Need help with Mercury 225X

[Glennwil]

This is a 2002 Mercury 225X with 200 hrs and have never any problems until while running up the river at 4500 it started booging down and would slowly come off plane with the throttle in the same position as if it was starving for gas. When the boat stopped,never going dead I could pump the fuel bulb and it would run fine for about 5-10 miles keeping it at that same rpm trying to get back to landing. After changing the diaphragm fuel pump ,both filters it ran great today for about 15 miles and same thing it was the exact same situation .I have no clue from here!

[ssv1761982]

Did you check for crap in your fuel line? Some of the grey lines deteriorate from the inside.

[Glennwil]

This is a 2002 Mercury 225X with 200 hrs and have never any problems until while running up the river at 4500 it started booging down and would slowly come off plane with the throttle in the same position as if it was starving for gas. When the boat stopped,never going dead I could pump the fuel bulb and it would run fine for about 5-10 miles keeping it at that same rpm trying to get back to landing. After changing the diaphragm fuel pump ,both filters it ran great today for about 15 miles and same thing it was the exact same situation .I have no clue from here!
The fuel line and bulb were replaced last year and were bought from marine dealer and are OEM parts but no I have not checked that,after I changed those listed parts the bulb pumped up fine but today when I had to pump it after having problems it was kinda flat ?

[Go Time]

Check you tank vent

[tux974]

Flat bulb, I would start from tank.
Check your tank pick up and if you have a check valve in pickup change it or remove it.
BTW, what color hose and writing is the fuel line you bought.

[Glennwil]

Check you tank vent
Checked all hoses up to the fuel pmp,checked tank vent, the bulb seems ok as it will allow air to pass through only one way proving the anti siphone works, air freely passes into tank the fuel line is gray that says ethanol resistant which is new and from tank to bulkhead. On top side it is fuel injection hose bought from auto parts which is black.

[tux974]

Simple test, try a remote tank.
For me flat bulb is blockage or problem on suction side.
When motor is running ok and you hold bulb does it pulsate smoothly?

[Glennwil]

Simple test, try a remote tank.
For me flat bulb is blockage or problem on suction side.
When motor is running ok and you hold bulb does it pulsate smoothly?
When I put everything back together I pumped the bulb and it wouldn't get firm as if it wasn't pumping I think I'll take a look in the tank it's a Bullet bass boat easy to get to next I'll try the remote tank. Keep looking for my post on this maybe midweek before I get remote tank. Thanks for Help!

[Go Time]

I would find a proven remote tank AND line with bulb. Replace it all and run the boat....if OK, use old line and remote tank
This will isolate the problem to tank or line
I always sh!t can the anti-syphon valve.

[dondante]

Knock that check valve out immediately. It does nothing. I wouldn't go any further until you removed it. They can test fine and fail erratically or at only certain pressures. I've seen it be a problem hundreds of times. As a matter of fact at one point we started removing them on every new boat that was delivered to us.

[LongShot]

Grey fuel line is usually a real problem. Have seen many, many boats where it delaminates and acts as a bladder valve. Go with a good aeroquip or fuel injection hose from the local parts store. It is expensive but worth every penny.

[Glennwil]

Took fuel withdrawal assembly out and found the grey hose at suction side of tank had delaminated at the point where the bulb pushes onto the hose. Replaced it with EFI hose as suggested , pumped bulb all seems ok with the bulb becoming firm after several pumps. Hope this is the fix will run the boat next week and post again. Thanks again!

[ssv1761982]

You might want to change the spin on filter too. At least take it off and dump it into something to see how much crap got that far. Sound like progress.

[Greg G]

I agree. I would just change it as you never can tell what might make it through from that hose.

[Glennwil]

Today took the boat out for a test rode for about 15 miles light load at 5000-6500 (tel:5000-6500) rpm with no problems at all the gray hose was the problem all along. I was thinking of repowering the boat since the motor is 14 yrs old and after price shopping for a 250XS I may choose to keep the 2.5. Thanks for your Help this is a Great site!

[Glennwil]

Today took the boat out for a test rode for about 15 miles light load at 5000-6500 (tel:5000-6500) rpm with no problems at all the gray hose was the problem all along. I was thinking of repowering the boat since the motor is 14 yrs old and after price shopping for a 250XS I may choose to keep the 2.5. Thanks for your Help this is a Great site!
Will do Greg G Thanks