Fuel Pump Issue (Urgent help!)

muskokamarc

Member
May 28, 2018
200
Muskoka
Boat Info
1985 Sea Ray 210 Monaco
Engines
230HP Alpha One
Hey guys, so my boat ('85 210 Monaco, 230 hp alphaone) is currently at the marina in order to resolve a hard hot start issue (boat turning over strong but not starting after sitting for a while 20-30min?).

There is a clear/yellowish fuel line that connects to the carb as seen in the picture, that looks as if it always has fuel in it. Someone has mentioned this is a fuel pump issue (fuel pump diaphragm has failed) and that replacing the fuel pump is the first step. Can anyone confirm this is an issue?

I have already given the go ahead to do a carb rebuild, but I am not sure it is necessary. Should I go with fixing this fuel pump or just do both?
 

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Yes the line is a safety device to keep explosive fuel out of your bilge when the fuel pump craps out. It should normally NOT have fuel in it.
 
Yes the line is a safety device to keep explosive fuel out of your bilge when the fuel pump craps out. It should normally NOT have fuel in it.
Thank you for clarification!

Is this what could be causing vapor lock or a hot soak??? How does this line filled with fuel cause this issue?

What do you recommend i do with regards to carb rebuild?
 
Put a new marine fuel pump on it and test drive it.
 
Diaphragm has ruptured and dumping fuel down the carb. It's flooding your engine when motor is off. Never hurts to rebuild a carb.
 
Diaphragm has ruptured and dumping fuel down the carb. It's flooding your engine when motor is off. Never hurts to rebuild a carb.
Awesome, thanks for the fast input guys. Called the marina and they are going to quote the work needed to replace the fuel pump. I think I'm just going to have the fuel pump replaced and carb rebuilt though as it has almost certainly never been done by my grandfather who has owned the boat since 1985...
 
Hey guys, so my boat ('85 210 Monaco,230 hp alphaone) is currently at the marina in order to resolve a hard hot start issue (boat turning over strong but not starting after sitting for a while 20-30min?).

There is a clear/yellowish fuel line that connects to the carb as seen in the picture, that looks as if it always has fuel in it. Someone has mentioned this is a fuel pump issue (fuel pump diaphragm has failed) and that replacing the fuel pump is the first step. Can anyone confirm this is an issue?

I have already given the go ahead to do a carb rebuild, but I am not sure it is necessary. Should I go with fixing this fuel pump or just do both?
Hey guys, so my boat ('85 210 Monaco, 230 hp alphaone) is currently at the marina in order to resolve a hard hot start issue (boat turning over strong but not starting after sitting for a while 20-30min?).

There is a clear/yellowish fuel line that connects to the carb as seen in the picture, that looks as if it always has fuel in it. Someone has mentioned this is a fuel pump issue (fuel pump diaphragm has failed) and that replacing the fuel pump is the first step. Can anyone confirm this is an issue?

I have already given the go ahead to do a carb rebuild, but I am not sure it is necessary. Should I go with fixing this fuel pump or just do both?

Fix the fuel pump.
 
So I am back with a much delayed update... That emergency fuel line referred to above did not have fuel in it and so we did not fix the fuel pump (yet).

The carb and starter have been rebuilt, and a tune up was done. When starting the boat multiple times over and over, the carb will begin to flood itself and struggle to start unless WOT is applied, and even then it still struggles. I thought the carb rebuild would have fixed this, but it appears it hasn't. The mechanic even noticed fuel leaking out of the sides of the carb which was then sitting ontop of the engine (see picture). I don't really know what to do next...

The below information was given to me by the mechanic before they did the carb rebuild and tune up:

Customer reports boat is difficult to start. Can't be started without lots of throttle. Wondering if carb rebuild will help. Checked for water in fuel - none. Checked under distributor cap - original sensor. Oil and fuel filters are Sierra, so if the ignition components are Sieera, then the life expectancy of those parts is minimal. Plugs are old. Compression test: 1 - 120, 3 - 130, 5 - 125, 7 - 120, 2 - 115, 4 - 120, 6 - 125, 8 - 130. Engine timing set to 12 deg BTDC. Customer mentioned rebuilding carb. Other than rebuilding the engine, new ignition components and the timing set to spec will help the most for runability. Yes the carb should be done, but not before a proper tune-up. This engine has in excess of 600 operating hours and is getting tired.
 

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Find a new mechanic.

600 hours is nothing on a well maintained gas engine. If the carb is leaking....just get a marine Holley to replace it and be done with the throttle nonsense to start it.
 
The carb flooding is a either a float,float adjustment, needle valve, float seat or the actual float seat fitting that screws into the carb ( should be a compression washer to seal that joint ).

If the carb bowl is flooding I suspect a faulty rebuild.

Finally, the bimetal spring that controls the choke function will lose it properties and will result in the choke failing to open causing a rich/flooding condition resulting in a no start
 
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Not sure I buy rebuilding the carb when the fuel pump is the problem. Consider doing the pump and see how it runs. 600 hours is low hours on an engine that should go more than 2000 hours without any major issues.
 
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Not sure I buy rebuilding the carb when the fuel pump is the problem. Consider doing the pump and see how it runs. 600 hours is low hours on an engine that should go more than 2000 hours without any major issues.
If you burn a motor at 600 its either underpowered for the weight its pushing and burned out or it bad maintenance. 5.7 can easy go 1500 in brackish water, 7.4 a hell a lot longer. I got 600 on a 30 yo engine pushing 5100# and its like new internally.
 
Just had my mechanical pump go crazy and put out 15 psi when it wanted to and flood the carb. Switxhed over to the carter type elecrtic and no more issues.
Check your fuel pump pressure before you spend money
 
I am not exactly sure what was adjusted, but I believe the mechanic fiddled around with some things on the carb (float levels?) and it seems to be starting better now, even after running, sitting, and multiple restarts... I am going to get an invoice with the work done and the details should be on there.

Apparently the boat is running rough now due to a worn out gimbal bearing... An issue for the new year.
 
For some context, the boat has always had its regular maintenance so far as I know, but my grandfather definitely did not drive it enough (hence the 600 hours), so they said the under use of the engine is what has caused the motor to become tired.
 

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