kicker and main fuel tank

[rice]

hi again everyone. i have installed my 5hp mariner on my boat and put a tee comming off of the pickup on my 20 gallon tank. i was having issues with starving either motor for fuel. so i installed a selector valve so i had a direct link from whatever motor i was running straight to the tank. that fixed my problems. but it is nice to be able to start my main motor while running the kicker if i need to straighten out in heavy chop or for whatever reason.

so my question is this. if i was having problems before installing the 3 way valve, would a water seperator with 2 outputs work in place of the valve or would i have the same problem i was originaly having, with starving the engines of fuel?

thanks agian.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: kicker and main fuel tank

In theory, provided each motor were fed through it's own check valve, like say in it's fuel pump, you should have no problem.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: kicker and main fuel tank

hi again everyone. i have installed my 5hp mariner on my boat and put a tee comming off of the pickup on my 20 gallon tank. i was having issues with starving either motor for fuel. so i installed a selector valve so i had a direct link from whatever motor i was running straight to the tank. that fixed my problems. but it is nice to be able to start my main motor while running the kicker if i need to straighten out in heavy chop or for whatever reason.

so my question is this. if i was having problems before installing the 3 way valve, would a water seperator with 2 outputs work in place of the valve or would i have the same problem i was originaly having, with starving the engines of fuel?

thanks agian.

I run my main engine (200 hp) and kicker (9.8) off a two outlet waterseparating filter (Racor). I have one outlet with fuel line to main, the other with fuel line to kicker, each fuel line has it's own primer bulb of course. That filter bracket is specifically designed for exactly the application you're thinking of.

Both outlets on the filter bracket have an open/close valve, but I tend to leave both open at all times unless I don't even have the kicker installed. The main engine fuel line, of course is connected directly to main's fuel pump (no quick connect), and the kicker has a normal quick connect. The kicker quick connect has a ball valve like all quick connects and does not leak fuel if not connected to the engine. Just as if it were on a portable tank. That's why I don't worry about shutting off the fuel supply for that line at the filter outlet.

I can run either or both engines with no problems. When trolling with the kicker, I often fire up the main to maneuver against current or wind. I don't know what the inner workings of that two outlet filter bracket are, but there's no siphoning or other problems. The filter unit I happen to have is a Racor 32014 w/ 60 (?) gph capacity. I think this is an "OMC Replacement" unit, but the fuel hose outlets know no brand.... I have a Merc Kicker, but have also used an OMC kicker (just change the quick connect obviously). I believe they make similar units more or less designated for replacement of other (i.e. Merc, yammie, etc.) OEM filter set ups.

Short story: it's always worked perfectly for me. Yet another reason to have what I consider essential equipment, the water sep filter.

 

[rice]

Re: kicker and main fuel tank

thanks for getting back to me guys. i am going to install the water seperator now that i know it has valves on it. for some reason i need to shut off one motor when using the other. a mechanic buddy of mine said it was because when i tilt my big motor it opens something in the carbs which lets air in and starves the kicker and vice versa. i know that in theory the balls are supposto take care of that but they dont. i even thought of putting antisyphon valves inline but 2 marine mechanics both said not to trust them.

for all of those people who just tee the fuel line i now know why that is a bad idea. it is a proven fact. one of the local boat shops were just putting tees and sold 2 boats with 150hp rudes equiped with kickers. within 2 months both 150's were burnt and seized. the reason is that they were running to lean because air was getting in from the kicker somehow. now they use a tee valve or 3way valve.

it would be nice to not have to play with valves and pump the ball every time i want to switch from main to kicker and back but i feel that is the only solid way to do it. if anyone knows of a better way other than 2 pickups on the tank, please let me know.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: kicker and main fuel tank

Check valves in primer pumps fail way to often, many times I've 'adjusted' hose lengths/positions such that there is a 'positive' slope on the bulb in order that gravity assists the check valves.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: kicker and main fuel tank

I run my main engine (200 hp) and kicker (9.8) off a two outlet waterseparating filter (Racor). I have one outlet with fuel line to main, the other with fuel line to kicker, each fuel line has it's own primer bulb of course. That filter bracket is specifically designed for exactly the application you're thinking of....

Just a correction of sorts: In looking briefly at my Racor filter unit this weekend, it looks like it doesn't have two outlets, but one. There is a brass T fitted in that outlet, and a valve unit threaded into each outlet of the T -therefore two valved outlets, one to main, one to kicker.

Anyway, it works great, has always worked great.