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Author Topic:   Fuel Line problem?

alanfujii posted 08-10-2007 11:37 PM ET (US)
I have a 2004 Dauntless 160 with a Mercury 115 outboard. I just this week decided to use it after not touching it for 21/2 years. I emptied the gas tank and recharged the battery (battery was still good). I pour in about 10 gallons of fuel and launched it. I had the engine idling for about 5 minutes when it died. I tried to start it again but it seemed the engiune was not getting fuel. The fuek gauge didn't even register the gas I put in so I went down and got 15 more gallons. The fuel gauge now shows abour +1/4 tank. I tried starting it but no luck. I tried priming the bulb and it feels like it's not getting any fuel. I tried squeezing the bulb quite a few times and it still feels like it's not gettting fuel. What could be clogged in the fuel lines before the priming bulb?
Sea Antsy posted 08-11-2007 09:43 AM ET (US)
Your probably on the right track to suspect the fuel.. and you mention emptying the gas tank.. ???HOW.. did you do it thru the bulkhead mounted fuel filter... cant get the primer hard.... ? are you holding the primer bulb wiht the arrow upright to allow the internal check valve its best shot at pulling fuel?... you did not mention any filter between the tank and the primer.. I am pretty sure they all came wiht a filter/water sep ... after sitting for that long that 8-10$ filter is AT LEAST the price of admission..
?Have you tried using the primer to pump some fuel into a clear container??? You might have hozes that colapsed or are pinched internally.. your check valve on the under floor fuel tank may be stuck-stuck-sticking.. the primer bulb not getting stiff is about the half split of the fuel system.. the engine mounted fuel filter is translucent enough to see the fuel in there..and the carbs have brass drain plugs.. good luck YMMV
SMOKING LAMP IS OUT IN ALL SPACES..
bigjohn1 posted 08-13-2007 08:34 AM ET (US)
I presume you're talking about the 4-stroke 115efi, if so I have the same outboard and sometimes experience this problem. I have an add-on Racor fuel/water separating filter between the engine and fuel tank. The same problem as yours usually crops up after I either drain the plastic sight glass under the filter or when I replace the filter itself and lose the fuel prime. The problem always goes away with patience and persistent pumping of the fuel bulb. For some reason, it can take me up about five minutes of continually squeezing the bulb before the fuel gets to the fuel pump.
If you leave your ignition key switch to the on position, the high pressure electric fuel pump will constantly make a ticking sound until it receives fuel from the low-pressure fuel pump. I would not leave the key on for more than a few seconds if the electric pump is ticking (still trying to get fuel) as Yamaha reports this can damage the pump. Since this engine is basically a Yamaha product on the top end, I listen to their recommendations. If this has confused you, let me put it a different way:
Pump your bulb for 2-3 minutes then stop and turn on the key. If the pump ticks for more than a few seconds, turn off the key and continue pumping. Repeat the procedure a few times (if required).
The first thing I suspected when this happened was a faulty bulb so I replaced it (twice) but it did not make it any better. I then disconnected my fuel line to ensure there was no blockage - there was none. I can't really explain why but this is how mine works.
If your outboard is not the 4-stroke model, I'm not sure what to do.
jimh posted 08-13-2007 12:34 PM ET (US)
Most advice about making repairs of modification is given in the REPAIRS/MODS discussion. Please use REPAIRS/MODS for this topic.

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Author	Topic: Fuel Line problem?
alanfujii	posted 08-10-2007 11:37 PM ET (US) I have a 2004 Dauntless 160 with a Mercury 115 outboard. I just this week decided to use it after not touching it for 21/2 years. I emptied the gas tank and recharged the battery (battery was still good). I pour in about 10 gallons of fuel and launched it. I had the engine idling for about 5 minutes when it died. I tried to start it again but it seemed the engiune was not getting fuel. The fuek gauge didn't even register the gas I put in so I went down and got 15 more gallons. The fuel gauge now shows abour +1/4 tank. I tried starting it but no luck. I tried priming the bulb and it feels like it's not getting any fuel. I tried squeezing the bulb quite a few times and it still feels like it's not gettting fuel. What could be clogged in the fuel lines before the priming bulb?
Sea Antsy	posted 08-11-2007 09:43 AM ET (US) Your probably on the right track to suspect the fuel.. and you mention emptying the gas tank.. ???HOW.. did you do it thru the bulkhead mounted fuel filter... cant get the primer hard.... ? are you holding the primer bulb wiht the arrow upright to allow the internal check valve its best shot at pulling fuel?... you did not mention any filter between the tank and the primer.. I am pretty sure they all came wiht a filter/water sep ... after sitting for that long that 8-10$ filter is AT LEAST the price of admission.. ?Have you tried using the primer to pump some fuel into a clear container??? You might have hozes that colapsed or are pinched internally.. your check valve on the under floor fuel tank may be stuck-stuck-sticking.. the primer bulb not getting stiff is about the half split of the fuel system.. the engine mounted fuel filter is translucent enough to see the fuel in there..and the carbs have brass drain plugs.. good luck YMMV SMOKING LAMP IS OUT IN ALL SPACES..
bigjohn1	posted 08-13-2007 08:34 AM ET (US) I presume you're talking about the 4-stroke 115efi, if so I have the same outboard and sometimes experience this problem. I have an add-on Racor fuel/water separating filter between the engine and fuel tank. The same problem as yours usually crops up after I either drain the plastic sight glass under the filter or when I replace the filter itself and lose the fuel prime. The problem always goes away with patience and persistent pumping of the fuel bulb. For some reason, it can take me up about five minutes of continually squeezing the bulb before the fuel gets to the fuel pump. If you leave your ignition key switch to the on position, the high pressure electric fuel pump will constantly make a ticking sound until it receives fuel from the low-pressure fuel pump. I would not leave the key on for more than a few seconds if the electric pump is ticking (still trying to get fuel) as Yamaha reports this can damage the pump. Since this engine is basically a Yamaha product on the top end, I listen to their recommendations. If this has confused you, let me put it a different way: Pump your bulb for 2-3 minutes then stop and turn on the key. If the pump ticks for more than a few seconds, turn off the key and continue pumping. Repeat the procedure a few times (if required). The first thing I suspected when this happened was a faulty bulb so I replaced it (twice) but it did not make it any better. I then disconnected my fuel line to ensure there was no blockage - there was none. I can't really explain why but this is how mine works. If your outboard is not the 4-stroke model, I'm not sure what to do.
jimh	posted 08-13-2007 12:34 PM ET (US) Most advice about making repairs of modification is given in the REPAIRS/MODS discussion. Please use REPAIRS/MODS for this topic.