Took my boat out today. It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed fine.
Then the other end again. I'm going to change the fuel filter on the motor
and see if that does it. After that, I guess it just has to go to the shop.
'89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

On May 29, 11:41*pm, "SteveB" wrote:
Took my boat out today. *It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. *Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed fine.
Then the other end again. *I'm going to change the fuel filter on the motor
and see if that does it. *After that, I guess it just has to go to the shop.
'89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

Possibly a vent clogged on the gas tank creating a suction and not a
freeflow on the fuel?

Tim wrote:
On May 29, 11:41 pm, "SteveB" wrote:
Took my boat out today. It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed fine.
Then the other end again. I'm going to change the fuel filter on the motor
and see if that does it. After that, I guess it just has to go to the shop.
'89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

Possibly a vent clogged on the gas tank creating a suction and not a
freeflow on the fuel?

Yes. Possibly the vent not opened. Possibly a clogged screen filter in
the gas can. Possibly a collapsing fuel line. Possibly a real tiny air
leak on the suction side. A larger air leak will stop fuel pumping all
together. Some outboards have a slow mode that restricts rpms if there
is an engine problem.
The best thing Steve can do is borrow or buy a gas tank with hose. That
will eliminate all off engine problems.

"jim785" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:
On May 29, 11:41 pm, "SteveB" wrote:
Took my boat out today. It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start
and
keep running. Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed
fine.
Then the other end again. I'm going to change the fuel filter on the
motor
and see if that does it. After that, I guess it just has to go to the
shop.
'89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

Possibly a vent clogged on the gas tank creating a suction and not a
freeflow on the fuel?

Yes. Possibly the vent not opened. Possibly a clogged screen filter in the
gas can. Possibly a collapsing fuel line. Possibly a real tiny air leak on
the suction side. A larger air leak will stop fuel pumping all together.
Some outboards have a slow mode that restricts rpms if there is an engine
problem.
The best thing Steve can do is borrow or buy a gas tank with hose. That
will eliminate all off engine problems.

I checked the vent, and nearly unscrewed the cap. I need to take the hose
off, and check that all out. It had one loose hose clamp, which I
tightened. But the symptoms repeated. Buy a gas tank with a hose? I have
one. Do you mean buy a new one? How would that solve an engine problem?

Steve

"SteveB" wrote in message
...
Took my boat out today. It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed
fine. Then the other end again. I'm going to change the fuel filter on
the motor and see if that does it. After that, I guess it just has to go
to the shop. '89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

Might try it again and when it dies during the problem, pull a couple plugs
and see if they're dry or wet.

SteveB wrote:
Took my boat out today. It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed fine.
Then the other end again. I'm going to change the fuel filter on the motor
and see if that does it. After that, I guess it just has to go to the shop.
'89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve



80% of the time, the carb needs to be thoroughly cleaned when you have
symptoms like that.

"D K" wrote in message
...
SteveB wrote:
Took my boat out today. It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed
fine. Then the other end again. I'm going to change the fuel filter on
the motor and see if that does it. After that, I guess it just has to go
to the shop. '89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

80% of the time, the carb needs to be thoroughly cleaned when you have
symptoms like that.

Is that a thing that a decent DIYer can do?

Steve

On May 31, 10:45*am, "SteveB" wrote:
"D K" wrote in message

...

SteveB wrote:
Took my boat out today. *It ran fine at first, then has symptoms of fuel
starvation at high speeds, slowing to a crawl, and then hard to start and
keep running. *Then it runs fine, starts fine, idles fine, high speed
fine. Then the other end again. *I'm going to change the fuel filter on
the motor and see if that does it. *After that, I guess it just has to go
to the shop. '89 Merc 4 cyl. 40 2 stroke.

Steve

80% of the time, the carb needs to be thoroughly cleaned when you have
symptoms like that.

Is that a thing that a decent DIYer can do?

Steve

Yes, they're pretty simple. Get a manual for your engine and have at
it.

Just put a craigslist ad on for a gas line. See if that helps. Or if I can
even get one.