How to access the fuel line pickup? Trying to resolve acceleration bogging issue.

[benton55]

Boat is a 2000 Ski Nautique 196 with 5.8L Carb PCM

Checking to see if there is a trick on how to access the fuel pickup in the main fuel tank (assuming there is something there to check). I opened what I thought was going to be the pickup this weekend but it was only the fuel level gauge. The other two "ports" that I see are pretty well sealed up so being cautious about opening if they aren't the right place.

I'm having some acceleration bogging so going through some basic steps to make sure it's not a clogged / bad filter. I replaced the main fuel / water filter this weekend but made no difference. Appears to be a lean fuel issue at this point which causes a bogging / stall issue. I can ease into the acceleration or back off slightly to recover and then go... at which time it runs perfectly. I have played with the fuel accelerator pump and small adjustments to advance the timing but no notable difference to improve the issue. The Carb is brand new and was ordered direct from PCM. The acceleration bog is exactly as it was with the old carb so replacing made no difference. Fuel pump is fairly cheap so also considering as another next step idea for replacement unless others have other tips to check out?

[Jonny Quest]

Easy way to determine if fuel delivery problems are tank related. Fill a 5 gal container with gas and run a new fuel line from the gas can to the fuel pump. Secure the gas can. Take the boat for a drive on the lake and run it hard. Try to re-create the conditions where you were having the “bogging”. If the bogging goes away with the 5 gallon temp gas can set-up as the fuel source, then you’ve just narrowed down your problem.

JQ

[Tom_H]

I'd venture you either have a sticky/stuck anti-siphon valve, a blocked tank vent, or a bad fuel pump. The venting is easy to check by pulling the gas cap, and seeing if the problem disappears. The anti-siphon is at the top of the fuel tank pick-up - pull it out and see if the check-ball moves freely. Another possibility would be failing fuel lines. If they've never been done replacing the lines from the tank to the pump isn't a bad idea, as ethanol can eat the lining of the old lines and make them collapse under vacuum and/or put debris into your filter.