"Steve Lusardi" wrote in message ...
I suggest the fault is the tank, not the motor. The tank is leaking air. The
squeeze ball charges the tank. The overpressure tank then feeds fuel to the
carb. Check your seals, gaskets, hose and hose fittings.
Steve

This confuses me. I have always kept the air valve open on top of the
fill cap for the tank, the pressure is equal to that outside the tank.
The ball has checks in which allow me to build up some kind of
pressure in the engine, I have always assumed that once the engine
starts, it somehow draws fuel from the tank, in line with the check
valves. This could only happen if the engine were somehow sucking fuel
from the tank. In fact when I leave the fill cap vent closed, it sucks
the tank down (red plastic portable tank).

Anyway, I have had a better look this morning and I see that the valve
I refered to below does not have an electrical lead, it is more likely
a vacume lead, maybe some kind of vacume actuated idle control (idle
air bypass)? The choke knob feed directly into this unit which also
has two fuel lines running to the carb, one low, one high, could this
also control idle fuel?

Anyway, to the fuel pump, can someone explain how it works on this
engine, that will help me to find it! Is it vacume, or mechanical, in
the meantime I will be looking today in better light, thanks again,
Scotty, Keep em' coming...

"Backyard Renegade" wrote in message
om...
Well I have an 8 horse Rude, 1988, pull start, great condition, maybe
75 hours on it. Had a problem today, had to keep squeezing the ball
until it leaked to keep it running, but it really did not work. As
soon as I try to idle or now push the choke full off, it seems to run
out of fuel. I cleaned the carb, from outside, and put in new plugs,
made adjustments, still the same. I have to pull the choke a little to
start it, then is searches for idle,levels off, then eventually
sputters to a stop. Good compression, good spark, timing sounds on,
etc... Just runs out or fuel I think, or the float is stuck, down? I
choke it, pump the ball, and she will run at partial choke and high
idle setting, but as soon as you push the choke in that last 1/8 inch,
or put it to idle, it slows to a stop, wants to stay running, just
won't.
So here is my quesion. Can someone tell me how the fuel delivery
system works with this external tank and hand pump ball to squeeze. Is
there a fuel pump on the engine, how does it work, diaphram,
venturi??? Anyway, the choke lever goes into a fixture with a couple
of lines to the carb, and a electrical lead, could this unit just be
clogged, is it a usual task to clean it? I have cleaned the valve on
the side of the engine that seems to direct the fuel from the tank.
Anyway, long day, hope this makes sence, where would you start, and of
course if you are on the CT shoreline and want to come by I'll take
you fishin' when we get it runnin', Scotty from SmallBoats.com