Re: 1978 Evinrude 115 Fuel pump inlet cover orientation
Yes, the fuel inlet cover is usually oriented downwards. The other end of that hose connects to the hose barb at the lower cowling. The factory says you can use bulk hose for that run. I'd turn the inlet hose barb, then fit a new hose from your pump inlet to the back of the lower cowling hose barb. The thing to be wary of is that bulk hose works ok as long as it makes sweeping turns. If you make a sharp turn/bend with it, it will kink and not flow fuel well. It's not good to have a fuel hose restricted. OMC knew that clip-on connection at the cowling was a potential problem. By the mid 80's OMC re-designed that cowling hose connector so that you had to permanently clamp the hose to the (hose barb) connector inside and outside of the cowling. Another suggestion. I'm not a fan of your original "clip on" fuel connection at the lower cowling. They tend to leak with age. Remove (unscrew and take out) the fuel connector from the lower cowling entirely. Take the connector off the end of the (fuel tank) fuel line and run it through the "new" cowling opening, direct to the downward-pointing hose barb on the fuel pump. Clamp in place. That way you eliminate a connection that could leak air/fuel over time. Either way works.
