Ask The Editors: Bombardier Not Getting Fuel

A common problem with the Traxter.

The fact that you isolated the problem down to intermittent fuel reaching the plug is a very good start. It rules out having to diagnose trouble with the air and spark sides of the equation.

Were we to take a guess off hand, we’d begin our investigation by insuring that the fuel pump is working. Typically when a problem like this occurs only some of the time, the component in question isn’t completely broken but acting up – which rules out things like a severed fuel line, which would work correctly none of the time.

You can check the fuel pump’s functionality fairly simply – the pump relies upon a vacuum line connected to the manifold. Pull the lines – one from the manifold and the other to the carb but don’t disconnect the fuel pump. Place the inlet line into your gas can and the outlet into an empty container. Crank the engine. If fuel is being sucked in from the can and deposited into the container, the fuel pump is working as it should.

If this checks out, there are some other common areas to study that could be responsible: Examine that vacuum line running from the pump to the manifold for cracks. Air getting in here can certainly describe the situation you are encountering. the connection grommets (little rubber diaphragms) are known to crumble apart thanks to the presence of ethanol in our fuel (alcohol is very hard on rubber).

The lines themselves (the lower) contains small strainers that often clog with residue. There is a small screen in the tank itself as well for this purpose.

Another area that seems unlikely but can cause your situation is a malfunctioning or blocked fuel tank vent line. If it can’t freely flow air up at the cap, proper vacuum necessary for the fuel pump to work cannot be achieved.

Only after you’ve ruled out all of these areas would we consider rebuilding the carburetor’s internals.

By the way, the following video may be of assistance if you do indeed need to replace the tank grommets, which is a fairly common trouble-spot for the Traxter:

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