the Johnson 112VR started to sputter and cut out at medium to high revs. It has been running like a top lately. Anyhow, I discovered that the bulb had collapsed and could only be “inflated” when I unscrewed the fuel water separator, then screwed it back on. It was almost like it re-pressurized the fuel line. This would last for a while then it would stall out again, requiring me to unscrew /screw the filter and then the bulb would harden after a couple of squeezes.
The motor was starving for fuel, but there were no crimps in the fuel lines and the bulb is pretty new. It’s not a bad filter, is it? Anybody have any ideas?
sammie, when was the last time you changed the filter. You should carry a new one with you! I would put a new one on and if that fixes the problem your good to go. If the problem isn’t fixed, that is at least one thing, you have eliminated!
I’m thinking it can! If it’s plugged up and you unscrew it you are letting enough air in the filter caseing to take the pressure off the blockage which will allow the caseing to fill. It will run the gas out of the caseing until the pressure gets enough to close it off again. Then when you crack it again it will refill. Kind of like a one way valve. You are backflushing it with air when you break the seal. Take the hose loose from the tank side of the filter and see if gas comes out of the in side of the filter when you unscrew the filter. If it does that is the problem.
Crack open the fuel cap and see what that does. You could have a plugged tank vent if the filter does not fix it. Is the primer after or before the filter? If its after the filter, its probably the filter. If its before the filter, you have a restriction or the tank is not venting.
Same set up as mine. Try the things MattR and I said and see what you have. Easy to do and won’t cost you anymore than the price of a filter. Always start looking for a problem at the least expensive sideand, work your way up in price! Save you some money!
MattR, If the bulb is before the filter, it’s put on wrong, I think? I thought the bulb was supposed to be between the filter and the motor!
On most boats, you are right. My others were that way but my hydra has a big filter/water separator, primer bulb, then a spin-on under the cowling before the fuel pump.
Since his primer is after his filter, I would bet that the filter is causing the restriction. Slap a new filter on there and be on your merry way.
That would be an easy one to figure out, take the filter off and prime thef bulb, if gas comes out it was filter. I had a similar problem that turned out to be a clogged fuel line, ended up running a long screw driver through it and found a blockage. As far as where the primer bulb should be, I think it works better if the bulb is between the tank and the racor filter, though on most boats it’s after.