How often do fuel pumps go bad?

[tudiebird]

How often do fuel pumps go bad? Do they go bad? And what would cause it? I'm asking these questions because I believe I have a fuel problem since my 115 Johnson is sluggish off the get-go. It normally didn't do that at all before. So, is it the fuel pump or something else? How should I check?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How often do fuel pumps go bad?

Fuel pumps have no schedule for failure. Some fail in a year some last as long as the motor. It's the rubber diphram that fails as it gets hard and develops pin hole leaks. As they say -- "stuff happens". If your engine runs ok at wide open throttle you do not have a fuel pump problem. Based on what you told us -- we don't have a clue what the exact problem is. Are you using fresh fuel. When was the engine decarbed last (if ever)? Have you checked the plugs to see what they look like? When were the carbs cleaned last? Have you checked for spark on all cylinders? Are the throttle plates in the carbs opening fully? Is the boat full of water beneath the floor? That should get you started.

 

[tudiebird]

Re: How often do fuel pumps go bad?

I know I had some water at the bottom of the boat before but how do I get the water out? I remember seeing it when I had to reinforce the ski ploe with bigger bolts by cutting a hole big enough just to get my arm in, but I glued in permanently back so no water gets in. I have a 1979 tahiti. And, how can I decarb? Is their special stuff I can buy and where at and how do you use it? The engine just seems to take about 3 min of full throttle till you actually feel the power it should have and then its good until you turn it off then the process starts all over again!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: How often do fuel pumps go bad?

How often do fuel pumps go bad? Do they go bad? And what would cause it? I'm asking these questions because I believe I have a fuel problem since my 115 Johnson is sluggish off the get-go. It normally didn't do that at all before. So, is it the fuel pump or something else? How should I check?

FR did a darn good job of an answer...

Then your reply..

I know I had some water at the bottom of the boat before but how do I get the water out? I remember seeing it when I had to reinforce the ski ploe with bigger bolts by cutting a hole big enough just to get my arm in, but I glued in permanently back so no water gets in. I have a 1979 tahiti. And, how can I decarb? Is their special stuff I can buy and where at and how do you use it? The engine just seems to take about 3 min of full throttle till you actually feel the power it should have and then its good until you turn it off then the process starts all over again!

Can ya hear my head banging against the wall?

 

[chbailey]

Re: How often do fuel pumps go bad?

Scatty - ROFLMAO!!!

 

[jtexas]

Re: How often do fuel pumps go bad?

The fuel pump should not be used to pump the water out of the boat.

 

[chbailey]

Re: How often do fuel pumps go bad?

I was really rolling on the floor when I read that one texas!!!

I guess I don't understand the problem here. tudie could you be hair more specific on the problem? You should really start with basics checking your compression and spark. Your compression should be in the lower to mid 100's range and within 10% of each other. You should be getting spark that jumps at least 7/16 gap. Let start there before you get to crazy tearing apart your fuel pump as they may last the life of the motor. You might need a carb rebuild/cleaning and a decarb, but lets get the compression and spark testing done first.