Fuel Pressure leaking off line

J

joeylee14

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Joined
Feb 3, 2012
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I have a 2003 Johnson 115 hp on a Ranger bass boat and when I start it, it is spluttering and dying when I put the gas down. There is a bulb in the back in the fuel hose that I can pump real hard and my boat will start and run fine until the engine is off for a while. My question is do you all think that bulb in the line is bad and the pressure is leaking off, or is there another problem. I have opened the motor cover and there isnt no gas leaked. Its like having to prime a lawn mower or weed eater.
 
O

Outsider

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Apr 24, 2007
Messages
1,022
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

That's what the bulb is for ... ;)
 
5150abf

5150abf

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Aug 12, 2007
Messages
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Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

Welcome to iboats

A boat isn't like a car where tha gas is pushed form the tank to the engine, on a boat the gas is pulled from the tank by the engine so as soon as you start the engine there is a slight vacuum that pulls the gas from the tank so yes, having to pump it before you start is normal on almost any outboard powered boat.

If you have to pump it to keep the engine running there is a problem but on start up totally normal.
 
jerryjerry05

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,196
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

The pump on the motor is a low pressure pump.It would take forever to get the motor started just turning it over.
The bulb pushes fuel into the system to start.
After it starts the bulb should go soft.
If you need to re-prime then the fuel system needs work.
Probably the fuel pump.Or maybe the bulb.It's supposed to be a oneway valve.
Any inline connector can go bad and leak/suck air.
Start at the fuel pump and rebuild.Then replace all the hoses and omit any connectors if possible.J
 
J

joeylee14

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Feb 3, 2012
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Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

So it could be the fuel pump even if the motor is fine once i pump it, if I am trolling around for a while then I have to prime it again. Does anyone know how much a pump would cost, or any where I can get a tutorial on how to do this my self. It has electric choke on the key swith which seems to work good, it will make the motor fire right up but it runs bad unless I prime that bulb. Thanks for all the help.
 
B

boobie

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Nov 5, 2009
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20,826
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

If you're saying you have to prime it when trolling, you may have a weak fuel pump.
 
5150abf

5150abf

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Messages
5,808
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

I your original post you said once it started it ran fine so in that case pumping the bulb would be normal but if it dies because of lack of fuel trolling then it could be a pump or an air leak in the line somewhere.

They are super simple to replace, if you can turn a screw driver you are good, here is what iboats has, you can look but normally won't beat the prices here and double check the part number, I just did a quick google.http://www.iboats.com/Fuel-Pump-Sierra/dm/*******.149479659--**********.585823710--view_id.174141
 
J

joeylee14

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Feb 3, 2012
Messages
3
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

Sorry, I meant when ever I turn the motor off and use my battery powered trolling motor for a while. If I fish a couple of coves then I have to pump the bulb again to get it to run right, and it will run fine until you cut the engine off for a while again. I mean a 2003 boat and engine shouldnt have to have that bulb primed everytime you stop to fish should they. Can anyone give me a few instructions on how to test my fuel pump, and where it would be located on my Ranger boat. I am pretty mechanically sound if I have some idea of where and what to do, I have never really worked on a boat though. Thanks again.
 
A

AlTn

Commander
Joined
Mar 9, 2010
Messages
2,813
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

find the model no. on your motor and go to marineengine.com...look under fuel components...as you can see, several different components comprise this system...blindly replacing parts is going to get expensive fast....I'd suggest to you to order the official factory service manual for your engine either through outboardbooks.com or find one on ebay...it's going to take some methodical troubleshooting in all likelihood
 
5150abf

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: Fuel Pressure leaking off line

Take the hood off the engine pump the bulb up hard and start sniffing, if it is leaking down you have a leak somewhere in the system, you are right in that once you prime it you hsould be good for the whole trip, if it is leaking down you have a leak somwhere in the system.
 
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