HELp Fuel Issue

[smurfz]

I just bought (New to me) a 2003 conquest. It has a Kawasaki 20HP in it. When I test drove it it would not run unless the choke was held on and even then it surges from full revs to stall then back up again.

I had the dealer rebuild the carb and it ran great when I picked it up. I put about 20 mins on it and now the problem has resurfaced. I do not want to go back to the dealer as I have no faith in their work as when i took off the Air Cleaner Cover the condition of the air cleaner was so terrible I suspect their attention to detail is non existent.

I suspected that as I had to run on full choke that there was a fuel delivery issues. I yanked the hose from the tank and ran a new one to fresh gas in a jerry can. The Fuel pump did not seem to demand much fuel in fact it barely sucked up the new fuel. It was making loud clicking noises when it ran dry though.

I figured I would swap out pumps but the replacement cost is almost $ 300.00 for tiny pump. Is there an after market suggestion? What sort of fuel line pressure should I be looking for? Could Old gas be the culprit for this condition?

Any help appreciated.

[McCoy]

I installed an electric fuel pump on my bigfoot. I bought it @ NAPA, part #
BK 610-1052. I can't remember the price, but it was significantly less than $300.

McCoy

[smurfz]

NAPA has a 2 to 4 lb Generic for 114.00 I think I will try that first.

[Roger S]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to replace the pump.. after all it did run fine for a while after whatever the dealer did to it. Those kawasaki pumps are only one psi or so, I wouldn't expect it to do more than dribble at a low volume. I havn't worked on one myself, however.

It could be the pump, but I'd be looking at "dirt" in the system. When my Response was new, I had to disassemble the fuel pump and clean it and the carb every time it sat for a month. Problem turned out to be a pine sap like goo in the tank, that wasn't visible to the eye farther up the system. I'd have the carb looked at and put a filter right before the carb.. not a small engine filter but an automotive one. The small ones seem to pass dirt. Sometimes you have to look a little, if you have the smaller 1/4" hose fittings.

Now it may be the pump after all. I use an automotive one about $45. Don't know how the higher psi will affect the conquest. It will at least raise the fuel level slightly.

It always pays to start at the tank, and look forward. One droplet of water in the bowl will bring things to a halt.

[smurfz]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to replace the pump.. after all it did run fine for a while after whatever the dealer did to it. Those kawasaki pumps are only one psi or so, I wouldn't expect it to do more than dribble at a low volume. I havn't worked on one myself, however.

It could be the pump, but I'd be looking at "dirt" in the system. When my Response was new, I had to disassemble the fuel pump and clean it and the carb every time it sat for a month. Problem turned out to be a pine sap like goo in the tank, that wasn't visible to the eye farther up the system. I'd have the carb looked at and put a filter right before the carb.. not a small engine filter but an automotive one. The small ones seem to pass dirt. Sometimes you have to look a little, if you have the smaller 1/4" hose fittings.

Now it may be the pump after all. I use an automotive one about $45. Don't know how the higher psi will affect the conquest. It will at least raise the fuel level slightly.

It always pays to start at the tank, and look forward. One droplet of water in the bowl will bring things to a halt.

Argo dealer tells me 4 PSI for the stock pump. I just didn't see it is drawing any fuel even when I could hear the pump running. It never seeemd to shut off and never drew a prime. I plan to clean the carb and swap the pump and filter and then use new fuel source to ensure fresh fuel.

Then I will drain the tank and hopefully solve the issue

[chiefmoose]

I just had the same problem. Take the carb off. clean the jets with torch tip cleaners. Spray every passageway and orifice with carb and choke cleaner, or brake cleaner.

[smurfz]

can a fuel pump work intemittently? I may hold off on the fuel pump then and try the carb clean and fresh filters and new GAS to see if that works. The Unit is at my cottage so it's a haul if there is a fuel pump issue to get a new one... Does anyone know the tools required to remove the carb as it is now out on the trail miles form my shop. I can yank the carb then bring it back to rebuild.

[dale7637]

I would sure like to hear what your solution is, as i have the same machine with the same problem. I have tried the fuel pump, didnt make any difference. Let me know what you find.

[Rock Doctor]

The fuel pump only needs to dribble fuel to the carb.
If you suspect your fuel pump of failure, just take a second and try too gravity feed fuel to your carb. I was just running a friends argo around last week, his fuel pump did fail, so we rigged a fuel line to a pop bottle full of gas. Hooked the fuel line to the carb, made a vent hole in the pop bottle, and taped it up so it was a little higher than the carb. It ran fine, other than having to stop and fill it up every 10 minutes

From your description, I too would suspect a fuel blockage.
I also clean all my jets the same way as chiefmoose. Also chech your Float to see that it's not sticking.


RD

[smurfz]

The fuel pump only needs to dribble fuel to the carb.
If you suspect your fuel pump of failure, just take a second and try too gravity feed fuel to your carb. I was just running a friends argo around last week, his fuel pump did fail, so we rigged a fuel line to a pop bottle full of gas. Hooked the fuel line to the carb, made a vent hole in the pop bottle, and taped it up so it was a little higher than the carb. It ran fine, other than having to stop and fill it up every 10 minutes

From your description, I too would suspect a fuel blockage.
I also clean all my jets the same way as chiefmoose. Also chech your Float to see that it's not sticking.


RD

All good suggestions. Dec 26th I wil let you know my findings.

[argo8mag]

take a spray bottle with some fresh gas and spray into the carb as you run your machine. if it continues to run as you spray, then dies out when you stop then you are starving for fuel. before removing anything try a can of carburator cleaner.rev the engine to about half throttle and spray into carb untill the motor starts to bog down.stop and let it run for a few minutes untill it revs up again.repeat several times.I did that a couple of weekends past to my 93 magnum,maybe 8 or 10 times.my argo would not run at all once the choke was pushed in.kept spraying till it ran well wiith the choke pushed in . you will notice the changes as you go. I too had my carb rebuilt last year as it was a convenience to me.only had 4.2 hrs running time on it since then.stored it for the summer with some stabilizer added to the fuel and this is what I ended up with. I reset my carbs when I was finished cleaning and now its running like a champ.hoping to put my new tires and rims on this weekend and I'll be ready for ice fishing.( if I would have had it running a few hours earlier I would have brought it down to Tillsonburg for the day.hoping for the next time. Merry Christmas to all..)

[smurfz]

Good suggestions Argo*, I do however think I have a plugged jet fro spme stale fuel from previous owner.. So I think the bowl will have to come off.

Any onw klnow the tools required so I don't have th lug the box in to the bush where the Argo is?

[Bushpig]

Take your fuel pump apart before replacing it, rebuild kits are always cheaper, I'll bet you'll find some crud in there blocking a port either open or shut, I have an 84 in the Yard that was given to me because of the same issue, HAHAHAHA, went through the fuel system from the Tank (I flushed it) new fuel line, filter and rebuilt the fuel pump (This is an older techumseh though). I now have a factory condition 84 ARGO...Merry Christmas and good luck with your buggy, Its a minor issue...

[spits]

I am not familiar with the Kaw engine but i would be taking metric wrench's from about 8 mm to at least 15 mm, vice grips and screw drivers. A set of hex wrench's may not be out of order. Anyone who has worked on that engine will know what tools to take.

[smurfz]

SOLUTON found

Well as suggested I started up the machine and removed the gas cap. It ran perfectly for 45 minutes. I even raced around and tried inclines up and down. Finnaly the machine performs as it is supposed to.

I clearly have plugged vent tube. For now I can simply run with the gas cap in the "vented" postion

Thank you for all your help guys