Fuel lines

joechiro35 · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:19 am Post subject: Fuel lines

Hey everyone,

I have the c dory 22 cruiser with the 54 gallon aluminum tank. The fuel hose goes through a filter/water separator then to the main 90 Honda which is a four stroke 2003. When I pump the gas pumper on the fuel hose no gas seems to be going through. It just seems like air. Also the water separator is not filling up with gas. There is plenty of gas in the tanks. I am thinking there may be a clog somewhere. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I've deduced it to a clog somewhere between the fuel tank and water separator.

Joe

Notayot · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:28 am Post subject:

When starting with empty fuel lines I find that I need to hold the bulb so the line to the engine is "up" so the check valve in the bulb is closed by gravity. Then pumping will open and close the valve correctly and fill the filter and carb bowls. Try it and see if that will fill the system.

joechiro35 · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 2:00 am Post subject:

I will try that Dennis and hope it is that easy to fix. I did take the bulb off and tried sucking gas out of the fuel line to fill the separator with no success.

Mighty Bite · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 2:19 am Post subject:

Remove the bowl from the filter/separator, fill it full
and put it back on the unit and you should be able
to pump up the fuel line.

jerry97230 · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:26 am Post subject:

If you are pumping air, then you have a air leak somewhere.
i have had that problem with portable tanks where the o ring in the hose gets bad.
Is this something that just happen, or have you had the system open for some reason and filled the hose with air?

Jerry C Nile

joechiro35 · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:38 am Post subject:

This just happened. I've ran the gas lower than usual and another thing I've done was drain the fuel/separator a few times. The bulb gas primer is not pumping fuel to the main engine. And the fuel/separator did not fill when it first was idling it actually has not been full last few times I've checked while having the engine on and flushing them out. I am going to try and fill it up with gas and see what happens. If that doesn't work I may suspect some sort of clog at the gas tank end at the s-valve. Is that easy to replace? I seem to not know how to find it to know whether or not it is clogged. Also there seems to be a series of hose inputs all over and a little complex for me.

Bill K · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:13 pm Post subject:

I wonder if you have two pickup hoses and a selector valve that may have been turned off.

Bill Kelleher

"Also there seems to be a series of hose inputs all over and a little complex for me."

potter water · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:22 pm Post subject:

1. If the engine is starting and running fine with a floppy squeeze bulb, I wouldn't worry about it. Your engine, if it is like my Suzukis has a good fuel pump that will suck up fuel without having a primer bulb.

2. Air leak somewhere along the line. Probably a loose hose clamp if you've been working on any hoses. If the lines are old as the boat, chances are they have some small, micro even, cracks.

3. Suck on the line coming to the fuel water separater from the gas tank. If you get fuel up that far, then that eliminates the tank and feed line to the separator.

4. Then your trouble is with the separator connections or the squeeze bulb operations.

Note: I've never had to hold a squeeze bulb vertical so the ball would seat, but it is plausible and worth a try if you are fixated on that squeeze bulb firming up.

digger · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject:

Since the bulb relies on vacuum to pull the gas, it indicates either an air leak before the primer bulb or a faulty bulb. I would hold the bulb with the discharge facing skyward to see if the checkvalve in it is good. If that does not work, then check the o-rings on the fuel/water separator, and that the drain on it is fully closed and sealing. If that appears good, then either there is a bad connection at the tank, or the fuel pickup is plugged or broken. The ethanol gas "rots" many metals, and softens or hardens the fuel hose, causing plugs or cracks. I have had fuel sending units with wires broken, metal rotted off, and general degradation that was not seen prior to ethanol. As suggested, if you have a selector valve, make sure it is indexed to the tank, and not in an off position. Ron

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:47 pm Post subject:

Does anybody remember that the official recommendation is to replace all fuel hoses every 5 years to avoid fuel supply issues and fire hazards?

This includes the large fuel intake and smaller vent hoses, too.

No, I don't follow it religiously, either!

But somewhere down the line the hoses will degrade, and an air or fuel leak will enter your boating plans, like it or not.

Ethanol has exacerbated these problems.

The date of manufacture is stamped (usually in white ink) on the black hoses.

How old are those on your boat?

Gotta go check mine, too! Smile

Joe.

thataway · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:11 pm Post subject:

Starting at the bottom of the tank here is what could be an issue: intake screen over the fuel pickup clogged. The pickup tube could have an air leak (I have had a pin hole in one, which pulled air, rather than fuel). The anti siphon valve at the top of the tank--may or may not have an Elbow attached. Anywhere along the line there could be a pinch, or even in an old line, broken down inner wall of an old hose which has collapsed and would prevent fuel from flowing. At the filter--could be air coming in any of the fittings, hose clamp leaking at any of these places from anti siphon valve to the squeeze bulb. The filter gasket or water drain (if it has one) is not seated properly. I have also seen Teflon tape which covered an intake or discharge fitting out of a filter, when it was not properly applied to the threads. The bulb could be bad--and I always carry a spare bulb. If there is an obstruction, the bulb usually remains collapsed. One other place, but unlikely in this scenario is a clogged fuel vent.

I agree that it seems like it is sucking air. I usually keep an outboard tank around, so I can put that in the boat, and do diagnostics--see if the leak is before the tank buy hooking the house out of the anti siphon valve to the outboard tank. If it works fine, then the air leak (or obstruction) is in the anti siphon valve or in the tank pickup. Work your way up the system and you will find you leak. Another way to find a leak is to paint all of the fittings with a soapy water solution, put slight pressure on the fuel line from the tank--and see if bubbles form at the fittings junction or around the hose clamps.

Hunkydory · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:19 pm Post subject:

I recently had a somewhat similar problem of which the first indication was the motor slowly dying from lack of fuel with a vacuum from it causing the fuel bulb to squeeze flat. Drained then replaced racor filter after filling the filter with fuel, then tried to pump up pressure with no success. I have twins so hooked up the other motor fuel line to motor starving for fuel to replenish. With starved motor now having fuel, I re connected the original fuel line resulting in fuel bulb being vacuumed flat again & motor fuel starved. Now thinking the fuel was being blocked at the pick up in the fuel tank, I disconnected the quick connect at the elbow fitting between the hose & hard plastic vertical fuel pick up in the tank. It didn't feel right when disconnecting. It appeared the fuel was being blocked at the quick connect. Following several times of popping it off & on & refilling the fuel filter again the problem was solved. If the problem is fuel source air leak the motor can't create a vacuum to squeeze the bulb flat unlike when the motor fuel starves when there is blockage from plugged filter or other source of fuel blockage.

Last year before going on our Alaska cruise for the summer, I replaced all the fuel lines with the ones rated for ethanol use. The old lines were the original & still appeared good, though 12 years old.

Jay

joechiro35 · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:32 pm Post subject:

Got it resolved! Thanks for the help everyone! It was the drain piece that was not tightened. I have been fiddling with it and glad it was a simple fix. I do have a better understanding of the fuel system and know how to better troubleshoot

potter water · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:57 pm Post subject:

You talking about the drain at the bottom of the fuel water separator?

joechiro35 · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:34 pm Post subject:

Yes it was that simple. But then it did it again and I realized the o ring was hanging out from the drip tray. I readjusted it then I cruised just fine after that. It's amazing how a little seal can affect so much!
I drained the water filter seperator again is this not recommended? Also the filter inside does that need to be replaced regularly or do you have to replace the whole thing?