Fuel Tank Pickup Problem

Steve Dion · Jun 1, 2011

I would try removing the fuel pickup tube from the tank. You are probably correct that it is broken/cracked and it is sucking air when it get below the break.

Dan Johnson · Jun 1, 2011

BadGuy...

While I have not had this happen to me, I have installed an access port in the top of the tank and cleaned it out several years ago. I found the pickup tube runs down to within about a half inch of the bottom of the tank in that corner. It's the low spot in the tank when boat is approximately level in the water. There was no pickup screen on the end of my pickup tube.

I would suspect that you could remove it and replace the pickup tube. If you remove the fuel shutoff valve from the square block (the 90 degree elbow at the tank top), you should be able to more easily remove the square block and draw the suspect pickup tube out with it in the process. I would put a wrench on the mounting plate that is attached to the tank to keep it from being loosened when you do this.

I'm hoping one of the other H34 guys chimes in with better info and experience with this problem.

Richard Bryer · Jun 2, 2011

Re: BadGuy...

Hmm. While I have spent several hours fussing around with my tank, I have not encountered this problem. A cracked tube sounds feasible, but I cant figure out how it could happen. Could it be some sort of pressure related problem- have you checked for a blocked vent?. I would also advise putting in an inspection port- either one of the commercial ones or a sheet of Lexan screwed and sealed as I did. You will be amazed at what you find in your tank if it is anything like mine was!!

Allan12210 · Jun 2, 2011

It might have a crack as it is plastic. It is easy to remove as I discovered last September. There is a large nut that surrounds the tube as it enters the top of the tank. Loosen it and you can extract the entire length of tube. Probably have to take the fuel hose off first. You have to flex it slightly to clear the underside of the locker and this is where I believe it may have cracked from the last time it was removed. The tube probably has become brittle over the years.

If it is not cracked then maybe the problem is a clogging of the little screen that was crammed up inside the tube to act as a filter. After you pull the tube, look up in there for the screen. Best to remove it as your engine is protected by one or more filters with many feet of surface area as opposed to that little screen. This is a pretty easy job. The hardest part will be to bleed the fuel system afterwards. Lots of info on the site about how to do that.

Allan

srhummer · Jun 2, 2011

I have not had a problem like this yet so really can not be of help. I have copied this into my fix it file for when I do.

I really gotta say as a H34 owner it is great that we have the ability to get help from each other knowing that it is the same boat and not someone telling you to tighten the bolt to port on top when you do not have any bolts on top!!!!!

kloudie1 · Jun 2, 2011

I have not had that problem yet myself but I am interested ! I suspect that Allan is pretty close to the mark..

rfrye1 · Aug 8, 2011

An Idea

JD. It sounds like your issue is when you are motoring in calm flat water? What about your fuel filters? Are they fouling too? I assume you have changed them. You might have some gunk floating in the bottom of your tank that plugs the pickup when things are flat & calm. When there is motion, the gunk is stirred up and doesnt affect the pick up. Do you have a screen on the end of your p/u tube? those get plugged very easy. Might need to get the inspection port cut into your tank and have the fuel tank & fuel polished/cleaned. Living in the warm climate, algae & gunk will grow in your fuel, especially if you dont burn a lot and it sits in your tank.

Bob.

Dan Johnson · Aug 13, 2011

Bad Guy...

Follow your fuel line through the bulkhead to see if there is an old Perko water seperator in the fuel line, commonly attached to the fore/aft stringer or bulkhead near the shaft log. If so, there could be a vacuum leak at one of the hose clamps there.

I removed the Perko on mine and run the fuel line from the pick-up straight to the Racor. When opened, the Perko contained a lot of black "gunk".

Check the tightness of the Racor bowl to gasket also. I had one bulge and leak on me a few years ago.

If you find it necessary to clean out the tank, install a Sea-Bilt access port in the top of the tank after you've drained it. When I did it, the last gallon or so of fuel removed was nearly black with "stuff", justifying the labor and expense. Makes any future access so much easier too. See pic.

Saillife · Aug 20, 2011

I had my engine rebuilt this past winter and when commisioning this spring it would cut off after 15 minuets. Turns out the leak was in the bleed screw on the engine block filter. If it isn't a vacum leak could it be the fuel pump is going bad?

Dan - what size hatch did you install on your tank & are there baffles in the tank?

Dan Johnson · Aug 23, 2011

Saillife...

If I remember, the access port I used was the 8 inch stainless one for a six inch diameter opening.

There are no baffles in these poly tanks.

Fuel Tank Pickup Problem

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.