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Ever Have Engine Stop

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/09/2013 : 15:52:38

Yesterday I was motoring out of my slip and while down the fairway my engine stopped. I tried to restart but no go. I checked the gas tank and saw it was full.
I then noticed bulb on the fuel line was depressed. Keeping calm with 2 new guests and the admiral, I was about to set the anchor to keep from getting stuck in the nearby beach but luckily continued to move forward to a nearby dock.
While I tied her up, one of the guests opened up the fuel locker and noticed the line as crimped at the nozzle which prevented any gas from exiting the tank to the motor. He fixed it and off we were.
I am the only one who fills the tank so it had to be my doing. Anyway for all of out of there, I share my words of wisdom. Check those lines.
Steve A

Previous Owner
PiSeas II
2003 C250 WK #692
Newport Beach, CA

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2013 : 16:12:37

I've had a very similar experience, but I'd forgotten to open the vent valve on my old metal tank. We used to back out of the fairway (there are nowhere to turn around at our original slip). So we're backing out, I've got Rita & my little sister on board (who's never been on the boat before). She's sitting right next to me, so I hand her the tiller with instructions to keep the boat pointed down the middle of the fairway, which isn't as easy as it sounds when you're backing down, there's a strong turning force trying to push the tiller to one side. I knew what was wrong as soon as it happened, but I couldn't explain it to my sister, or expect her to know how to start the outboard (our old Johnson, which was pull start only), so handing her the tiller with the expectation that she could manage was my next best choice. Rita was still up on the foredeck, and there wasn't much time to get the job done. Fortunately after I opened the vent, and pumped the bulb a couple of times, it started right back up and we were on our merry way.

Our "new" OMC tank is self venting, so I don't have to worry about it any more.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2013 : 16:48:02

My gas line has to make a tight turn to the motor, and the turning of the hard link causes a crimp a couple times a year. Sometimes I see it before the motor cuts out, sometimes not. It's familiar enough that I can fix it and restart in about 10 seconds.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2013 : 13:54:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TakeFive
 My gas line has to make a tight turn to the motor, and the turning of the hard link causes a crimp a couple times a year. Sometimes I see it before the motor cuts out, sometimes not. It's familiar enough that I can fix it and restart in about 10 seconds.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Rick, my setup is the same, 90 degree turn. Unlike Dave, I don't have self venting but that has never been an issue. Know that I have had the crimp I will be vigilant and check when I re fill the tank. I was almost in that situation where 10 seconds would have grounded me it not for my forward momentum and the available dock. I got lucky. I do try not to duplicate my mistakes, at least those I know how to avoid.

Steve A

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2013 : 18:35:43

As is often the case, my frequent kinks are caused by a combination of issues that work together. First, the rotation of the motor by the hard link causes the motor to rotate frequently (every time I tack, if I leave the motor down). Last year my gas hose was very flexible and always bent without kinking, UNTIL THIS HAPPENED:

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So I replaced that old flimsy hose with a nice OMC bulb/hose that was fiber reinforced. Unfortunately, the thicker walls of that hose make it more difficult to bend on a narrow radius, so it rubs against the fuel locker, and after repeated tacks or other turns of the motor it can work itself into a position where it "grabs" on the locker and kinks.

I think I have finally found a lasting remedy for this. First, I have always raised my motor out of the water when sailing, unless conditions were hazardous enough to require a quick start (lots of shipping traffic, risk of going into irons, etc.). For the times that I do have the motor in the water, I have figured out a way to re-route the gas line out the fuel locker vent, then over the top of the highest attachment brace for the fuel locker "back rest" (see red arrow below) then down to the motor. With this routing of the line (see blue line below), the fuel line seems to maintain the same radius regardless of the rotation of the motor. Since making that adjustment late Saturday, I have not had a single kink.

I'll try to snap a few pics of this routing next time I'm at the boat. In the meantime, this crude graphic may give you a rough idea what I do. Note that since I took this picture, I have covered the hole with a proper cowl vent:

<center>

</center>

Edited by - TakeFive on 08/13/2013 19:43:24

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2013 : 14:31:41

Rick, nice mod. I said mine is 90 degree turn as well but its on the hose fitting to the tank, not the engine.
I made some adjustments so that will not happen again but will still keep an eye on it every time I refuel.
Steve A

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2013 : 19:13:29

Finally grabbed a pic this evening. Note the routing of my gas line:

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</center>

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.