Fuel Pickup Tubes

[FirePro911]

1988 Pursuit CC 2200 w/a 225 Yamaha 2 stroke.

I suspect one of them is sucking air. Which isn't bad since I run a single and switch over to the other one. But I want both working properly.

We went out last Tuesday. After calling it a day we pulled anchor and headed in. The boat would not power up. No matter what I did out there it would not get over 6mph. So we went at that speed from halfway down the Galveston Jetties to the Boat Cut. Once through the Boat Cut I went ahead and powered up. The boat took off and ran fine all the way in. We got to the Texas City Dike and shut it down, started it up and it ran fine. Did this several times.

Got home and replaced fuel line from tank to back and new bulb. But this is how it has been setup since the factory. They had two lines running from the tank to this "T" and then to the motor.


I guess it was in case twins were to be put on it before being sold? I then capped one of at the tank and ran one line from the tank off the other fitting. It fired up in the driveway, but really no way to tell if it was fixed until we took it out. Went out this morning and once launched, it would not start. Bulb would not prime up and get hard. So we switch the hose to the other fitting and the bulb primed up and motor ran great. Though it did act up coming back in, but once under way after slowly throttling up on it, it ran fine.

I removed the check valve assembly and again I saw some junk in it. I then drilled it out and removed the ball and spring and the spring had junk around it. So I suspect the check valves also, but they will be eliminated anyway.

I have these fittings on the tank.


Removed them to check out the pickup tubes.


Only to find that they are not attached as I think I have the aluminum threaded pickup tubes.


Now as far as I can tell from Googling my brain out, these tubes have to be removed from the inside of the tank? I ran a dowel rod down them and as far as I can tell, there are no screens on them.

One question is, If one of the pickup tubes is cracked, can I just run a new slightly smaller pickup tube down inside it? Somehow attach it to the elbow and screw it down as an assembly? Or maybe buy a new pre-made pickup tube and screw it in?

I actually do not think the aluminum pickup tubes would crack, but I could be wrong. I suspect one of the check valves was not able to open due to the junk in it. But the way it was setup, both of them had to be bad. Then when it took off running good, maybe one of them cleared?

[YOLO]

First of all, what a great description you gave of the issues!

My first vote would be the check valves, it just doesn't seem likely that it would be the pick up tubes BUT we are taking about a boat!

[anchor out]

First, forgive me for this long post.

I believe the problem is likely two fold. First, and most importantly, it's hard to believe how much junk and crap will accumulate in the fuel tank of a boat over time. It's not necessarily that we are doing anything wrong. The problem is with the fuel we purchase (from marinas) typically . Unlike fuel purchased at an automotive filling station, which is a high volume situation, fuel stored in underground tanks at a marina does not "turn over" very quickly and becomes, for lack of a better word, stale. I've seen water, sand, plastic, small shells, tar and junk that came from outer space in some boat fuel tanks! So the first, best thing to be done is to clean out the tank. Most have an inspection plate screwed to the top. This can be removed and the tank emptied, washed and dried out. It's a job but can be done.

Second is the check valves in the pick up assembly. They will collect this debris (because there is so much of it) and clog up. However they should not be drilled out or in any way eliminated. They are there for a reason. They keep the fuel in the line to the engine(s). Without check valves in the fuel line(s) you will be priming like you never have each and every time you start the engine(s).

So, clean out the fuel tank and put in some new (or thoroughly clean) check valves. I sounds like you already have new fuel lines and primer bulb.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Ken