Fuel Starvation

[wadefisher]

E225FPZEEO (1999 Evinrude Ficht)

I put a guage on the pressure tap and I can watch the pressure at idle RPMs drop to zero just before the engine stalls. Pumping primer ball gets a little pressure back but it bleeds away. I installed a new racor filter (never used the boat before discovering the stalling problem). New filter/water separator under the cowling. Circulation pump squeeling more than I remember. Pumping the primer ball changes the pitch of the circulation pump noise.

Anybody seen this? If so, what is the <u>likely </u>culprit?

1) circulation pump?
2) lift pump?
3) primer ball?
4) gunk in the tank?
5) vacuum lock?
6) air in the line?

Thanks

Wade

[rudetech1]

What is the fuel pressure running and at rpm drop? Some of these engines had fuel lift pump issues. The check valves will lock up and not let the engine get fuel.

[225RUDE-TRITON]

start cheap by getting a new primer bulb (FROM BRP)

[wadefisher]

Rudetech1: The boat is currently on the trailer, getting ready to travel for summer vacation. I have not run the boat in the water. Reving the engine on the trailer shows little to no change in the fuel rail pressure.

I'm currently suspecting the racor filter. I had to relocate it because the mount holes were wobbled out and wouldn't tighten. I want to check for air in the line. I read on this forum that splicing in a piece of clear tubing to see if bubbles are in the line is a good way to know for sure.

I will post back tonight what I find.

Thx for the response.

Wade

[wadefisher]

I tried the clear hose between the primar ball and the lift pump....nothing but a golden stream (I.e., no air bubbles in the fuel line.)

Turned the key over and the pump came on and pressurized the fuel system to almost 30 lbs. Running the motor, the pressure slowly drops away to zero and the engine dies (about 20-30 minutes). So it's either the circulation pump ($650) or the lift pump ($???).

I need someone with experience to weigh in here. Which is it <u>likely</u> to be?

1) circulation pump
2) lift pump

thanks

Wade

[etex driller]

I tried the clear hose thing and saw no bubbles while on trailer my culprit ended up being a faulty siphon valve at pick up tube on tank. Tested everything possible for a couple of months and this morning I fixed it in 10 minutes at no cost to me. I just knocked ball and spring out.

[rudetech1]

Put a pressure guage between the circ pump and the liftpump. If the lift pump is bad, it's pressure willdrop off first. Then the circ pump will drop off as it uses what's left of the fuel in the system. Use a low pressure fuel guage, the reading will be around 4-6 psi for a good lift pump.

[wadefisher]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't know if I have an antisiphon valve?!? where would I look for one?

This evening the circ pump pressurized the rail to almost 30 lbs (without starting the motor). I thought it was odd that the pressure would bleed off without the motor running (where's the fuel going?) Furthermore, the pressure would bleed off at about the same rate with the motor running. My primer ball lays flat (from the factory). I picked it up vertically and the pressure stabilized. I think my fuel pumps are tellinng me something...but I think my immediate problem may be the primer ball

I'll post back tomorrow after trying a new primer ball.

[etex driller]

Anti siphon valve is located at tank where pick up tube comes out top of tank where a barb fitting screws into it where hose hooks to it take hose loose and pull barb fitting out and knock ball and spring out of barb fitting.

[wadefisher]

Well...must have been a fluke that the pressure held after turning the primer bulb on end. I installed a new bulb vertically and the pressure drops to about 10-15 lbs. I never let it get down enough to stall. Leaving in a couple hours.

I found the anti-siphon valve and will try that if it still gives me trouble over the next couple days.

As usual, I will post back what I learn (if anything). Thanks to all for your help.

Wade

[wadefisher]

Boat wouldn't jump onto plane. Tried the anti-siphon valve (my boat doesn't have one). Replaced the circulation pump with the only one in town. Ran like normal.

For the record, I used a pump with part number: 5004428. Only one I could find used. I looked it up. That's usually a pump for a 4 cylinder ficht. List is just under $600. Seems to work just fine. i paid $200 and did the work myself.

Wade