Replacement fuel tank pick up line source

[pdecker]

My late model A4 quit four times yesterday after running about two hours, and would not restart after the fourth try. I suspect fuel starvation. Starting at the source in the fuel tank, I noticed that the pickup line was cracked in the middle and hanging by a thread. It fell off once I got it out. It might have been the problem but maybe not. Does anyone know of a source for these? It was in my 1982 Catalina 27. Thanks.

[ndutton]

https://www.wholesalemarine.com/moeller-marine-fuel-pick-up-tube-79134.html

Make a bologna cut at the proper length.

[Al Schober]

The Moeller products looks fine if you need the threaded fitting at the top. The thing in your photo looks like a piece of fuel hose with a screen shoved into the bottom. I suspect all you need is the right size/length hose - couple of bucks at the most.

[Administrator]

Hi, Phil:

If you match up the two parts of the hose, does anything appear to be missing?

Regarding that screen on the end, I vaguely recall a fairly lengthy discussion about the value of its presence a few years ago. When I added a new one as part of a fuel polishing system, the first thing my highly talented (multiple ABYC certs with many years of experience) tech did was to remove it.

I don't remember the consensus conclusion.

Bill

[ndutton]

By getting the Moeller assembly there is no concern with securely attaching a replacement pickup tube to the existing threaded elbow. The only fitments involved are pipe threads (easily resolved with threaded bushings if necessary) and tube length.

Bill, I don't remember the pickup screen conversation but they are bad form. They create a difficult to service failure point and do nothing to enhance a fuel delivery system with a filter (Racor or spin-on cartridge) installed.

[pdecker]

More data...

The part shown above attaches to the bottom end of what looks like a generic Moeller fuel pick up tube, about 8" long, which seems to be in good working order.

The black tubing that broke does not have any missing parts when I hold them together. It's a clean break, so I don't suspect any black plastic parts blocking the system.

I'd be happy just to add a length of hose to the end and forget the screen, but my local West Marine didn't seem to have that kind of thin-walled hose. I can't tell what it is. Tygon? They were going to have me add the thick-walled fuel hose to the end, but I don't think that's right.

Any idea what kind of hose this is, or what I could use? Would this Sierra universal fuel hose work?

[Administrator]

I'm confused, Phil.

The generic Moeller pickup tube is 8" long and in good condition. That length of black hose was attached to the bottom of the Moeller tube? Simply lying along the bottom of the tank?

How deep is the tank? How much fuel (in inches) was in the tank when you experienced the problem?

I don't get the two-piece pickup unless the Moeller was known to be too short when the hose was added.

Bill

[pdecker]

And more data...

The tank is about 9+ inches deep, but the tank was 3/4 full when the problems started, so this may not be the source of the soft shutdown problem. It might be that the fracture occurred where the black extension rubs the bottom of the tank. As far as I know, the black extension to the white Moeller tube is original to the 1982 Catalina 27.

I'm inspecting the rest of the fuel system for air leaks. I'm replacing a couple of suspect fuel hoses and cheap hose clamps that dug into the old fuel hose so much that hose extruded out the gaps in the hose clamps. Plus, I'm installing only heavy-duty hose clamps with no gaps, and installing a priming squeeze bulb.

[ndutton]

As far as I know, the black extension to the white Moeller tube is original to the 1982 Catalina 27.

I've dealt with hundreds of sailboat fuel tanks and I have never heard of anything like what you found in your tank, straight rigid tubes only. I'd be very interested in where the information that this was factory original came from.

If it came from SBO, that explains a lot.

[Al Schober]

DO NOT install a squeeze bulb for priming. Those are for outboards where the fuel system is out in the breeze.
With a mechanical fuel pump, there's a wire bail for priming on the side of the pump. With an electrical fuel pump, you can prime by using a crescent wrench to short across the oil pressure safety switch. If you have an electric fuel pump but no OPSS, your shopping list just got longer.

[Al Schober]

As for that Sierra hose - check the USCG rating on it. You want a hose that's USCG A1-15 with an ID to suit whatever's at the top end. Trident makes the stuff in sizes from 1/4 to 5/8 ID. You do not want a hose with a B classification, which is only for outboard use. The broken hose you show was probably selected because it fit, NOT because is was compatible long term with alcohol/gasoline fuels.
Agree with 'ditch the screen'. My chipper/shredder has a screen in the tank, but my A4 had a Racor primary filter plus a secondary filter at the line into the carb. But even these filters are not fool proof - the ones I've seen use carbon steel in the filter body or the filter shell and will eventually send their own corrosion products downstream. Don't believe me? Use a magnet.
Alcohol fuels collect moisture and moisture will corrode carbon steel. Sure adds to the fun of boating when your 'last ditch' filter is sending its own crud into your carb!
Sorry if this turned into a rant. Learning the stuff above probably cost me a season of boating, which at my age, I miss.