OT Golf Cart Fuel Pump Question

So, a few years ago I replaced the fuel pump on my Yamaha G 14 Gas Golf Cart. Its one of those surge/vacuum diaphram type like on small gas engines where the crankcase changing pressure causes a rubber diaphram to flap in n out to pump gas from the tank to the carb.

Anywho when the cart sits a long time (like the past 6 weeks when I was out West ) it sorta looses prime and refuses to pump gas to the carb until you pull the suck tube outa the tank and fill it with gas till it runs into the in line filter n then out the fuel pump port where the carbs gas line attaches .......then when you crank the engine she spurts out gas just fine.

QUESTIONS:

Do I need a new fuel pump??? (I could disassemble n clean n check the pumps diaphram etc I reckon) ALLLLLLLL the rubber lines (inlet from tank to pump via in line filter),,,,,,,,,Line to crankcase,,,,,,,,,,Line out of pump to carb seem fine n tight with no air leaks Im aware of at least. If it had an air leak seems this would happen a lot NOT just after long set times, that seems to be the ONLY time the pump fails until its re primed!!!!!!

Think the fact the compression is low from no oil on the rings when she sets a long time n maybe theres insufficient crankcase pressure fluctuation in which case a new fuel pump may not help??? Seems no matter how long she cranks she still dont pump so I sorta doubt that....

Im gonna check Flea Bay n Yamaha n Carts Unlimited etc etc for new pump prices I wont tolerate it like it is grrrrrrrrr

Ol John T back home n back to the old grind lol The first wife is retired nurse but when were home she works PRN part time when she wants n she goes back to work, hey she buys the groceries lol

SImple answer (maybe) simple solution for sure.
Fuel vaporizes when hot and the vapor will hang in the pump, and not draw suction. Vapor lock (even when just sitting and not running.
Solution! Put a squeeze bulb pump in it from a 2 stroke outboard motor just ahead of the diaphram pump. Three squeeses and it is your friend. Jim

fought that problem for a year.put a new pump on it,did"nt help for long.ended up putting an electric on it.problem solved/

those don't pump very much at all, i'dd make shure the vacume/surge line is in really good shape, they actuall pump more at idle than at full throttle,

when mine sits like that i find pulling the choke helps it draw since it puts more vacume in the float bowl making it draw through the line more

I just put a new pump on a yamaha cart for my friend. The crank case was full of gas. I also put a needle and seat in the carb but the pump was leaking fuel into the crank case through the hose from the crankcase to pump.

Yep one of those marine squeeze bulbs would be cheap n easy. Still dont see how it would ONLY "vapor lock" when it sets for several weeks but NOT otherwise and Ive had it in allllllll sorts of weather, hot, dry, wet, cold, humid, non humid etc etc and it NEVER does that, its ONLY when its sat a longggggggggg time and it wast hot when I tried to start it this time. Even with choke on or off and even when all lines were removed and fresh air blown thru everything it stilllllll refused to pump until it was primed by pouring gas into the suck tube and lettin it fill n run out the outlet..........

Oh well it wont be setting many long periods like that for a while, its working now so I may let well enough alone......

I may install a smaller in line fuel filter cuz it has one of those bigger ones, maybe that has too much internal air volume ??????

John T

I dont know if this helps any,but i just repaired a 20 hp kohler that was doing about the same,it would fire up on starting fluid and run with the choke all the way out like it was running lean.i pulled the line off the pump and it was barely pumping,after it ran for a few seconds it started pumping fine.pulled the little solenoid out of bottom of carb, let the fuel in bowl drain,and put it back in.and it fires up and runs perfect.all i could figure was water in gas,but it acted just like the fuel pump until i ran some gas through it.

Hey John - One of my kids had the same problem with his old Yamaha cart. He solved it same as Jim suggests (O/B motor squeeze bulb). It's now habit to squeeze the bulb a couple times before cranking it up. But it now starts easily even after sitting several weeks.

Note the stock pulse-type fuel pump pumps only a modest amount even when working perfectly. They thus experience great difficulty repriming when they go dry. ALSO the slightest leak (so slight as to not leak gas out but to let air in) anywhere in the fuel system will cause it to lose prime. Then add the crappy "ethanol enhanced" gas we're now forced to use which raises h*ll with the elastomers in older fuel systems - it's amazing they run at all(!)

...Bob M

I think the next trip to Wally World I'll just pick up a squeeze bulb. I really dont think I need a new pump and its ONLY if she sets a long time anyway so the bulb will be good insurance.

John T

PS Im thinkin more of preparing and offering electrical seminars (charging and coil ignition) at some of the larger IHC shows, Ive pretty well done most of the big Deere shows, wanna try to give one with me???????? I would be travelin in the RV

We've all heard and read the horror stories about ethanol. Fortunately none of those stories are mine. But I believe the ethanol encourages evaporation even more so than gas. Maybe even right out THROUGH the fuel line, especially given time?!
So, yes for that situation to avoid disassembly and priming, I think you need a primer pump near the fuel source, be it manual or electric.

You better get moving, Red Power Round Up is next week!

(quoted from post at 18:21:40 07/14/12) We've all heard and read the horror stories about ethanol. Fortunately none of those stories are mine. But I believe the ethanol encourages evaporation even more so than gas.[size=18:aab84b0c93] Maybe even right out THROUGH the fuel line, especially given time?![/size:aab84b0c93] So, yes for that situation to avoid disassembly and priming, I think you need a primer pump near the fuel source, be it manual or electric.

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yes it will, i had a gates rep. tell me that a 3 foot piece of the old fuel lines will loose three gallons of ethanol fuel in one year

if you have any doubts about your fuel lines gates's new fuel lines are called "Barracade" the spools they come on are green and the hose has green writing on it

friend has 35 golf carts he rents out at golf touraments,most are yamahas.these carts sit for weeks on end.never had a starting problem,except for one that the choke cable broke.. get rid of the spring hose clamps and renew all hoses...napa sells replacement pumps

It has new fuel lines and real stainless worm style hose clamps NOT the springy type, those are for rookies, yuppies and nnalert NONE of which am I lol......

John T

just for giggles make shure the bolt holding the float bowl on isn't dripping fuel.
my favorite golf car site is

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/