Kicker motor fuel set-up

W

Wood Zeppelin

New member
Any reason why I shouldn't run my Honda 9.9 off of the main fuel tanks for the main motor (Honda 2021 BF100A). Currently I have to run the kicker off a separate 6 gallon tank, and dump out un-used as at the end of each season.

Could I tap into the 2nd port (unused) in the back of the water separator for a second fuel line to the kicker? Or should I not bother going thru the water separator?

Also, would running the kicker off of the main fuel tanks create an incorrect reading on my dashboard fuel gauge? (Because doesn't it get it's reading from a flow rate sensor in the main motor)? So the kicker would be using gas but the gauge would not know it?
 
If your "kicker" is only for trolling, and you don't consider it a "Get home motor". then yes, you can run off the main tank. But as an emergency back up, the fuel, battery etc should all independant of the main engine. That redundancy allows start up and "go" in case of loss of the main propulsion system.
 
thataway":arb506zr said:
If your "kicker" is only for trolling, and you don't consider it a "Get home motor". then yes, you can run off the main tank. But as an emergency back up, the fuel, battery etc should all independant of the main engine. That redundancy allows start up and "go" in case of loss of the main propulsion system.
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Thanks Bob, that makes total sense!

btw - what about the fuel gauge reading issue. Will it be incorrect? I don't know if my tank have sending units, or if all the fuel info comes from a flow rate sensor in the motor?
 
I have my kicker set up to run off the second outlet port on my main fuel filter. I also have a small 3 gal fuel tank that I keep in my bilge as a back up emergency tank. I do not run ethanol in that little tank, so can draw from that one to fill my honda generator, or if I desire not to run gas with ethanol in the kicker. This tank is set as my aux tank on my main fuel control valve. However, I can also, via a small electric pump, draw directly from that tank without going thru the fuel valve and main fuel filter. With this all being said, recently while I was at Shipyard Island Marina, one of the mechanics (Andy Jr's nephew) mentioned that I should have a shut off valve on the kicker line, or disconnect it from the fuel filter when using the main, as it could allow the main to draw in air thru the kicker line and run the main's head. So while I have on occasion disconnected the kickers fuel line just to run it dry, I now have a fuel shutoff in that kicker fuel line that I keep off unless using the kicker. FWIW, a few years back I did have a problem with the main cutting out, and then also with the kicker. Ended up that the kickers inline fuel filter under it's cowling had a crack in the seam and was allowing air into the main outboards fuel line, since they are hooked in common at the main fuel filter.

Short answer, yes, you can run your kicker from the second output on your main fuel filter, but you should have a way to disconnect the kicker from the main fuel filter when you are not using it. Colby
 
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