Fuel line issues

[Smackhawk]

OK, probably a stupid question... but here goes...

Can I fit a T-piece to feed a single engine fuel line from both fuel pickups?

I ask because I am losing my mind with my 25Walk 250 efi fuel issues.
Engine kept stalling at speed, found fuel lines to be gummed, replaced all lines, primer bulbs, new filters, drained tank, found nothing suspicious in fuel at all (no solid contaminants)...

...new fuel etc... test runs good for about 15 min, then primer bulb collapses and engine shuts down. Bulb recovers after a 30 sec wait. Start her up, away we go... 15-20 mins later, same again!
 All I can think of is that there is something blocking the pickup tube mesh... but I cannot get anything out of there! At least using both pickups would allow the other one to keep feeding maybe? This is so frustrating!

Ideas anyone?

[C-Lark III]

Hi Smack:  Weird and frustrating problem !  Your solution sounds workable, unless the problem is a blocked tank vent.  As an "armchair" mechanic, I am wondering if you checked the vent side of your fuel system.  If the system recovers slowly, perhaps the vent is almost blocked, and the tank is going into a vacuum.  Like sucking on a bottle.  Just a "shot in the dark". Can you hook up the fuel line to a different tank (a portable one with a vented cap, for example), and try that?
 

[231CALIFORNIA]

as mentioned, it sounds like tank not venting- if new fuel lines,filter & bulb --with new bulb collapse and slow reflate.

open/loosen filler cap if you suspect plugged vent tube , it will likely function as one temporarily.

Just switch to other tank pickup if you think #1 is plugged.

also blowing back into the tank gently will often dislodge  crud from a screen if there is one.

Not sure there even is one.

[Smackhawk]

Yeah that's what I would have thought with the venting, but I'm 99% certain that it's clear as it vents very well while refueling. Maybe I'll take it on a longer run with the refuel cap loose/off. And take to the vent with a high powered vacuum!

There are mesh screens on the pickups. I tried taking them off, as 2 filters should suffice anyway, but they're pressed on pretty hard!

Oh well, gotta go overseas for a few months, will have to sort when I get back (sigh)!

[C-Lark III]

Strange problem, indeed.  Give the "loose fuel cap" a try -- when you are refueling, air and fumes are flowing out of the vent line.  When you're running the engine, it needs to flow in.  Maybe there's a "flapper" inside the vent line (a piece of loose tube wall ??), that flaps it shut on the "suck" cycle.....
Hey if you're headed overseas -- STAY SAFE !!!  Thanks

[Smackhawk]

Thanks guys! I've been thinking about it a lot, and I'll do a couple of things when I get back.

1st thing I'll do is simply replace the vent piping... shouldn't be too hard.

2nd is get new pickup tubing, with no screen mesh on the end... ( I read on a website for boat fuel system setups that they shouldn't have them for the very reason of blocking - i.e. let the filters do their job )

3rd is join the 2 pickups with some hose to a T-piece.

I had problems earlier after I replaced all the hoses, figured it could have been the anti-siphon valve, took it out an she did run for longer.... but still, could not go for 15 mins without failing. I figured the ASV is not required, no fuel lines are below the fuel tank level, and it was just extra resistance to fuel flow.

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