Fuel Tank Pickup

[jimking100]

Had a similar problem. Removed the pickup tube per directions from my mechanic. He told me to check the screen at the bottom of the pickup tube but there was none. I disassembled the pickup tube at the top elbow and discovered a screen that was blocked with gunk. Removed screen, everything worked and I have not had a problem since. Worth a look.

[Paperbird]

Hmm - interesting thought. I didn't notice a screen at the top of the pickup. Will have to take the elbow apart to check.

Thanks!

[DeepFrz]

The pickup tube should be open at the bottom and should have no screen in it. The idea is to filter anything that the tube picks up at the filter. I have never seen a fuel pickup with just a small orifice on the end. Just asking for trouble.

[HopCar]

I like gjordans logic on this one. I had the exact same problem that drove me crazy for about a year. I had checked everything including looking for a clogged pick up screen but I didn't see one. Finally I unscrewed the tube from the elbow at the top and damned if there wasn't a screen hidden at the top of the tube. The screen was clogged. I threw that screen as far as I could and haven't had a problem since.

[Paperbird]

Update for anyone who cares.

The problem turned out to be pure operator malfunction. The selector valve does not work the way as I expected. If the selector valve is turned toward the the left side of the valve, then fuel flows from the left inlet to the center outlet. If the valve is turned toward the right side of the valve, then the valve is shut off. If the valve is turned toward the center, outlet fitting, then fuel flows from the right side to the center outlet.

Go figure!?!

As a weird side benefit, I have now thoroughly traced, disconnected, re-connected and examined every fuel fitting in the entire system. And I have a nice little electric fuel pump for future use in transferring fuel, priming lines, etc. <sigh>

[DeepFrz]

And you learned a lot about your boat. Did you drill out the little 1/16 inch holes in the end of the pickup tube?