Fuel/Air Separator

[rjw1234]

Hi All,
I am a proud new owner of a used 1997 Yamaha 220 Twin Jet. I have been reading your forums and am impressed.
As I said, I recently bought a Yamaha Exciter 220 and while it ran OK, I have been trying to sort out some issues. First, the background: low hours on engines, 115 - 120psi on all cyclinders, clean, sitting for two years, winterized, all original except single battery instead of dual, oil system works on all cyclinders. Regassed, fired up and ran through a tank of gas. Boat runs great at top end. Inside engine stalls in high speed turns. Both engines bog if under full accelleration from full stop (skier pull out), especially starboard engine. Rebuilt carbs on starboard eng. Engine purrs, dramatically reduced number of stalls in high speed right turns (port eng still stalls in high speed left turns, will rebuild port carbs tonight).
Can anyone comment on the need for a fuel/air separtor? The stock fuel filters (clear plastic) are largly full of air. Tried to bleed but design of filter prevents removal of air. Researched and found a large amount of information regarding hesitation under full accel especially when turning, rough water, or less than 1/2 tank of gas. A fuel/air separtor maybe even with an electric fuel pump makes sense to me. Anyone with some experience?

Thanks in advance!

[K6jet]

Re: Fuel/Air Separator

A Fuel/Air seperator is almost a must for the year and model jet boat if you plan to use it in any fashion with a half tank or lower. The gas tanks are so narrow that especially in hard left turns, you can quite easily seize your engine by going full throttle with a 1/4 tank and making a 4 second hard left turn, I've seen it happen to a distant friend, cost him somewhere around 4 grand to repair all the damage.

On a full tank, the boat should run fine, no bogging or anything, if the bogging kicks in after you start emptying the tank, you need a fuel/air seperator, if it does it with a fuel tank, your problem is elsewhere.

Read this, it's more an answer then I can give.

http://www.groupk.com/sep.htm

[rjw1234]

Re: Fuel/Air Separator

That was exactly the site I found. I think I will install one. I will have to figure out whether I want to bypass the stock fuel pump.

As a follow up to the hesitation. I rebuilt the port carbs and checked the mixture settings. The trolling settings were extremly rich. Reset to factory specs and now I can't stall the engine no matter how hard I try:D .

Thanks for the response.

[ISLANDRACING]

Re: Fuel/Air Separator

Check this out
http://www.islandracing.net/pages/793112/index.htm

We can set up kits using USCG approved fuel hose too this way you wouldnt FAIL an inspection due to inadequate fuel line.

[SHOOTER]

Re: Fuel/Air Separator

I've never dealt with Island Racing, but have heard very good things about their products.
My seadoo though has a groupk fuel system. I have the separator and fuel pump. It was an easy install and works great. Not sure what Island racing charges, but I paid $100 or so for my fuel separator and fuel pump. I've seen some go as high as $300, just depends on what you want and who you trust.
SHOOTER