Outboard fuel line issues

I should have taken it as a sign when I couldn’t find shiner minnows anywhere.

Was out tonight running WOT when my F80 bogged down. It eventually died and I wasn’t able to restart it. After doing some checking, I found that my primer bulb was basically collapsed. I’m assuming I have a clog in my fuel line somewhere between the tank and primer and that it sucked the primer closed trying to get gas. I’m guessing between the tank and the bulb because if it was after the bulb I feel that the bulb would not have collapsed like it did.

When this happened I pulled the hood off and was going to pull the line off the fuel filter to try and blow the line back towards the tank. Of course in the cold I managed to snap the fitting off the filter instead.

I was like 4 and a half miles from the landing at the time. Ended up using the Terrova to get to a buddies shore line. Of course the water is so low I had to jump out and push my boat in knee deep water.

We only fished for about 15 minutes bit caught a northern in that time.
DT

My thought is I’ll unhook the fuel line at the splash well and take and air compressor and blow it back towards the tank.

Btw, my boat is a Lund 1775 tiller.
DT

If it’s possible I’d disconnect it at the tank first.

Whatever might be in there, you won’t want back in the tank to happen again.

It sounds to me like the vent on your fuel tank may be plugged.

Not sure if you will be able to blowback into the tank if there is an antisiphon valve in between. I would think that might prevent that. I remember blowing a powerhead on a new Evinrude once, many years ago in a musky tournament. Over 5 miles from the launch. Fishing was done for the day, but we made it back. That was with a 24volt trolling motor at the time.

Dam, now that is not a fun outing!

I’ve seen the screens they use on the fuel pickup in the tank and it’s fairly large mesh, hard to imagine much of anything getting clogged there. Rearranged anything lately in boat, pushing/pulling and then causing a pinch in fuel line perhaps?

Not familiar with the f80, but my first hunch would be the actual bulb. Cold plastic inside those flappers, maybe one just got stuck. Had a brand new one bad from the get go on me. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck finding it

I’ll look into it tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions. Hoping to get out Saturday with the nice weather. Here was a pic on the way out. When I was excited for the evening. Lol
DT

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Bulbs are notorious for falling apart internally. It might just be the bulb. If you have a new bulb, replace the old one but don’t connect the outflow side. Pump the bulb and see if it produces any flow.

SuperDave1959 wrote:

Bulbs are notorious for falling apart internally. It might just be the bulb.

x2. If the check valve fails, the bulb will go flat. Start with a new bulb.

-J.

As you probably will see if you can check the lining of your fuel line. That’s the problem I had one time.

I wasn’t going to update this thread but I’ll throw myself under the bus. After I posted this thread I put my boat away for the winter. This spring I put a new fuel filter in and primer bulb. Still wouldn’t start. As I was taking the screws out to pull the floor up. I see it. The fuel shut off that sits below my seat and out of site. My boats a tiller. Let’s just say my boot must have turned it at some point last fall… I always forget its there because it blends into the carpet and can’t be easily seen because of my seat.
DT

This might be appropriate.

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DT, thanks for the chuckle at your own expense.

I have done something very similar before… not fun. But also a little sigh of relief

LOL, reminds me the time when I couldn’t get my boat to start or even turn over. About halfway home from the cabin, it hit me, so I pulled over to the side of the road, and sure enough, the shifter had gotten knocked just enough out of neutral that it wouldn’t crank. I slid it back into place and it cranked right over.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

LOL, reminds me the time when I couldn’t get my boat to start or even turn over. About halfway home from the cabin, it hit me, so I pulled over to the side of the road, and sure enough, the shifter had gotten knocked just enough out of neutral that it wouldn’t crank. I slid it back into place and it cranked right over.

I think the shift lever – no start – gets every boater at some point.

Pulling the killswitch off on a friend’s boat is a fun joke, of course only when you’re there to watch them struggle.