Fixing The Moeller Fuel Pick Up Tube Rot Problem

[@scottbaker7695]

Same problem 2-years ago, replaced the pickup tube with the original and now its broken again. Moeller needs to respond. So you are right, two year shelf life. I will give the hose treatment a try. Thank you.

[@DowieFarm]

I'm going on three years now with the new rubber one. Moeller does need to respond. Ridiculous! Thanks for watching.

[@BenLymanO_o]

@@DowieFarmhow's it holding up? I'm dealing with the same thing and trying to decide between clear tubing that isn't crazy snug, or the black tubing

[@glenndennis6801]

Thanks for the upload, I was try to figure out how the pick up tube came out.

[@wetlifesports]

I agree, I called them multiple times leaving messages and no one called back. (Granted this is in the middle of the Pandemic... but hey, I got fuel problems...) Finally got thru to the HR department and he was very helpful and got me someone to help. They are definitely not very good and providing information about how to get replacement parts but I did get some part numbers and a schematic emailed to me. Thanks for the ideas. My above deck 19 gallon plastic red tank on my 2011 Boston whaler had the pop in aluminum fitting and with some good force it pops in and out, I did use wd40. I had no screen that I know about and my plastic tube looks similar but is not deteriorated. I too am pulling my hair out on a mystery fuel problem. 2011 90hp mercury 4 stroke. I replaced both pumps $$, seal kit, all filters, new gas, checked pick up, inspected hoses and fitting, etc. Stumped. The low pressure pump is "Timing out" It is struggling to get enough fuel in the allotted time. I just bought new fittings, new fuel line and will now replace all of that. Years ago I had a similar issue on my 2005 Yamaha 150 4 stroke and it turned out to be the tiniest hidden fuel line chafe. The fuel line was rubbing on the hull just inside where it passes thru the hull toward the motor, it was sucking air. So this is my tip for everyone, blockage and sucking air can behave the same. I hope this is my problem and I just can't see it and this new stuff will fix it.. TBD.

[@DowieFarm]

Wow. That's a frustrating problem. Good luck to you. This thing has now say another year, unused, due to hauling truck issues. So, we will see it's condition.

[@scottbaker7695]

First thing I would try is an external fuel tank at various points along the fuel run. If all runs until your tank is hooked up....then its the tank.

[@mattwhalen892]

The chipmunk going off in the background when you're trying to take a video of the boat resembles everything being against you with building your boat haha

[@DowieFarm]

Haha. So So true. Dryer sheets are my new best friend.

[@Grouperhound]

I’ve been fighting a fuel issue with a 2002 Yamaha F115. I’m pulling my hair out. I’ve replaced the high pressure fuel pump, low pressure diagram, all the hoses, filters and still have a problem. It occurred to me yesterday that it might be a plugged pickup screen, so this morning I’m searching the web for info. You are correct, information is limited. Unfortunately I am not encouraged by what you found and suspect I probably have a similar problem in my 18 year old POS. There are two types of pickup mounting flanges, 3/8” pipe thread and the ‘Poplock’ push in style used in your boat. My guess is the Poplock is favored on plastic tanks, not sure what I have. I’m getting ready to head out and pull the helm seat for the fifth time to get at the tank. I have also replaced the float sender with a VDO reed type sender. I also heard anti-siphon valves can be a problem so purchased one, but then realized when I got things apart that it doesn’t use it. Makes sense that outboard applications don’t use it because the engine and hoses are above the tank.

[@DowieFarm]

Wow. That's more deep than I had to go. Good luck. 2 years now and the auto parts store fuel line rated for fuel submersion is good.

[@DowieFarm]

Thanks for watching.

[@paulgraham6353]

I'd forget the pick up tube filter screen. One could use a fuel filter outside the tank.

[@kirkkohd4883]

my boat has been limited to about 60% speed and surging. replaced in line fuel filter, checked for leaks, cracks, etc. ive been on nights so i havent been able to mess with it too much but im thinking this may be my problem! if its not, im fairly certain it will be time to clean/rebuild the carbs.

[@DowieFarm]

How did you fare?

[@kirkkohd4883]

@@DowieFarm the motor cracked a piston. pretty sure it was my carb. i ran seafoam through it and it improved for a day or 2. i tried seafoam again and no luck. by that time i had already cracked the piston. bought a new 4 stroke tohatsu. couldnt be happier.

[@DowieFarm]

@@kirkkohd4883 Well, I guess it ended well...

[@hellapellanyc6465]

Hi did you make a follow up vid?

[@andrewarmstrong7310]

That is a big problem with a lot fo those tanks. The problem is blended ethanol fuels eat it up and Moeller will not offer any warranty for that. Been there with that issue and will never buy another Moeller products. I ended up fabricating an aluminum tube on my tank and it has worked great, I'm still worried about the tank doing the same thing the pickup did and dumping 40 gallons of gasoline in my bilge.

[@DowieFarm]

Damn. This hose I used works fine as of 1 year.

[@bcseasoningsrubs5196]

These pick up tubes are ridiculous. Just found mine in 2 pieces in my boat fuel tank. About 1” of the tube still attached to the 90 degree fitting and the other half is in the tank. SMDH! I am getting so fuel line tubing like you did to try and engineer this back together. I don’t want to spend any money with a company that uses these kinds of low quality parts. By the way, did you get yours to work with the 5/16” tubing?

[@DowieFarm]

Yes, the 5/16 worked and is still good as of this last season. I was never able to get the strainer on the end though, but no issues! Thanks for watching!

[@marcelft]

Did you ever figure out how to put the pick up fitting on the hose and have it still fit through the hole in goes into? I cant see that hose not expanding to much and you being able to get the hose/fitting back in. I want to put a longer hose on my tank so I can orientate it in a better direction under my floor of my boat build. Thanks

[@DowieFarm]

So, I was able to use a grabbing tool to get the end of the hose through the filler opening but didn't actually attach it because I couldn't get a screen to put over it. I might address it in the future.

[@marcelft]

@@DowieFarm okay cool. I guess my biggest concern is will the hose fit over the barb of the pick up tube and still fit through the hole.

[@Chippy5544]

Just had a thought. Could the problem be with the 10% ethanol that's used in gas now? I recall Mike Finnegan of Roadkill saying old carburetors have a tendency to get roached inside, requiring eventual cleaning, because of the ethanol which was present years ago. Someone should investigate this, and be prepared to make a boat-load of money (pun intended) when determining if it is indeed the ethanol, and then finding a substitute.

[@DowieFarm]

I'm not sure. I've heard both bad and good arguments about ethanol. I did clean the carbs and rebuild and still had issues. My problems are bigger. Lol. But the fuel pickup line is working great!

[@BryanJSmith-ne4kv]

@@DowieFarm so to remove tube you loosen the hex nut and just worked the fitting out?? I I loosen my hex nut but the fitting still is stuck in the tank... Any ideas.. Thanks!!!

[@DowieFarm]

@@BryanJSmith-ne4kv ok. So, if I remember correctly, there is a retainer clip, then yes it pulls out hard. I thought I was going to break it too. Or I figured it was threaded and in my case it was not.

[@DowieFarm]

I believe you can look up your product number on their website and see if yours is threaded or not.

[@BryanJSmith-ne4kv]

@@DowieFarm yea I've tried to look up the tank model number but it's an old INCA tank and apparently the INCA company has gone out of business... Tried again today after loosening the hex nut I proceeded to turn the pickup tube fitting and it along with the threads it's threaded into just turned along with the fitting...

[@AM-ob5ki]

same thing happened to my 2019 majek, 115 evinrude outboard..... All of a sudden fuel codes pops up and died...... That stupid plastic pick up tube had broken off.... Dry rott

[@DowieFarm]

You would think these companies would do anything different. Thank for watching.

[@hunterdion]

thanks . very informative. well done.

[@DowieFarm]

Thanks so much. Not bad for an amateur! Lol.

[@kevinmcghee2785]

I am going through the same process right now, and have the exact same setup.After putting the rubber hose on the barb, how difficult was it to push the fitting back into the tank?

[@DowieFarm]

That was easy.

[@DowieFarm]

I will be doing a follow up to what this looks like after a year very soon.

[@murk5]

@@DowieFarm looked for the follow up video and couldn't find it. Was it a no go?

[@Chippy5544]

I came here from another video where two dudes are tryna fix an old Ford pickup that's been sitting fer 20 years. Anyhoozle, they brought an old gastank from a boat, and it wouldn't work, so they finally figgered out soethin' was wrong with the "pickup' and it had rot.

[@DowieFarm]

It's seeming like the first place to look. Shoddy materials suck!

[@miahyoung7]

Plastic fuel pump line would have worked a whole lot better permanent fix

[@kirknelson3020]

Why not just replace with stainless tubing. Cheap and never need to replace

[@benkrause3321]

Your problem with the pick up tube is ethanol! Lol

[@DowieFarm]

Agreed

[@j.l.daltoin2238]

i replace mine by removing that plate that has wires to it and going thru that hole

[@DowieFarm]

Did you have to re-seal or anything? I was worried about the integrity of that area. Thanks.

[@j.l.daltoin2238]

@@DowieFarm yes slight amount of gasket seal soft set

[@hawkeyemarine]

Ethanol did that.

[@DowieFarm]

I'm not a scientist. But it's possible. The fuel submersible contact rated fuel line I replaced it with in on 3 years now and shows zero signs of deteriorating.

[@prentissparker]

Use pex tubing

[@DowieFarm]

Is that fuel resistant?

[@prentissparker]

Its polyethylene. Absolutley. Its.made from the same materials as the tank.

[@123pwop]

I fell asleep

[@outdoors3653]

Stolen valor WTF.

[@DowieFarm]

Not stolen. That would entail effort on my part.

[@Skeenburger]

Jesus christ get to the point

[@DowieFarm]

Where's your expert video on this?

[@brucehux248]

all ways an asshat?