I have a fuel delivery problem in a 1986 Caribbean with a 3.0 OMC engine. At the very end of last summer, the usually very reliable boat wouldn't start. Fuel wasn't getting into the carb, but, if we put a little gas in there to get it started, it would run. We pulled it out, and my boyfriend discovered the thin plastic fuel line from the fuel pump to the carb was clogged. Replaced that, and the boat starts again. This spring, we put some fresh gas in, put the muffs on, and tried to start it on the trailer in the drive. No gas to carb again. Boyfriend found the little metal elbow on the fuel pump was clogged. Cleaned it out, put it back on, and the boat started right up. A couple weeks go by, during which we replace the carpet, fix a seat, etc. Something tells me to try the muffs again before going out to put it in at our dock. It does not start, of course. Now there is no gas to carb and it appears no gas to the fuel pump. We opened the fuel pump up; the diaphragm is intact and it's pretty clean in there. It was also devoid of gas. We then replaced the rubber gas line from the tank to the fuel pump, thinking maybe that was clogged, too, but still no gas.
A co-worker told me to check the fuel filter, which sounds reasonable considering all of the other clogged parts. Could that be the problem? And where is it? We've been unable to identify anything as a fuel filter. That same co-worker told me the fuel filter might be inside the tank? Or maybe fuel filter is not the problem and I should be looking at something else?
I'm in school still and quite destitute from my tuition payments, so anything I can do to fix it myself is an option. I really appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks!
A co-worker told me to check the fuel filter, which sounds reasonable considering all of the other clogged parts. Could that be the problem? And where is it? We've been unable to identify anything as a fuel filter. That same co-worker told me the fuel filter might be inside the tank? Or maybe fuel filter is not the problem and I should be looking at something else?
I'm in school still and quite destitute from my tuition payments, so anything I can do to fix it myself is an option. I really appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks!