Fuel problems with Ski Nautique

(thebobbytrain) · (thebobbytrain) **Join Date: Jun 2004** 06-16-2004, 8:55 AM

OK, I have a Ski Nautique that has a small problem. It will run for a while (1-2 minutes), then all of a sudden bog down and die from gas starvation. I have gone through the fuel lines, checked them for clogs/leaks, and none were found. I put in a new fuel pump and fuel filter, and it still dies. I have even totally rebuilt the carbeurator and it still dies. Now the funny thing is, the motor will run all day out of gear and while level. When you put it in gear is when it will run for a little bit and die. I thought that maybe the vent in the gas tank was stopped up but when I tried to run it without the gas cap on it still didn't work. If anyone knows what problem this might be and what I need to do to fix it, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

(gymboarder) · (gymboarder) **Join Date: Feb 2003** 06-16-2004, 9:17 AM

Have you tried changing your water fuel seperator. I has a simialr problem and that was all it was.

(thebobbytrain) · (thebobbytrain) **Join Date: Jun 2004** 06-16-2004, 9:54 AM

I took the seperator off and checked it over and everything seemed to be fine (no leaks, clogs, or anything out of the ordinary) and I thoroughly cleaned it out. I've asked a dealer and they think it could be that the anti-syphoning system in the gas tank is clogged up and needs to be cleaned out, so it looks like I'll be giving that a try this evening.

(rodmcinnis) · (rodmcinnis) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 06-16-2004, 12:48 PM

Go buy yourself a cheap electric fuel pump and about 10 feet of fuel line. Disconnect the fuel line between the filter/sepeartor and the engine fuel pump, hook your fuel pump in its place. Connect the lenght of fuel line you bought to the output of the electric fuel pump and run it back to the filler on the tank.

Now connect the electric fuel pump to the battery (make sure there isn't any spilled gas around when you do this!).

Does the electric fuel pump provide a good steady stream?

If it does, then you still have a problem in the fuel pump and/or carburetor.

If it doesn't, then trace the problem back. Eliminate the filter/separator and try again.

If you get all the way back to the tank, keep this in mind:

The fuel pickup is a "dip tube". This usually is made by brazing a copper tube on the inside of the fitting that is visible on the outside of the tank. On several occasions I have seen the copper tube crack right at the point it was brazed to the copper fitting. This allows the fuel pump to suck air instead of gas. It also makes the problem worse when the tank gets empty.