Clogged gas tank pickup

[fredhead]

I have a 2005 Sea Fox 230 walk-around with 140 Suzuki 4-stroke. At the beginning of last summer the engine wouldn't run except at idle. I took it to the dealer and ended up getting new injectors and the VSP tank cleaned. Tried to run it and same problem. Dealer said it ran good there, on their gas. They cleaned the filter in the VSP tank, then started looking at my gas.
You see, for 5 years I never let the tank go below 3/4 tank, kept topping it off and adding Star-Tron. The gas that came out was the color of Guinness beer. Yuck! 110 gallons of bad gas........
Never able to use 100 gallons in a season, I decided to buy and use a pair of 12 gallon portable tanks. Had no more problems except without the weight low in the hull the boat is less stable.
This summer I decided to try the on-board tank. Put in 20 gallons, with Star-tron, and took it out. It died just after leaving the dock. After getting it home, I put an electric fuel pump on the pickup hose and no gas would pump out. Tried blowing compressed air (about 50 PSI) and can't blow air into the tank.
I found where the pickup is on the tank, can you say practically inaccessable?

Is there anything I can put in the tank that will get down there and dissolve whatever is clogging? My thought is there was still gas down there that turned to varnish (like a found in an old VW carb I rebuilt). I know if I can pull the pickup I can soak it in carburetor dip and clean it. But I'm afraid I'll have to cut the boat to get to the pickup. Money's real tight, I have to do this myself.

[seapower]

I need to ask if there is a "check" valve at the tank. If there is you will not be able to blow air past it. 50 psi sure sounds like alot to me, if it was just debris. I can't speak for out board type boats much, but many of the inboard powered rigs have a check valve so that fuel won't run back into the tank at shut off. If the valve and spring get stopped up, fuel can't go either way. I would make sure you don't have a check in place, before putting any more pressure to it. Just a thought. Frank

[jaws]

Frank, I know it's A safety feature, do you replace it or knock the ball and spring out.

[seapower]

Alot of the time you simply take it off and clean it out. I don't know that it's a "safety" thing though. I would tend to believe it is more about keeping the fuel system primed, so that there is no need to over crank your engine. I can tell you that I've never dis-abled one myself, it's either clean the one you have (if possible) or replace it. It's a pretty common problem to have trash in a tank jam one up, especially a tank that isn't used often. Frank

[jaws]

I've run in to A few times myself, usually after someone put A fuel pump on and still not getting fuel. I have knocked A couple of them out just to save time and get them going again.

[jawz12]

I've run in to A few times myself, usually after someone put A fuel pump on and still not getting fuel. I have knocked A couple of them out just to save time and get them going again.

that antisiphon valve is in there for a reason - taking it out is a real bad move...the idea is,if the fuel line,or the seperating filter develop a leak,the fuel will not siphon into the bilge. "knocking it out",you mean removing the valve and knocking it apart ?

[jawz12]

I have a 2005 Sea Fox 230 walk-around with 140 Suzuki 4-stroke. At the beginning of last summer the engine wouldn't run except at idle. I took it to the dealer and ended up getting new injectors and the VSP tank cleaned. Tried to run it and same problem. Dealer said it ran good there, on their gas. They cleaned the filter in the VSP tank, then started looking at my gas.
You see, for 5 years I never let the tank go below 3/4 tank, kept topping it off and adding Star-Tron. The gas that came out was the color of Guinness beer. Yuck! 110 gallons of bad gas........
Never able to use 100 gallons in a season, I decided to buy and use a pair of 12 gallon portable tanks. Had no more problems except without the weight low in the hull the boat is less stable.
This summer I decided to try the on-board tank. Put in 20 gallons, with Star-tron, and took it out. It died just after leaving the dock. After getting it home, I put an electric fuel pump on the pickup hose and no gas would pump out. Tried blowing compressed air (about 50 PSI) and can't blow air into the tank.
I found where the pickup is on the tank, can you say practically inaccessable?

Is there anything I can put in the tank that will get down there and dissolve whatever is clogging? My thought is there was still gas down there that turned to varnish (like a found in an old VW carb I rebuilt). I know if I can pull the pickup I can soak it in carburetor dip and clean it. But I'm afraid I'll have to cut the boat to get to the pickup. Money's real tight, I have to do this myself.

if you're smart,what you're gonna do is replace that antisiphon valve - connect that electric pump,and pump the tank till decent looking fuel comes out - fuel will seperate - water is heavier than fuel,it lies on the bottom - the withdrawl tube,it draws from the bottom of the tank...pump the tank,till the fuel appears decent...

as far as the engine's concerned - you're gonna need filters - and you're gonna have to drain the VST...

[seapower]

Jawz12 just pointed out the function of that valve to me. I don't work on many gas powered boats. I would listen to what he has to say, in regard's to this question. My reference to a check valve was from the use in diesel applications. Where a back flow of fuel into the tank will allow air in the fuel system. Most primary fuel filters used today (again diesel application) have a check valve built in. I don't want to mislead here. Frank

[jaws]

Frank, Jawz12

I stated in my first post in this thread that I knew it was A safety feature. I bet both of you still have the seat safety switches on your riding lawnmowers.

[jawz12]

Frank, Jawz12

I stated in my first post in this thread that I knew it was A safety feature. I bet both of you still have the seat safety switches on your riding lawnmowers.

don't have a riding lawn mower - that would be gay...