Boat fails to proceede

[LandyAndy]

Guys
Any help appreciated.
2003 75HP Merc 2 stroke.182hrs on clock.
Every trip,ie several days fishing,or even a single outing,my boat looses power and stops once.Re-prime the bulb and she goes as if nothing happened.
Before my Albany trip I replaced the fuel lines,prime bulb and fitted hose clamps instead of zip ties.
Yesterday she stopped again,on the 5th trip in 6 days.Same story,squeeze the bulb and away we go.The bulb did have air in it.I have a 120lt in hull tank,oil injection.
HELP,the Mrs wasnt too happy.
Andrew

[Ean Austral]

Gday Andrew,

Is it possible that the fuel tank breather is getting blocked or pinched by something and when you move to restart the engine it comes free again... Dont laugh when we had the hire boat business this happened to us on more then 1 occasion.

Just a simple start point.

Cheers Ean

[LandyAndy]

Ean.
I bought enough fuel hose to replace the 2 breathers at the same time,only to find they are bigger diameter than the main fuel line.
1 of the 2 hoses does have kinks in it,its the one on the fuel fill side.Fuel squirts out of that breather first when filling so I thought it should be OK.
Andrew

[dswatts]

A mate had the same issue, new elcheapo hose fixed it.( complete hose, priming bulb and ends)
Sounds like it could be sucking air?

[Racer-X]

Check the fuel pump

[Bearman]

Does it have those quick connect fuel couplings where the hose attaches to the motor Andy. If it does that could be the problem. They have a small o ring inside them, which may need replacing. Even a small nick in this o ring can cause air to be sucked in.

[Ean Austral]

G'day Andrew
Remember a underfloor tank will have baffles in it and if the breather on one side is not working it could be enough to restrict it enough to cause the problem. It seems that once the suction from the fuel pump stops and it can pressurise enough and you prime the fuel back up it goes again.

Cheers Ean

[disco2_dan]

Could be a little air leak and its just enough after a period if time to stop the fuel pressure?

[LandyAndy]

Does it have those quick connect fuel couplings where the hose attaches to the motor Andy. If it does that could be the problem. They have a small o ring inside them, which may need replacing. Even a small nick in this o ring can cause air to be sucked in.

No quick connects,plumbed from tank to large filter and then prime bulb/motor.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

A mate had the same issue, new elcheapo hose fixed it.( complete hose, priming bulb and ends)
Sounds like it could be sucking air?

Is all new Dylan,prior to going to Albany.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Ean.
I will get some fuel hose and replace the breather hoses.Do the plastic vents ever need cleaning??? ie can they let fuel out but not air in????
May be worth replacing them whilst Im about it????
Andrew

[Modelsp]

First,
would be to check the tank vent with some wire to see if the mud wasps haven't moved in,it sounds like a vacuum forming in the tank,the other would be the crankcase powered fuel pump to see if the gaskets are rotten,or maybe Algae in the pickup in the tank.all of these are suggestions only from previous experience,i have a 23ft searay mercruiser powered.
good luck
Paul.;)

[clubagreenie]

If you've go a compressor while the breather hoses are off gently blow through from the tank side of the breathers, should blow out any contaminants. I also generally put 2-3 loops in the breather line immediately after the connection at the top so if any moisture does get in it settles at the bottom of the loop. There's also some extra there if it gets damaged and need to be cut back or joined later.

[Ean Austral]

As mention below Andrew this is all we used to do. Of all the issues we had with the hire boats blocked or closed breathers was the most common problem.

May have to do a tank inspection next time you have the boat layed up. Even pulling it out and cleaning it may be worth it.

Cheers Ean

[MuckUte]

May also be a blocked fuel filter, I have had similar problems caused by this. While the fuel is flowing the crud is pushed against the element untill it cuts the flow, once the fuel flow is stopped it all settles to the bottom and the engine will restart and run fine untill all that crud is stirred up again and blocks the filter again.

[LandyAndy]

May also be a blocked fuel filter, I have had similar problems caused by this. While the fuel is flowing the crud is pushed against the element untill it cuts the flow, once the fuel flow is stopped it all settles to the bottom and the engine will restart and run fine untill all that crud is stirred up again and blocks the filter again.

Has a large cartridge fuel filter,and was replaced when I bought the boat,done 20 hours or so.
Thanks
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

I had a sniff of the breathers today when it was reasonably hot.You can smell fuel on the port vent,the starboard vent has no fuel smell so I guess thats the issue;););););).
I will replace both and the hose for peace of mind.
Andrew

[Tombie]

Or it's empty :D