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Posted (edited)

Hi all, I have a Beta marine 35 engine and after about an hour and half to 2 hour run in neutral to charge batteries the engine stalls. Upon checking the fuel filter, it is low on fuel. After priming and refilling, the engine eventually starts up again and does the same again after about an hour or so run time. I can't seem to find any obvious leaks. I have changed the fuel filter and the engine ran for about 2 and half hrs before turning it off, however this morning back to square one again. There is a water seperator filter before the fuel filter and that seems ok. I am at my wits end on what it could be. Is there anybody that has had similar or same issues or anybody of mechanical mindness that could give any hints to what could be causing this issue? 

Edited by GDJones
Posted (edited)

What sort of priming pump do you have and where on the engine. The diaphragm pumps and some Beta filer heads are known for  developing air leaks, but we don't know exactly what is on our engine.

 

Exactly what has the filter caught? How well sealed is the water trap, the seals have been known to twist or leak. When did the fuel tank last have the bottom sucked clean.

 

Is the fuel tap fully open?

Edited by Tony Brooks
Posted

The lift pump is very tinny on these and can get cracked where the pipe goes onto the pump body. It is one piece of aluminium including the pipes. 

 

It might not be this one but could be if it is a Beta BV,1505

 

IMG_20250203_204647.jpg.bd39d7a0d072e02428368de22120e2e3.jpg

 

If one of them is cracked then its a new lift pump needed. 

Posted
8 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Is the  fuel tank air vent clear? A blockage would prevent fuel flowing after a period of operation.

The fuel tank air vent is clear

Posted
20 minutes ago, GDJones said:

Is there anybody that has had similar or same issues or anybody of mechanical mindness that could give any hints to what could be causing this issue?

 

Couldn't it be God, pished off with all the engine running when moored?

 

 

Posted
8 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

What sort of priming pump do you have and where on the engine. The diaphragm pumps and some Beta filer heads are known for  developing air leaks, but we don't know exactly what is on our engine.

 

Exactly what has the filter caught? How well sealed is the water trap, the seals have been known to twist or leak. When did the fuel tank last have the bottom sucked clean.

 

Is the fuel tap fully open?

The prime pump is a small green cylinder type with a side lever. The water trap is well sealed and when I undo the bleed screw on it, it oozes out fuel straight away and there is never no air. The issue seems to be between the water seperator and the fuel filter. The fuel tank has not been cleaned out since Ive had the boat which is 4 years but fuel seems to have a very good flow and I have tested it and is clean fuel coming through. 

7 minutes ago, magnetman said:

The lift pump is very tinny on these and can get cracked where the pipe goes onto the pump body. It is one piece of aluminium including the pipes. 

 

It might not be this one but could be if it is a Beta BV,1505

 

IMG_20250203_204647.jpg.bd39d7a0d072e02428368de22120e2e3.jpg

 

If one of them is cracked then its a new lift pump needed. 

It looks very much like the lift pump that I have. The lever on it is very flimsy. 

5 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Couldn't it be God, pished off with all the engine running when moored?

 

 

There is always one I suppose. Can't say anything constructive, kindly do not comment. 

Posted

I had to replace on of these on a 1995 Beta Marine BV1505 (35hp) when the top outlet pipe cracked and it started admitting air. 

 

 

Posted

If the fuel tank is filled to a level higher than the top of the engine, then the whole fuel system will be under positive pressure, and any slight leaks won't affect engine operation. Finding where fuel leaks out is easier than finding where air gets in.

  • Greenie 3
Posted

Could I remove the lift pump and replace with an electric pump wired up to the ignition? 

Posted

Or just leave it there and bypass it? 

 

A electric Facet type ticker pump would do the same job. 

 

Not sure about the Boat safety and non original equipment. 

 

Posted

This is my lift pump

Screenshot_20250203-212427.png

Would something like this be any good to bypass the lift pump?

Screenshot_20250203-212701.png

Posted

Filling the Diesel tank and looking for leaks as suggested earlier seems sensible. 

Posted (edited)

A photo with a slightly wider angle view please. Need to see both connection.

Edited by Eeyore
Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, GDJones said:

 

Would something like this be any good to bypass the lift pump?

Screenshot_20250203-212701.png

 

They do work but not sure on the Boat Safety side of it. 

They might object because it does not have screw on fittings. 

Edited by magnetman
Posted
6 minutes ago, magnetman said:

 

They do work but not sure on the Boat Safety side of it. 

They might object because it does not have screw on fittings. 

Ah ok. Even if I use temporary to see if it solves the problem then I know it's definitely the lift pump that is faulty 

Posted

Thats not a problem I was just thinking if you left it fitted instead of the original one. 

 

It could be a way to bypass but you might have to fiddle with the pipework to make it fit. 

 

Filling the tank is the way to expose leaks. 

 

 

Posted

It's interesting that some people seem to ignore sensible suggestions to find the cause of their problem and disappear off down their own rabbit hole.

 

  • Greenie 2
Posted
12 hours ago, magnetman said:

Thats not a problem I was just thinking if you left it fitted instead of the original one. 

 

It could be a way to bypass but you might have to fiddle with the pipework to make it fit. 

 

Filling the tank is the way to expose leaks. 

 

 

Or hold a can as a day tank above the engine may avoid buying many gallons of diesel. Blue tissue to find leaks!

  • Greenie 2
Posted

Or it might be possible to somehow pressurise the tank by sealing the fuel filler lid then adapting the vent to some hoses which could go onto a bicycle pump. 

 

 

Those vents usually just screw into a standard thread. Maybe one could unscrew the vent and get a hosetail the same size then go from there. 

 

 

Posted
2 hours ago, GUMPY said:

It's interesting that some people seem to ignore sensible suggestions to find the cause of their problem and disappear off down their own rabbit hole.

 

I think you missed an "r" in your user name.

If you can't respond with genuine constructive advice, please refrain from commenting. 

  • Haha 1
  • Unimpressed 3
Posted
59 minutes ago, Peugeot 106 said:

Or hold a can as a day tank above the engine may avoid buying many gallons of diesel. Blue tissue to find leaks!

This would work, but if the OP fills up now the diesel's not exactly going to be wasted. At this time of year I'd be keeping it topped up as a matter of course, just to minimise condensation.

 

If the OP fills the tank and the engine runs for longer, or it doesn't cut out at all, we can be reasonably confident there's a leak upstream of the pump (which will now be easier to locate) or an issue with the pump itself; if the engine cuts out more quickly, we can be reasonably confident there's an issue with the breather.

Posted
30 minutes ago, GDJones said:

I think you missed an "r" in your user name.

If you can't respond with genuine constructive advice, please refrain from commenting. 

Not at all the R has never been there.

It just struck me as odd how when several people mentioned filling the tank to check for leaks in the system you completely ignored it, preferring instead the rabbit hole of the electric fuel pump.

 

BTW don't tell me what to do.

  • Unimpressed 1
Posted

Diagnosing what is the real problem is better than just assuming and changing parts.

 

A temporary day tank suspended above the engine and feeding fuel directly into the injection pump will prove once and for all if the lift pump is faulty or you have air leaks into the pipework or if the problem starts at the fuel tank.

 

If you do fit an electric pump the fuel connections will have to be made properly to pass BSS checks. The Beta pump is known to be puny.

  • Greenie 1
Posted
5 minutes ago, GUMPY said:

Not at all the R has never been there.

It just struck me as odd how when several people mentioned filling the tank to check for leaks in the system you completely ignored it, preferring instead the rabbit hole of the electric fuel pump.

 

BTW don't tell me what to do.

Should of just said that in the first place instead of being critic or sarcastic. And I have taken the tank on board and if you bothered to read properly I did state that I had already checked and there is no signs of any leakage hence why I was swaying towards the pump. 

  • Unimpressed 1

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