good news bad news

So I finally got my 84 Rider in the water with much huffing and puffing, the railway didn't work out as I planned, but that's another story. Took it out for a quick 10-15 minute blast just to feel it out and set the new dripless packing. All went well, steers very smooth, speedos say it will do over 40 (not too sure about that one, probably need calibration) and I started to get a bit of the feel for reversing in a straight line.

That was yesterday, today I take it out again, and 15 minutes in it just dies. The way it died it was like I ran out of gas, hesitation, no power, almost stalls, pull the throttle back, let it idle put it in gear and then that's it. I briefly tried to start it again, but the way it died I knew it would be pointles.

The killer is I had no time to even put gas in the boat (once I had paddled it back) let alone start checking fuel lines etc, so I don't know what the issue is yet.

I had emptied the tank completely when I pulled it out to put backing plates in for the ski platform, so no water in there, I then put 5 gallons of fresh high test in and it started and purred like a kitten. So the needle is on E, but I know I just put 5 gallons in. Is it possible that there is a lot of unusable fuel in this boat and the gauge is calibrated to reflect that? I won't be able to do anything to it until next weekend, so I'd like to go prepared.

It could also be the old "spider in the vent" but I didnt' think of that one until the boat was put away. Plus I probably ran it longer on the first day so if that was it, it should have happened yesterday.

These things are easy to work on and troubleshoot so I'm sure I'll figure it out pretty quick, but any insight would be helpful.

Still it was nice to get her out and ripping along, it just jumps out and goes.

Do the basic stuff. Check for spark, points, dc the fuel line from the carb and verify its pumping. Does the accel. Pump shoot fuel into the throat? Fuses, coils conections. Will it fire on ether? What do the plugs, rotor and cap look like? That kind of stuff. That woukd drive me nuts hav

I would first try throwing some gas in it. 5 gallons isn't a whole heck of a lot when it comes to these engines. I'll run through about 6 gallons of gas an hour average.

Thanks guys, I plan on going straight for the gas first, and then all of the above if that fails. 6 gal per hour???!!! wow! I knew they were thirsty, but I was thinking more like 3. Assuming I ran it for 1/2 hour total, which may be the case that means there's only 2 gal in the tank, perhaps I really did just run out of gas (best solution by far). That certainly is what it felt like. It's hard when you're the only guy in the boat to be sure, but when I did advance the throttle i did see a bit of vapour come out of the carb, so it seemed like I was putting some gas in, but hard to say. I'm hoping I can get down to the boat this weekend 'cause I hate leaving it like that.

Looks like I need to buy another gas can! I only have 2 now. Nearest high test is a 20 minute drive away.

being on plane may have moved the little gas in the tank away from the pickup.

That's what I'm beginning to think too Salty, it died as I was finishing a fairly aggressive turn to port, which would have move what little fuel there was over to starboard. I'm beginning to think that had I just cranked it for 15 or 20 seconds it would have fired up again. Oh well, I guess it's all part of the learning curve.

Get yourself a gas caddy. I recently got one and haven't had to use it yet but it's a 12 gallon capacity, rolls on big wheels and has a nozzle and hose to fill the boat from without any lifting required except into and out of the truck.

5 gallons on a empty tank is more like 2 when you consider the shape of the fuel cell. I always leave shore full so there is always more than enough for a good day out and then some. Nothing worse than running out of fuel on the lake or having to figure out whats wrong this time for no reason.

We have a saying at work, the only time you have too much gas or fuel is when you're on fire.

I finally got back to the boat this weekend and tried to start it without adding fuel just to see what was up, it would fire on ether but not run, so I filled her up and she ran all weekend without a problem at all. I still can't believe that I burned 5 gallons in 1/2 hour, but that solve the issue , so there must be a couple of gallons of unusable fuel in it. Easy fix anyways.