooked up to the motor.
Weve run the engine over 20 hours since then without even a hiccup. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
The easiest way to isolate an air leak is to place segments of clear plastic flue line segments in the line between tank and the engine fuel pump. My guess, without seeing it, is that you are looking at the fuel tank vent, and not the pick up. Very frustrated.
Includes detailed instructions to edit it for your favorite foods, how much your family eats, and how long youll be gone.
He then asked that the boater take the boat back on the water to verify that the problem was corrected. Having never experience this before, all other that I have work on had a tube attached to the 90 degree fitting. Thats a problem with a lot of boats with baffled tanks. Some Westerbeke literature said we should use a 2 micron Racor, others a 30 micron. This is not true and after years of engine failures, always when the conditions have the boat bouncing all over, we sorted this out with the help of a fellow mariner who had the same filters and problems. Then he would use a shop vac to suction up any trash in the tank. But how you deal with them will make the difference. Pulled the tank replaced the pickup tube lengthened to pull from rear of tank. We got one. Were now declaring the problem solved. Many anti-siphon valves become corroded and restrict fuel flow. The first buckets were mostly water and discarded in the fuel dump; later buckets we filtered and reused the good stuff. I know it was missing since before I had purchased the boat a year or two before but it just never leaked till now. In older cars cracked hoses were a common source for vacuum leaks, cracks as fine as the one you have. I had the same issue. In my return e-mail, I explained to him that this would be extremely dangerous and should not be attempted. Newtothis402, Heres what we learned from some unexpected medical issues while cruising. Hugs and Fishes from Haida Gwaii, I wonder if that boat got swamped at some point, or saltwater got down there somehow. Congratulations on a job well worked. Runs for 15mins and loses RPM then later dies. . The Boat Galley We definitely would have floundered longer if we didnt have an example of a crew with far more experience than we had still struggling. Looks like a good solution and nice write up and photos. These hatches usually are located over the fuel pick-up tube and the gas gauge sending unit. I have checked over the system but not as closely as you make clear is needed. . Heres wishing you a summer packed full of many hours of boating fun. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Copyright 1999 - 2022 Louisiana Sportsman, Inc. All rights reserved. We use cookies to optimize site functionality and improve your overall experience. All he needs to do now is trace down that problem and make the necessary corrections. Well that's what I thought I was doing, there was no tube that came out with the 90 degree fitting. My port Cummins (480HO/ 5.9 litre 2012) developed a small fuel leak (3 oz) after running out on the Ohio River. Will also get a 5 -6 gal can which is easy for me to drop fuel line in and run from. 2014 Tidewater 230lxf, 250XA Yamaha, Minn Kota Ulterra 112lb, 36V, 72 shaft. Become the most informed Sportsman you know, with a membership to the Louisiana Sportsman Magazine and LouisianaSportsman.com. Well, I didnt want to say anything, but really she was the one who told us what to look for . The top of the tank had sagged down with age, and the pick-up tube was resting on the bottom of the tank. The e-mail continued by stating that the boat was approximately 15 years old, and the owner thought there may have been trash in the tank that was sucked up into the pick-up tube and caused a restricted fuel flow. The wrench slipped and partially collapsed the side wall so It will not take the anti-siphon valve. Wow, that is some serious corrosion -- far worse than I have seen before. The problems got much worse on the return to Marathon with the engine dying severaltimes. Clearly a problem that calls for more patience that technical know how. After careful inspection, the dealer called and explained he could not find anything wrong with the engine. Shop vacs are not designed to suction explosive fumes, and they are not shielded against spark. Luckily there was a water dock right by where we had anchored! The manufacturer says the filters need only be half full.. When we had problems with our engine cutting out two years ago, your story convinced us to immediately replace all the fuel lines. Hopefully that solution works out in the long run, as it appears it will. I started looking at the hose very, very closely, lying on the deck with my head inside the engine compartment. Weve been checking for leaks. There are two fittings, two hose clamps and one hose between the two. As several pointed out it is a factory setup for the fuel pickup tube to be part of the tank. But, there were no bubbles, no leaks at fittings, it even passed a vacuum test. Its remarkable how tiny a leak can be to completely decomission an engine.
It really didnt seem to be anything, but as it was the only thing we could find, Dave decided to remove the hose and replace it. I also recall reading where someone put a longish metal tube onto a hose attached to a pump, and kept sucking out the bottom of the tanks, periodically adding more (filtered) fuel to stir up the crud on the bottom enough that it would get sucked up. Not all mechanical problems are the result of a failed engine. Tips from Carolyn Im pinning this for future ref Restrictions: This item does not ship to a PO Box, APO, FPO, DPO or international address. It worked and weve had no problems since. I had this happen on my boat. So I will need someone to walk me through the diagnosis steps. Upload or insert images from URL. Looking for one size fits all wont help much. I used segments of clear fuel tubing at multiple line junctions and ran the engine at high RPM. Applies to standard shipping only within the contiguous United States. He fixed that, and we were confident that we had the problem licked. Required fields are marked *. Glad you finally found it. Bulkhead Fitting Specification/Dimension: 2008 196 Bay Reef, Garmin 740s, M-K Riptide SP70 with iPilot, Engines, Electronics, Wiring and Hydraulics, http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ccfitt.php, https://agrimart.net/3-8-stainless-stee oC2Kzw_wcB, http://www.banjovalves.com/specs/TF038SS.pdf. I verify with a small wire as suggested. Heres my step-by-step method of making tired teak look like new. Wed already ruled out a crack in the pickup tube in the tank. My husband and I have been cruising over 14 years and 13,000 miles, first on a Tayana 37 monohull and now on a 34' Gemini catamaran. I "hope" that there is nothing special about it as I purchased another one, same thread (brass) but slightly different. with the rest of us boaters, and has many good tips and explanations. This item will be fulfilled from the vendor. Another major cause of fire are ill maintained vessels electrical systems. Take my free mini-course: Filed Under: Boat Work Tagged With: Boat Projects - Repairs & Upgrades, DIY Tips, Overcoming, Underway. I have a 1995 Islander 26.8 with a 134 gallon fuel tank. We thought we had a fuel blockage, but after reading this rushed to check our racor for bubbles. Learning from your experience helped us save hours of frustration. Some polishing services do steam cleaning of tanks, but we have never had it done so I dont know if it can get crud from behind baffles.
For seeing what is going on in really hard to get to places, we use a USB web cam and watch via the lap top screen. Could you use more help in making the transition to living aboard? The engine failed more and more frequently. Turned out to be a restriction in the stainless screen at the top of the pick up tube. Did I miss why you are back on the hard? What a shame to have to go through all that. The correction for this boat was to simply cut the bottom of the tube on an angle so that even if it did hit the bottom of the tank, it would still supply fuel. The cute dog looks like she is very interested in those tools! Much later the engine dies. I wanted to update the group about a problem I discovered with my 2015 250CC gas tank. Several times, we thought perhaps wed solved the problem and then when wed try to motor, wed find we still had a problem. Published on August 31, 2020; last updated on August 31, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock. At this point, the boat captain tried an experiment. Thats also a problem, but wont produce the symptoms we had of an engine losing RPMs and dying. Thanks so much for the detailed, extensive descriptions of your trouble -shooting. Both tank access point are the same. By the time the car was taken to the shop the foam would subside and the engine would start.
To sell our house this summer so we can cruise full time . There is a second hole (plugged) that I can get a new pickup tube for but was wondering what is going on with the one that had the elbow in it? I think when you drain your tank and have a look at the bottom you will be surprised at how much gunk there is. Since wed had more problems as the trip had progressed and thus there was less fuel in the tank, we suspected maybe there was a crack in the tank pickup. There was a guy whose Porsche would not start intermittently. If you are not sure about the vent, remove the fill cap fitting. . Bleed it at the injector pump and it runs fine until the next time I push it over 2000. Learn what you can do to prevent phase separation and limit other ethanol-related fuel problems. We had bubbles galore! Then you should just be able to find a replacement, even if it is Al it should last a decade or two. I had a similar problem on my Islander 30. It was easier to see when I bent the hose a bit. If you do not receive an email contact Customer Service. I just purchase a zine pencil and two switches one for the glow plug and starter switch. Initial testing showed that the engine was now running well, so we went ahead and made a trip to Key West to visit friends vacationing there. In this case, the first thing to do is locate any inspection hatches in the floor of the boat. Many years ago I worked on a boat with a similar problem. 250 gallons and we never saw it leave the boat. It was hidden from view and I only found it by accident. Happened when we were on a friends boat. Heather Kolankowski, On gas engines you can use WD 40 to find leaks. Then the ups and downs would start again. After pumping the bulb, he got the engine to start immediately, but it died again when he attempted to accelerate to a planing speed. This time the engine would run well up to 2,500 rpm, but if he tried to go above that speed, it would sputter and kill. [More] How to Deal with Problems, Is your boat teak looking dirty and dingy? Alright so I went off the grid for a bit and finally got this fixed (hopefully). I will wait for a few mins and retart engine, then have to go thru the issue again. including the dead ends as in our Racor. Each time Id clean I off the bilge floor and next time after running it the fuel would be back on the floor. Good job on tracking it down. This fitting is usually equipped with an anti-siphon valve. All other maintenance is equally important and if youre using Racor fill them up. We took the boat out and motored for over 3 hours in 2 to 3 foot waves. How did I find it? Hi All, thanks for the help. We have a dirty fuel issue in the port tank. Thanks Carolyn, I have been fighting the same problem for a year with the Yanmar 30GM losing several hundred rpms when running over 2000 rpms and then catch up again after a few seconds. I'm wondering if the tanks come pre-assembled from whomever and Tidewater simply hooks the lines up without checking it out? Popular articles you may have missed Depending of course on how old your boat is. Still its a mystery. Good article, recently just went through a weird fuel leak myself. You could actually see large volumes of air bubbles in the fuel thereby isolating the location of the leak. That one that you enjoy fishing with but you both especially enjoy giving each other a hard time. He tried to tighten every hose clamp. The valve stems seemed a little wobbly and we called the companys tech support to see if this would let air in. . and then come right back . You must log in or register to reply here. We found some stories of people cutting them and all sorts of stuff. Thanks for the tip. I had the very same issues of fuel starvation and the problem was the Racor assembly. After the fuel pump, the fuel is under pressure and will seep out any unsealed areas as a fuel leak. Your previous content has been restored.
2018 Skeeter SX210 (I Know it's not a Tidewater but still love Tidewaters), This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, Engines, Props, Jack Plates, Trim Tabs and Fuel. What I found was lots of soap bubbles coming out of the banjo fitting on the inlet to the fuel pump. With the 6 gallon tank hooked to the engine, it ran flawlessly for over an hour. The pickup and vent fittings are on opposite ends of the tank. fuel thoughts Had this problem last week, tracing fuel lines, looking at filters, connections, pumps, etc then I went to the injectors, noticed 3 out of 4 of studs on the return line didnt have washersthey were so tiny, but as soon as they were replaced, the engine ran great. Changed duel filter no luck, Im not a very handy a person. When enough detergent oil was in the system it would foam up and foul the injectors. Clogged Fuel Line or Filter from Portable Tank to Engine. I totally understand the frustration we had it in spades. As of now we carry a lot of filters! This would cause the fuel system to suck air. If all else fails I can get another fitting an install it in the other hole, at least that is what I think that other fitting is. Your link has been automatically embedded. I'm sure the same could go for any manufacturer. I suppose it's obvious the finished product should be leak tested. I was getting air in the fuel. This eliminated the entire fuel tank, fuel pick-up, fuel hose and water-separating system from the engine. It is possible for this filter to develop a small pinhole in the outer casing usually caused by rust. This also has the advantage of allowing zoom. Replacing things based on guesswork is always more expensive and usually not productive. [], Its not only important to wear a life jacket, but to make sure it is functioning properly, especially if it is self-inflating. We knew that the leak had to be somewhere between the tank and the fuel pump. When we were struggling with a hard to diagnose fuel problem on our new-to-us boat, I read this carefully. Thanks for reposting this Carolyn.we are literally right in the middle of sorting through this problem. For this trip will just blow out and fill tank. There is such a thing called preventive maintenance and no doubt with all equipment on board a vessel you should have the respective manufacturers manuals and they will always have a preventive maintenance schedule include..and of course they should be followed at the recommended intervals. Great article.thanks for sharingair leaks like that can be unbelievably frustrating! Its hard to see the pickup tube in the photo as its black, but its attached to that metal piece that the Visegrips are pulling out. By Once a vessels gets to 3-4 years old insulation tests should be carried out on the entire electrical on an annual basis due to vibrations and buffeting vessels undergo when at sea. found that one of the unused port plugs had never been screwed in all the way, let alone had any thread sealant used on it. We had no water whatsoever in the Racor, so ruled that out. So thanks! In this case stainless steel bulkhead fittings and stainless steel pickup tubes.
Sigh. We then pumped all the diesel out of one tank, pulled the tank out and cleaned the inside of it, reinstalled it, then ran the fuel back into it through a Baja filter (no significant water or crud). With my luck I figured I may have gauge issues post-install. . Copyright 2005-2022 | TheMalibuCrew.com Perseverance pays off. Found a loose hoseclamp and no more bubbles and engine is running like a dream.
He drained the gas, replaced the fuel line from the tank to the water-separating fuel filter and refilled the tank with fresh fuel. Cummins traced it to a very small crack in the Fuel Injection Pump which requires complete replacement of the pump. All we can figure is that there was one last bit of air, maybe trapped in a high spot, that dislodged. Thanks for posting! This is the second step of my fuel problem diagnostics. []. The e-mailer said the dealer had already replaced the fuel line from the tank to the fuel filter, but no mention was made of the water-separating filter. I installed a, Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 1, Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling, Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape. This is a very common problem on CF. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Ive got the answer. We called Westerbeke tech support and they said to use a 30 micron if we were having fuel starvation issues. He began inspecting the fuel line, and discovered that the primer bulb was soft and had no pressure. Thanks for the photo, I literally ran into this issue this week trying to diagnose the same exact problem. He could not get it to restart. West Marine will email you when your order ships from the vendor. Also check closely the length of the pick-up tube. Clear fuel lines are available for gasoline engines and diesel does not seem to affect the lines for short term, investigative use. 3/8"ID x 12"L chemical-resistant nylon tubing. Question where do you purchase parts. [More] The Ultimate Answer, All cruisers have unexpected problems come up. Of course the engine dies in the worst and waviest conditions when the crud gets stirred up. He explained that he had performed the usual break-in, and liked what he had seen up to that point.On his next trip, everything went smoothly for the first half hour of operation; then all of a sudden, the engine started to sputter, and it died.
For compatibility then, you'd want to use aluminum or plastic fittings next to the aluminum. His girlfriend would top off the oil, certain Porsches would leak, with a detergent oil. . If you hire someone, its going to be expensive. We havent had even a sputter since and our crossing of Hecate Strait was horrible (weather forecast calm seas and no wind hahaha). Your email address will not be published. Or at least the way to start the answer. We did some more reading on the Tempo fuel tanks that we have and found that (a) a crack in the pickup tube is a semi-common problem and (b) someone had cut off the permanent fitting, fixed the cracked pickup, and then reinstalled it. The lessons that we took away from finding this fuel problem: Wondering how much of what foods to take on your next trip? If I hit something that means the pick up is part of the tank. New articles & podcasts I did use a remote tank and the engine ran better that is why I took off the 90 in the first place. The first batch of fuel has been disposed of, the second batch polished twice. I think that would have been and easier way to do it. The pickup tube was permanently installed (we called the tank manufacturer to confirm this) so we did not remove it to check it for blockages or cracks. Our fuel polishing made no difference. I was able to get about 2-300 more rpm by doing this. When Dave replaced them, the new ones seemed to have as much play as the old ones. Soo 2300 bucks later, its fixed. He got a 6-gallon tank and hose, which he hooked up to the motor.
Weve run the engine over 20 hours since then without even a hiccup. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
The easiest way to isolate an air leak is to place segments of clear plastic flue line segments in the line between tank and the engine fuel pump. My guess, without seeing it, is that you are looking at the fuel tank vent, and not the pick up. Very frustrated.
Includes detailed instructions to edit it for your favorite foods, how much your family eats, and how long youll be gone.
He then asked that the boater take the boat back on the water to verify that the problem was corrected. Having never experience this before, all other that I have work on had a tube attached to the 90 degree fitting. Thats a problem with a lot of boats with baffled tanks. Some Westerbeke literature said we should use a 2 micron Racor, others a 30 micron. This is not true and after years of engine failures, always when the conditions have the boat bouncing all over, we sorted this out with the help of a fellow mariner who had the same filters and problems. Then he would use a shop vac to suction up any trash in the tank. But how you deal with them will make the difference. Pulled the tank replaced the pickup tube lengthened to pull from rear of tank. We got one. Were now declaring the problem solved. Many anti-siphon valves become corroded and restrict fuel flow. The first buckets were mostly water and discarded in the fuel dump; later buckets we filtered and reused the good stuff. I know it was missing since before I had purchased the boat a year or two before but it just never leaked till now. In older cars cracked hoses were a common source for vacuum leaks, cracks as fine as the one you have. I had the same issue. In my return e-mail, I explained to him that this would be extremely dangerous and should not be attempted. Newtothis402, Heres what we learned from some unexpected medical issues while cruising. Hugs and Fishes from Haida Gwaii, I wonder if that boat got swamped at some point, or saltwater got down there somehow. Congratulations on a job well worked. Runs for 15mins and loses RPM then later dies. . The Boat Galley We definitely would have floundered longer if we didnt have an example of a crew with far more experience than we had still struggling. Looks like a good solution and nice write up and photos. These hatches usually are located over the fuel pick-up tube and the gas gauge sending unit. I have checked over the system but not as closely as you make clear is needed. . Heres wishing you a summer packed full of many hours of boating fun. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Copyright 1999 - 2022 Louisiana Sportsman, Inc. All rights reserved. We use cookies to optimize site functionality and improve your overall experience. All he needs to do now is trace down that problem and make the necessary corrections. Well that's what I thought I was doing, there was no tube that came out with the 90 degree fitting. My port Cummins (480HO/ 5.9 litre 2012) developed a small fuel leak (3 oz) after running out on the Ohio River. Will also get a 5 -6 gal can which is easy for me to drop fuel line in and run from. 2014 Tidewater 230lxf, 250XA Yamaha, Minn Kota Ulterra 112lb, 36V, 72 shaft. Become the most informed Sportsman you know, with a membership to the Louisiana Sportsman Magazine and LouisianaSportsman.com. Well, I didnt want to say anything, but really she was the one who told us what to look for . The top of the tank had sagged down with age, and the pick-up tube was resting on the bottom of the tank. The e-mail continued by stating that the boat was approximately 15 years old, and the owner thought there may have been trash in the tank that was sucked up into the pick-up tube and caused a restricted fuel flow. The wrench slipped and partially collapsed the side wall so It will not take the anti-siphon valve. Wow, that is some serious corrosion -- far worse than I have seen before. The problems got much worse on the return to Marathon with the engine dying severaltimes. Clearly a problem that calls for more patience that technical know how. After careful inspection, the dealer called and explained he could not find anything wrong with the engine. Shop vacs are not designed to suction explosive fumes, and they are not shielded against spark. Luckily there was a water dock right by where we had anchored! The manufacturer says the filters need only be half full.. When we had problems with our engine cutting out two years ago, your story convinced us to immediately replace all the fuel lines. Hopefully that solution works out in the long run, as it appears it will. I started looking at the hose very, very closely, lying on the deck with my head inside the engine compartment. Weve been checking for leaks. There are two fittings, two hose clamps and one hose between the two. As several pointed out it is a factory setup for the fuel pickup tube to be part of the tank. But, there were no bubbles, no leaks at fittings, it even passed a vacuum test. Its remarkable how tiny a leak can be to completely decomission an engine.
It really didnt seem to be anything, but as it was the only thing we could find, Dave decided to remove the hose and replace it. I also recall reading where someone put a longish metal tube onto a hose attached to a pump, and kept sucking out the bottom of the tanks, periodically adding more (filtered) fuel to stir up the crud on the bottom enough that it would get sucked up. Not all mechanical problems are the result of a failed engine. Tips from Carolyn Im pinning this for future ref Restrictions: This item does not ship to a PO Box, APO, FPO, DPO or international address. It worked and weve had no problems since. I had this happen on my boat. So I will need someone to walk me through the diagnosis steps. Upload or insert images from URL. Looking for one size fits all wont help much. I used segments of clear fuel tubing at multiple line junctions and ran the engine at high RPM. Applies to standard shipping only within the contiguous United States. He fixed that, and we were confident that we had the problem licked. Required fields are marked *. Glad you finally found it. Bulkhead Fitting Specification/Dimension: 2008 196 Bay Reef, Garmin 740s, M-K Riptide SP70 with iPilot, Engines, Electronics, Wiring and Hydraulics, http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ccfitt.php, https://agrimart.net/3-8-stainless-stee oC2Kzw_wcB, http://www.banjovalves.com/specs/TF038SS.pdf. I verify with a small wire as suggested. Heres my step-by-step method of making tired teak look like new. Wed already ruled out a crack in the pickup tube in the tank. My husband and I have been cruising over 14 years and 13,000 miles, first on a Tayana 37 monohull and now on a 34' Gemini catamaran. I "hope" that there is nothing special about it as I purchased another one, same thread (brass) but slightly different. with the rest of us boaters, and has many good tips and explanations. This item will be fulfilled from the vendor. Another major cause of fire are ill maintained vessels electrical systems. Take my free mini-course: Filed Under: Boat Work Tagged With: Boat Projects - Repairs & Upgrades, DIY Tips, Overcoming, Underway. I have a 1995 Islander 26.8 with a 134 gallon fuel tank. We thought we had a fuel blockage, but after reading this rushed to check our racor for bubbles. Learning from your experience helped us save hours of frustration. Some polishing services do steam cleaning of tanks, but we have never had it done so I dont know if it can get crud from behind baffles.
For seeing what is going on in really hard to get to places, we use a USB web cam and watch via the lap top screen. Could you use more help in making the transition to living aboard? The engine failed more and more frequently. Turned out to be a restriction in the stainless screen at the top of the pick up tube. Did I miss why you are back on the hard? What a shame to have to go through all that. The correction for this boat was to simply cut the bottom of the tube on an angle so that even if it did hit the bottom of the tank, it would still supply fuel. The cute dog looks like she is very interested in those tools! Much later the engine dies. I wanted to update the group about a problem I discovered with my 2015 250CC gas tank. Several times, we thought perhaps wed solved the problem and then when wed try to motor, wed find we still had a problem. Published on August 31, 2020; last updated on August 31, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock. At this point, the boat captain tried an experiment. Thats also a problem, but wont produce the symptoms we had of an engine losing RPMs and dying. Thanks so much for the detailed, extensive descriptions of your trouble -shooting. Both tank access point are the same. By the time the car was taken to the shop the foam would subside and the engine would start.
To sell our house this summer so we can cruise full time . There is a second hole (plugged) that I can get a new pickup tube for but was wondering what is going on with the one that had the elbow in it? I think when you drain your tank and have a look at the bottom you will be surprised at how much gunk there is. Since wed had more problems as the trip had progressed and thus there was less fuel in the tank, we suspected maybe there was a crack in the tank pickup. There was a guy whose Porsche would not start intermittently. If you are not sure about the vent, remove the fill cap fitting. . Bleed it at the injector pump and it runs fine until the next time I push it over 2000. Learn what you can do to prevent phase separation and limit other ethanol-related fuel problems. We had bubbles galore! Then you should just be able to find a replacement, even if it is Al it should last a decade or two. I had a similar problem on my Islander 30. It was easier to see when I bent the hose a bit. If you do not receive an email contact Customer Service. I just purchase a zine pencil and two switches one for the glow plug and starter switch. Initial testing showed that the engine was now running well, so we went ahead and made a trip to Key West to visit friends vacationing there. In this case, the first thing to do is locate any inspection hatches in the floor of the boat. Many years ago I worked on a boat with a similar problem. 250 gallons and we never saw it leave the boat. It was hidden from view and I only found it by accident. Happened when we were on a friends boat. Heather Kolankowski, On gas engines you can use WD 40 to find leaks. Then the ups and downs would start again. After pumping the bulb, he got the engine to start immediately, but it died again when he attempted to accelerate to a planing speed. This time the engine would run well up to 2,500 rpm, but if he tried to go above that speed, it would sputter and kill. [More] How to Deal with Problems, Is your boat teak looking dirty and dingy? Alright so I went off the grid for a bit and finally got this fixed (hopefully). I will wait for a few mins and retart engine, then have to go thru the issue again. including the dead ends as in our Racor. Each time Id clean I off the bilge floor and next time after running it the fuel would be back on the floor. Good job on tracking it down. This fitting is usually equipped with an anti-siphon valve. All other maintenance is equally important and if youre using Racor fill them up. We took the boat out and motored for over 3 hours in 2 to 3 foot waves. How did I find it? Hi All, thanks for the help. We have a dirty fuel issue in the port tank. Thanks Carolyn, I have been fighting the same problem for a year with the Yanmar 30GM losing several hundred rpms when running over 2000 rpms and then catch up again after a few seconds. I'm wondering if the tanks come pre-assembled from whomever and Tidewater simply hooks the lines up without checking it out? Popular articles you may have missed Depending of course on how old your boat is. Still its a mystery. Good article, recently just went through a weird fuel leak myself. You could actually see large volumes of air bubbles in the fuel thereby isolating the location of the leak. That one that you enjoy fishing with but you both especially enjoy giving each other a hard time. He tried to tighten every hose clamp. The valve stems seemed a little wobbly and we called the companys tech support to see if this would let air in. . and then come right back . You must log in or register to reply here. We found some stories of people cutting them and all sorts of stuff. Thanks for the tip. I had the very same issues of fuel starvation and the problem was the Racor assembly. After the fuel pump, the fuel is under pressure and will seep out any unsealed areas as a fuel leak. Your previous content has been restored.