UGH....gas with water....need to pump...

[kregars]

Hello fellow Pro-line owners...I Need more help...

1991 260 Walk that has ~15 gallons of fouled fuel (water in fuel...ALOT of water in fuel)....I was having issues with the boat running rough (again) and after changing the fuel/water separators 4 times in a week I decided to have it looked at further.  The tank is fouled with fuel (possibly due to vandalism but no proof so no fingers being pointed...it could have been a bad load of fuel from the dock but only 1 other person is complaining and they filled at another Marina).

I can't find the location of to pull a sending unit...in front of the bait station is an access hatch but there are only 2 hoses exiting that feed the fuel filters but no access port to remote to pump from there.

The question is, how do I pump out the fuel from the tank so I can get this issue resolve rapidly?  The shop is willing to help with the cost of walking over the engine (greatly reduced price) and possibly rebuilding the carbs again (they did them this spring) at little to no cost.

The engines are twin Yamaha's and thought I have a fuel bulb on each, how do I use them to gravity drain the tank, or is there another method that doesn't cost me 90 bucks an hour plus disposal fee to have it pumped professionally?

In my old boat (1989 Welcraft 234Aft) the tank had the sending unit plus an inspection port (basically just a piece of sheet metal with gasket) on the tank.  I have looked and for the life of me cannot locate anyplace where I can gain open access to the tank.

Thanks in advance,

[231CALIFORNIA]

This works for a lot of guys, Go to autoparts store, get an electric fuel pump and a long piece of fuel hose and some clamps, put wire,fuse&switch and  aligator clips on fuel pump terminals,  mount pump on a scrap board, attach  1 end of hose hose to pump inlet other to fuel system on your boat before filter. attach output hose to other side.
get 3  clean used  5gallon buckets with lids  from donut shop,paint store, etc.
hook pump wires to your battery, put output hose into a bucket, switch on pump , repeat until tank empty, for final ammount make sure boat is bow up so fuel flows to aft of tank near pickup.
 put fuel on craigslist for free explaining where it came from or dispose of at your local free disposal center that takes solvent,paintpesticides,,oil,batteries etc.

[kregars]

Thanks again 231California...I am off to pick up the pump now along with some fuel lines.  I also found a place that takes old gas, but they only allow drop off's once a month (first Saturday of every month).

I'm thinking that for some of it, since the gas will float on the water, I'll let it seperate and only drop off the contaminated water/jump and I might use whats left in my mowers and donate some to anyone that wants it.  I have a fill filter (Surhold medium) that I can run it through to ensure it's not tainted for the mowers etc.  

Thanks again,

[231CALIFORNIA]

If the gas smells like varnish, its old and bad, even if you get the water(which will be mixed with ethanol) separated.
if you  must use the skimmed fuel,  blend it into fresh gas that is going to be used right away, and only try small quantities until your sure it burns clean and doesent plug filters or ping.

[kregars]

gas definately isn't that old (the fuel in there is only 2 weeks old as that's the last time I put fuel in there and is only what was left when we returned)....it's the water contamination that's causing the headache.  If I can get the water off it, I think it will run fine in something less costly than the outboard (mowers).

[Seon]

Not doubting you but to confirm it's bad gas, route your line into a separate gas container like one of red 5 gal poly jug with fresh gas. Just saying.  Best of luck.

[kregars]

The first 4 gallons out of the tank was definately contaminated gas...it was clear (as in zero color whatsoever).  Put some on a rag and the sniff test had a hint of gas but it wouldn't hold a flame...but I found that I could take that to the dump to drop off at the recycle center...but they required it be in a gas can.

The second 5 gallons came out semi polluted (it's currently settling in several containers to separate the water from the gas).

The 3rd 5 gallons came out almost as it went in, as did the last 5 gallons (which was used in the truck today along with 10 gallons of mid-grade)....the last 2.5 can caught the remaining stuff that was in there and I filtered it and my son used it in the tractor today (he noted the tractor ran a bit 'sputtery' but was able to mow the lawns he had scheduled...NOTE...I told him to dilute it with good fuel but he didn't listen).

After that was completed we started to tackle the filters and filter heads...unfortunately time was against us and the filter mount on the inside of the rear compartment had come free from the hull side so we had to 5200 it back in place and we're waiting till tomorrow to finish up the install of these on Tuesday.  I figure I'll run these (Yamaha tall canisters) for about 2 weeks then swap them out for the new set I bought.  I figure that will allow whatever remained in the tank to get captured and it's semi-cheap to replace the filters (Yamaha tall boys are 11 bucks each which in the grand scheme of things is cheap).

That leaves the delima as to what to do about the carbs.  Do I put fuel in the tanks and run them, or should I attempt to use seafoam in a porta-tank to clean them to get through the rest of the season....or do I bite the bullet and have them torn down and rebuilt (keeping in mind that it would lay the boat of several days including the weekend where I would like to use the boat???)....I'd love to learn how to break them down and rebuild them myself but I've got ZERO clue as to how to get the set back up for use once cleaned/rebuilt.  Without having the ability to hook up to run the engines on a hose at the Marina without incuring shop charges for time...I'm sort of at a loss.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[231CALIFORNIA]

I dont recall your engine and may not know your carbs 
But
Yes, first check and see if your carbs have drain screws on the bowls,  if they do drain them, if not, take the portable tank, i dont thin the seafoam will help or hurt much, just get it to run good on know good fuel  and you should be good to for  the season,  then after/if / the trouble is gone, go back to your fresh dry main tank.

[kregars]

Thanks....they are 1996 130 Saltwater Series by Yamaha...

[231CALIFORNIA]

there are 4  model # 130s in 96 but they might all use same carb
go to this link and look at # 15, its a drain. that should get settled watter and gunk to drain and you can get soem carb leaner with a straw and soot it though the main jets from there possibly without muuch dissasembly if you can get to them.


http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Outboard/1996/S130TLRU/CARBURETOR/parts.html

I am only giving this link because it has pictures , havent used them.

[kregars]

Thanks again 231California....actually the first image that pulled up was the engines I have...fuel has been removed and new filters installed (and carbs were loaded with seafoam (with the hope that they will clean out any contamination).  Luckily my dad has been a HUGE help with getting this accomplished and we hope to fire her this weekend on the hose and then ultimately back at the launch ramp.

[231CALIFORNIA]

Carbs loaded with seafoam? that a conditoner, may not have the volatility to start and run at idle, likely won't hurt anything and will flow through and be replaced by fuel quickly but dont be surprised if you get rough starting etc.
pour the seafoam solvent into the tank!
anyway, youve got a good shot at it now.
I might  be out flowing fuel for a few days hoping for cooperative fish and weather. good luck and i hope thats the end of the drama.
BTW I keep 3canister spares and 3 inline 3/8 prefilters on board for the day the water builds up too fast. and hope thats enough.

[kregars]

Before I bought the new filter kit and spares, I did speak to the Yamaha Master Tech (guessing it's like the master tech at a car dealer) and he noted that in a pinch you can pull the filter and drain the water into a jar to allow you to get back to port to properly resolve the issue...he stressed in a pinch and getting back to port to resolve the issue.

Hope you caught a boat load of fishies (as my 2 year old calls them).

[231CALIFORNIA]

Caught limits of fishies, ran about 53gallon in 2days, returning to harbor did a WOT charge for about 1/2 mile, as I throttled back to 3000 she sputtered and died, Started right back up came in with no problem,  changed out the a 3/8 inline no water detected , will change canister tonight, a bit of water in the paper element will do it.
made me think of you.
 

[kregars]

You did better than me then.....appears my carbs are in need of rebuild.... 

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