Motor Stalling

[imported_Mark]

This has happened one too many times. I have two 6 gallon portable fuel tanks on the back of my pontoon boat. Whenever I switch over from an empty fuel tank to a full one, sometimes the boat will stall and shutdown. Nothing I do can get it going again like using starting fluid and so on. Here is what I do. Tank goes empty, I then transfer the line to full tank, and squeeze the primer bulb. I'm wondering if I'm squeezing air into the lines and that is what is causing the stall?? I appreciate anyone's help on this. I have been stranded and just a few minutes ago had to paddle the 24 foot boat a few hundred yards to a our boat dock.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Motor Stalling

First of all stop using starting fluid. There is no lube in it. Put some premix in a spray bottle. It sounds like you are running the motor until it quits because the tank is empty. Keep in mind that at this point the carbs are empty too. After you switch tanks, are you pumping the primer bulb until it is firm?

 

[imported_Mark]

Re: Motor Stalling

Thanks for the pre-mix tip. I'm letting the tank basically go down till the motor begins chugging and stops. I then detach the line from the empty tank, and then attach it to the full tank. Before starting engine, I pump primer bulb until it is hard.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Motor Stalling

You shouldn't be squeezing air into it. The primer bulb has a one way valve in it and the connector has a positive seal. You're priming properly as well.
This is not normal (obviously).
Without any further information, I would suspect the fuel pump diaphragm or perhaps a sticking needle/seat or float issue in the carb. If it were a carb issue, I would expect it to flood before no fuel, although this can't be the case if she's firing off starting fluid.

Give us a little more info...
Make, model, year.
Does the motor run good otherwise? any other symptoms while running? hesitation, rough idle, bogging down at high speed...?