Reporting back, with SOME progress...
Yesterday was a wash out literally around here in Central Mass. Rained cats & dogs most of day.
Today, Sunday, I was able to get to remove old electric fuel pump, and replace with new one. Actually came out rather easily !
Installed new pump, and boat started almost immediately. Actually, quicker than it ever has before? Maybe just a coincidence? Sure ! Engine ran smoothly, shut engine down after running 10 min on motor-muffs, without any incident.
Did not have time today to test run on the water. Hopefully, tomorrow or Tue, I'll have that opportunity.
I did notice, that the old pump, was not original OEM, or have Mercruiser part number stamped anywhere ? Pump must have been replaced in the past sometime, just guessing..... Pump looked like some generic, not OEM or Sierrra?
Also, I also noticed one end of electric pump had a small screen inside, but appeared to be covered with what looked like 'black gunk' like material like molassess! Ethanol residue maybe? Cannot open the pump to look inside because it is a sealed unit.
I also tried to perform a test to see if I could blow air through one end of pump, and come out other end. I could pass some air through, but seemed very restricted, maybe blocked. I tried same procedure on new pump before installing and was able to force more volume of air through the pump cylinder. Maybe it was just me, but the air flow through new pump seemed to allow more volume through?
Just FMI,when the electric furl pump is working, is it suppose to emit and sound or noise. My pump appears to work completely siltent. I am assuming this is normal ? FORUM Thoughts?
Hopefully, the electric pump was the problem, the water test will be the ultimate test to prove this theory.
More to come!