1995 Force 50 looses power

[duck-n-pond]

At least three times this last summer I have been out on the lake and after a couple hours of crusing my motor looses almost all power. Even at WOT it barely keeps running at about 5mph. If I just keep going, eventually it suddenly reverts back to normal operation. Sounds like it is starved for gas. I was at first suspecting bad gas, but these occasions were far apart and I moved to different fuel vendors. Could the fuel pump be failing?

[roscoe]

I would suspect the fuel pickup in the tank is getting plugged with sediment of chunks of crud.Things to check.Tank vent is unobstructed.Remove and clean the fuel pickup.Suck out all the old gas and crud in the tank with a syphon or turkey baster.Pickup should be near the bottom of the tank, not bent to the side where it could suck air.If all else fails, a fuel pump rebuild is easy and the kit costs about $10. It should be done occassionally anyway.

[dave in toledo]

dont forget the primer bulb, does it get firm? my force had the same problem changd the bulb and all is ok

[duck-n-pond]

I have cleaned the tank and pickup [more than once]. Defective bulb may be worth a look, can't remember for sure if it was stiff or not, but I seem to think it was. Never thought of it. Was thinking of getting a new tank for next season anyway so perhaps a spare line/bulb wouldn't hurt either.