Outboard loses prime, unless I stand the tank on end

[Epitome]

Really weird problem. I couldn’t get the fuel to prime the motor. No matter how I tried, the bulb just had air in it. Then I stood the tank on end, cap and breather up, fuel line at the bottom……and it primed. I thought I was done. I got out on the water and the engine died. Bulb was not primed again. I stood the tank on end and it ran fine until I set it down flat like it should be. Any ideas?

 

[Epitome]

Really weird problem. I couldn’t get the fuel to prime the motor. No matter how I tried, the bulb just had air in it. Then I stood the tank on end, cap and breather up, fuel line at the bottom……and it primed. I thought I was done. I got out on the water and the engine died. Bulb was not primed again. I stood the tank on end and it ran fine until I set it down flat like it should be. Any ideas?

Sorry, this is a very low hours 2005 25hp two stroke

 

[tphoyt]

I have found that sometimes the tank vents don’t always vent. Try loosening the cap or check the pick up tube inside the tank and see what you get.

 

[racerone]

Inspect pick-up tube inside the tank.

 

[Epitome]

Inspect pick-up tube inside the tank.

So to do that I unscrew the fuel gauge assembly and pull it out, right?

 

[QBhoy]

You’re drawing air somewhere I’d say

 

[Epitome]

You’re drawing air somewhere I’d say

Right, I do understand that. Just strange that standing the tank on end solves the problem. I thought it might be a tell tale sign of something simple.

 

[racerone]

I think it is simple.----Some of these tanks today have ---JUNK----pick-up tubes inside.

 

[Chris1956]

Sometimes the fuel pickup tubes get a hole in them. When the fuel level gets below that hole, they suck air.

Of course, it could be your "run of the mill" air leak in the fuel line.

 

[KJM]

Sometimes the fuel pickup tubes get a hole in them. When the fuel level gets below that hole, they suck air.

Of course, it could be your "run of the mill" air leak in the fuel line.

I agree with hole in pick up tube, tipping up the tank covers the hole with gas. Engine would probably also run if tank was full.

 

[tpenfield]

So to do that I unscrew the fuel gauge assembly and pull it out, right?

You might be able to get a view of the fuel pick-up from the cap fitting itself. Perhaps no need to take things apart. It seems like the fuel pick-up is not laying on the bottom of the tank.

Does the fuel system prime if the tank is fairly full?

 

[Epitome]

Took it apart and the pick up tube has come off inside. This seems to answer all my questions lol

 

[racerone]

No surprise to me.------I refuse to use a plastic tank in my boat.-----Give me a steel tank made by OMC in the 1960's / 1970's ----Just good stuff not affected by the sun !!!