Okay needs some help I have been having a fuel starving problem okay here it is I have two new fuel takes up in front of my boat 3/8 line 12 ft long running back to a fuel filter then to motor I OPEN VENT ALL THE WAY OPEN AND EVEN REMOVE ALL THE WAY OUT ON TANK SO WE ARE CLEAR TANK IS VENTING Now I pump ball till hard and start motor and go like hell 2 to 5 min later I look down my Pump ball is flat and engine dies I play will ball and get it filled back up with fuel go some more dies again same thing
I checked all the lines no bends or bad spots and when motor getting fuel runs great is my fuel filter starving me its new and has only had maybe 8 to 10 gal though it I am at a loss to way its starving at the bulb
any comments please help

A lot of guys have had issues with fuel line bigger than 1/4. If you have a small air leak, I would imagine a larger line would make things even worse.

Try running a short line directly into a tank and see if the motor runs ok. That will eliminate the possibility of a bad fuel pump. If the fuel pump is okay, try removing the bulb from the line and running without it, they have been known to cause problems.

If you have quick connects, get rid of them.

I had the same problem with my long tail i would be willing to put money on it being where your hose connects to the tank that there is something wrong there on mine the hole was not opening up like right on the quick attach. I would be able to run for awhile and then it would suck all the fule that was in the line out then it would die.

From one Fred to another.

If nothing else helps... where you have your fuel line zip tied to the motor looks like it could be higher than the fuel pump. So its harder for it to pull the fuel over that elevation. Mine had the same problem last week. I moved the fuel line down to where it was lower and haven't had a problem. Try it!!!!

Yall need to read his original post a little more careful.

If your bulb is goin flat dat means your fuel pump is pulling fuel good and there are no leaks between da bulb and motor.First make sure you have da proper connections between your fuel tank and fuel line and dat da connection is pushed in all da way. If dat don't work replace da bulb, der may be a problem wit da way da check vale is seatin.

If your primer ball is going flat than more than likely your fuel pump is working, so that means your problem is going to be up stream of the primer ball toward the tank.

The quickest way to find out if it is a fuel line/tank problem is to move the tanks to the back of the boat and run a straight piece of hose from the motor to inside the tank through the filll cap. (Note) make sure your tank is clean!! free of water and debris Or use a small clean lawn mower gas can you have around the house.

The problem could be,

1). A blockage/trash/debris in the line or the line can be internally callasped/delaminated ( you would never know it by looking at it).

the fix: Remove the line and blow compressed air through it, make sure you have a good flow. if its clear reinstall, it if not replace it.

2). The tanks internal pick up line/ screen might be clogged.

the fix: remove it inspect it, if necessary blow it out with compressed air and check for good flow.


if the motor runs fine than proceed to reconnecting one thing at a time. starting from the motor forward ( process of elimination). Oh and Quik Connects are the DEVIL!

I realize you dont have many hours on your fuel filter, but I have had problems with fuel filters "stopping up" from using gas with ethanol in it. Try eliminating the fuel water separator from the equation and see if that is the problem.

I didn't realize where your primer ball was located, like rebber said it can very well be your filter.

Imo, your primer ball should be before your filter/water seperator. That way when it comes time to change or clean it you can refill it by using the ball itself. It'll also helps get/push the air bubbles out.

I have just recently learned myself that those over sized filters can cause havoc on a low pressure/ low volume pump like found on these motors. the larger filter tend to have a larger air pocket trapped on top of them which can result in the fuel pump loosing or fighting for prime.

exact thing happened to mine when i changed my fuel tank. (had to change it cause some low life bastard stole my old one.) anyway, i put an old tank from a friend on and got the same exact issue you speak of. My problem was the pickup in the tank had a little screen that was clogged. cleaned it and I was good to go.

Don't you guys think it might have something to do with the 3/8 line?

I have read several post from people saying that 1/4 or 5/16 at most and it seems there were a couple that said they went to the 3/8 and then had to back it back down.

The fuel pumps on these motors aren't strong enough to fill up that big a line and so you have air in them.....

if his rig was working before with his current size fuel line, then it should always work with that size unless something else is wrong. the fuel is not flowing somewhere before the bulb. Its like if you close one end of straw and suck on the other, it will collapse. let your finger off the end (i.e. remove the clog) and it will open back up and allow liquid to flow.

If it happens again and your bulb is collapsed, just slightly loosen the fuel/water separator and see if the buld opens back up. If it does, then you know the f/w separator is the culprit.