Fitting a fuel tap

neil.mccrirrick · 16 March 2013, 13:49

I'm in the middle of fitting a tank to my deck to give more range. Tank is in and all the fuel line is laid. I've now got a 100 litre internal tank and a 140 litre deck tank connected by a three way brass fuel tap.

Problem is I can't get the fuel bulb to pump hard, really frustrating. I've taken the feed to the bulb off and blown down it. All that happens is I get very red

can't blow through so that makes me think no leak?

I've then blown through the fuel tap and I can hear air getting to both fuel tanks if I move the tap, or nowhere if its in the middle grrrr

Can anyone advise anything? Do I need ptfe tape where the fuel barb screws into the body of the fuel tap maybe?

There's no fuel in the deck tank so I'm off to get some to see if that section is air and fuel tight, might reduce the size of the problem

Couple of pics as that might help with the above description

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Pikey Dave · 16 March 2013, 14:02

Silly question Neil, but have you got the tap connected the right way round? You should have 2 inlets & 1 outlet. Inlets to the tanks & outlet to the engine. Where is the bulb in the equation? Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs.

Nos4r2 · 16 March 2013, 14:08

Faulty fuel bulb? Or maybe you need to put a fuel bulb near each tank.

neil.mccrirrick · 16 March 2013, 14:19

Bulb I think is fine I changed it start of last season. The original set up was one fuel line to bulb then fuel filter as you would expect. All I've done is disconnect the original line from the bulb and run it to the fuel tap, then run another fuel line from the deck tank to the tap, then one line from the outlet on the tap back to the bulb

I did check I had the right connections Dave but as its all unscrewed again at the mo ill check again you never know. Back soon with success I hope

neil.mccrirrick · 16 March 2013, 15:41

Ground to a halt. I've never been happy with the fuel filter and figured it might be leaking there. I've got a quicksilver to replace it with. Took the old one off, threads are bsp, which means the fuel barbs and blanks are not compatible so i need to order them

Really wanted this done today not to worry, better done right than bodged in. Ill update if doing this deals the system

xspy99 · 16 March 2013, 16:03

I have found for best performance have the bulb sitting vertical with the arrow pointing to the sky. The check valves then have gravity helping them do there job.
Many have found this to be the case myself included. Do a web search to confirm, I have read it even cures fuel starvation issues.

neil.mccrirrick · 24 March 2013, 13:56

All done and sealed now, thanks for all the advice. I'm not sure if the hoses have just bedded in over a week or if the old fuel filter was the weak link. The rubber seals looked to be on the way out and there were too many parts to it so good riddance anyway.

So 100 litre under the floor tank and a 140 litre ally tank on the deck courtesy of Trailer Guy,(thanks very much again Simeon for the help, tank and parts)

I need to fill the lot and hope now it's not messed with the stability. We had a lot of weight in the back at loch lomomd in feb when this wasn't on and it didn't seem to make a great deal of difference so fingers crossed, sea trial at Easter on the straits if the flamin weather ever picks up.

I've attached a picture of the old fuel filter, if you have one of these I'd recommend you bin it, nowt but trouble

Fitted a manual bilge pump as well while I was at it just in case the auto one fails

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JakeT · 28 September 2015, 14:55

I had this same problem last weekend first time out with a new engine. Replaced twin Yam 90s with a single Merc 200 and had a fuel tap exactly like this one to switch between the two original under deck tanks. Just couldn't get any fuel to the separator. Filled the separator with siphoned fuel and engine would run perfectly for about 2 mins until the separator was empty again. Tried undoing fuel line to tap and sucking petrol and confirmed no problem there so it is something between the fuel separator and tap. See pic showing setup. Everything is brand new. Any ideas? Clogged line, faulty tap, faulty separator?

Pikey Dave · 28 September 2015, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeT

I had this same problem last weekend first time out with a new engine. Replaced twin Yam 90s with a single Merc 200 and had a fuel tap exactly like this one to switch between the two original under deck tanks. Just couldn't get any fuel to the separator. Filled the separator with siphoned fuel and engine would run perfectly for about 2 mins until the separator was empty again. Tried undoing fuel line to tap and sucking petrol and confirmed no problem there so it is something between the fuel separator and tap. See pic showing setup. Everything is brand new. Any ideas? Clogged line, faulty tap, faulty separator?

Primer bulb the right way round? Also the primer bulb should be vertical with the arrow pointing skywards.
Could also be an air leak so the bulb is trying to pull air instead of petrol, you've a lot of joints in that setup.

matt h · 28 September 2015, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeT

I had this same problem last weekend first time out with a new engine. Replaced twin Yam 90s with a single Merc 200 and had a fuel tap exactly like this one to switch between the two original under deck tanks. Just couldn't get any fuel to the separator. Filled the separator with siphoned fuel and engine would run perfectly for about 2 mins until the separator was empty again. Tried undoing fuel line to tap and sucking petrol and confirmed no problem there so it is something between the fuel separator and tap. See pic showing setup. Everything is brand new. Any ideas? Clogged line, faulty tap, faulty separator?

PTF tape on all connections.. tap unit lower than filter.. a good quality primer bulb.
also take the engine side fuel connector off and jam open with small screwdriver and try to pump it through then.. it just could be an airlock

neil.mccrirrick · 28 September 2015, 21:34

Check the tap is plumbed in correctly. On that set up the bottom hole has to allow the feed from the two top is it definitely doing that? Shouldn't matter but I configured mine with the bulb before the separator not after but that should just mean it's pull not push to get the fuel through

Does the bulb get hard when you pump it? If it doesn't there is deffo a leak or the tanks aren't venting

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neil.mccrirrick · 28 September 2015, 21:39

Looking at it again I'd bin that fuel separator and get a quicksilver. Threads should be compatible I bet that's where the sealing problem is

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Pikey Dave · 28 September 2015, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeT

Just thought I'd post a few words to thank and thoroughly recommend both Simon at Bill Higham Marine............... Simon re-engined my boat........

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeT

I had this same problem last weekend first time out with a new engine........ Just couldn't get any fuel to the separator........... Everything is brand new. Any ideas? Clogged line, faulty tap, faulty separator?

You could always take it back

hadd · 28 September 2015, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeT

I had this same problem last weekend first time out with a new engine. Replaced twin Yam 90s with a single Merc 200 and had a fuel tap exactly like this one to switch between the two original under deck tanks. Just couldn't get any fuel to the separator. Filled the separator with siphoned fuel and engine would run perfectly for about 2 mins until the separator was empty again. Tried undoing fuel line to tap and sucking petrol and confirmed no problem there so it is something between the fuel separator and tap. See pic showing setup. Everything is brand new. Any ideas? Clogged line, faulty tap, faulty separator?

Thought you just had this engine serviced by Simon Highams I'd be taking it back to him 😳

paintman · 28 September 2015, 22:17

If they fitted the setup then I agree that you need to take it back.

JakeT · 29 September 2015, 09:30

Yeah I already spoke to Simon yesterday and he has asked me to bring it back to him so he can fix it. Been very helpful. He thinks it may be a faulty tap but noticed this thread and thought I'd ask in case anyone had the same problem and can point him in the right direction. Double checked and everything is fitted correctly. The bulb is priming and working fine but only when the fuel separator is full. I personally think air is getting in somewhere.

JakeT · 29 September 2015, 16:45

Ok, found the problem. It was the gasket to the fuel separator. Sorted now. Must get a spare for the toolbox. Lesson learned, should also have got this sorted before getting on the slipway!!

Pikey Dave · 29 September 2015, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeT

Ok, found the problem. It was the gasket to the fuel separator. Sorted now. Must get a spare for the toolbox. Lesson learned, should also have got this sorted before getting on the slipway!!

lightly grease the gasket on the filter before tightening it up.

neil.mccrirrick · 29 September 2015, 21:09

Get rid of that filter if there is a gasket around the clear part at the bottom. Nowt but trouble if it gets a knock. Filters are cheap just replace yearly