Haven’t run the Johnson 115 all winter and tried to crank it up today with no luck. When I pump the bulb, it will not get hard unless I remove the fuel line from the coupling on the motor. Then the bulb will get hard, but immediately goes soft when I re-attach it. I have a relatively new fuel pump, bulb assembly, etc. Obviously, the motor is not getting fuel. What’s going on? I have a Seapro 180CC.
Is the bulb pushing fuel when you squeeze it? If so, then I would say a float needle valve in the carbs (s) is stuck open and you are flooding the engine rather than starving it. Also make sure the enrichment valve (red lever near the carbs) is not open.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Another thing to check is make sure the connecter fits tight on the motor. You can hold the connector snug and see if it pumps up. Had a motor last week act like it was starving but picked up when we pushed the connector up tight. Put a new one on and it worked. May or may not help, just my .02 on it.
1720 KW 110 Johnson
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson
I should have mentioned that I filled the in line water fuel separator with some mixture , and after repeated pumping of the bulb, the fluid level in the canister had dropped. So, the fuel was going somewhere.
Maybe… IF the bowls are low or dry and you have a leak in the line between the tank and the bulb, then, when you pump, you’ll be pulling air into the leak and pumping air to the carbs… through which air will pass, but, fuel would not and the bulb never firms up.
When you disconnect the connection at the motor, the ball/check in the end of the fuel line closes, no air goes through and the bulb firms up.
Are you sure you’re pumping fuel and not air? I’d carefully put the end of a paper clip or other small probe in the ball check in the end of the fuel line and pump the bulb. You’ll know then if you’re pumping air or fuel.
Just kinda’ thinking out loud…
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
I am still troubleshooting the fuel pickup problem. If I have to get to the anti siphon valve and where the fuel line connects to the tank, how in the heck am I supposed to get to it? It’s a Seapro 180CC. I have already pulled the porthole cover off and the cable boot. I can see the fuel line, but can’t see any connectors. Anybody know how I get to it on this boat?
Funny, I have had this boat for 11 years and have never had to do any more than put on a new fuel sender a time or two.
OK, problem solved, kind of. I bypassed the fuel separator, still got nothing. I blew compressed air into the hose barb and it sounded mighty “airy” in the tank. Took off the fuel sender cover and - that’s right, you guessed it - no gas. It has been 18 months since I have been on the water, but I thought I had plenty of gas in there. Now I’m a little freaked out about a gas tank leak, so I’ll gas her up tonight and hopefully it will fire right up. I’ll post more later.
Ok, well I feel a little silly, but I am also happy to report that the Johnson fired right up once it got some gas. I am going to monitor the tank because I am a little uneasy about it being almost bone dry.
As always, thanks for all the good help.