No fuel

[big fun]

Hi folks,after returning from a 50 mile cruise with my 99 3200scr,we got back to the dock and I let the engines idle while we were tying up and then shut them down.I went back to the boat 2 days later and neither engine would start.The gauge indicated a 1/2 tank,but when I pumped the throttles there was nothing going in the carbs.I suspected a faulty sending unit so I refueled the boat and it took 75 gallons to fill,it has a 150 gallon tank,so that rules out the sender I think.I ended up having too remove the hoses at the tank and put a primer bulb in the line to prime the pumps,then the boat fired right up and ran fine.Im scared now to run it to the 1/2 a tank level,cause if it happens out on the water it will not be good!! Any ideas?

[mmwjr]

Let me get this straight, 1 fuel tank for both engines, 2 fuel pick ups in tank 1 for each engine. I am think the tank vent may be clogged. Are engines EFI or carb, electric or mechanical fuel pumps? None the less I still think the common cause would be the vent.

[big fun]

Hey Mike,yes there is one tank,engines are carb with electric pumps.Is the vent your talking about the overflow or is there an air inlet vent also?Perry

[mmwjr]

Perry, the vent lets air out of the tank when filling and air back in as fuel is drawn. It will overflow if the tank is overfilled filled.

If clogged a vacumn is created restricting suction by the fuel pump.

[shrew]

A clog anywhere in the tank wouldn't be resolved by a primer bulb. It would theoretically also cause the same problem when the engine is running. i've be looking at the mechanism that handles the priming.
I have an electric fuel pump and fuel injection. I still need to turn the key and listen to the fuel system pressurize itself before I can start the engine.

[mmwjr]

Shrew I am not sure how the primer bulb would fix the probelm either. However since both engines would not run I would look for a common source. Since each engine has it's own fuel pump I would be surprised the issue is there. The common source is single fuel tank, one vent, and possibly sediment in tank clogging both pick ups, IMO. With that said any sediment could have traveled to each engines fuel filter, pump, carb and lines causing the issue. To check for this enpty each fuel filter in to a glass jar and look for water or sediment.

[big fun]

Hey guys,I did pull both filters and they were perfect,no water, no sediment.When I squeezed the primer the fuel came immediatly. Perry

[mmwjr]

Guess all I can say at this time is see how it goes and let us know if it happens again with any updated observations.

Good Luck

[big fun]

Thanks guys!