Low oil horn goes off on 2004 Yamaha 250 HPDI

[trapper john]

My problem is that the small oil reservoir on the port side of the engine will not fill to a level high enough to keep the warning hor from sounding and then the motor goes into the limited RPM mode. I then have to add oil manually to the engine reservoir in order to stop the horn and to proceed. It will go for about 20 miles befor I have to add mor oil to the engine mounted reservoir. There is plenty of oil in the main 2 gallon oil tank. I have noticed the cap on the engine mounted reservoir is cracked around the edges a little and was wondering if this could prevent the vacuum needed to fill it high enough to keep the sensor from sounding the alarm. My second problem is I also have not been able to get my fuel primer bulb to get hard even after I replaced it and the engine runs rough at higher RPM's. Could this be the problem. How do I get the primer bulb to prime and get hard. Any help on these two problems will be a great help. The fishing on Fort Peck has been awesome and I thought it might be something I could fix and not have to take to a repair place 300 miles away. Thanks

[jopes]

From your post I am gathering your main reservoir is not going down and the small res is?

[trapper john]

There is oil in the main tank

[jopes]

Is the main tank going down while driving over periods of time?

[trapper john]

I have only ran it for one day while adding the oil manually to the engine reservoir, so I am not sure.

[jopes]

I am guessing the main res is not being used and the reserve is.

I am also now familiar with your exact motor, but I would find a book on it and start reading if you have time or call a few marinas and see what they are saying about.

[jopes]

a quick google search gave me this. I would check out that filter and go from there.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=313631

[trapper john]

Thanks Jopes. I will check the filter and replace if it can't be cleaned. I appreciate your help.

[jopes]

there was some other items to check in that thread as well. Guess the guy that started that thread was having the same issues as you were and he said the wiring to the transfer pump was falling apart.

[trapper john]

Is the filter they are talking about the oil srainer that goes inside the tank. Thats what they call it on the schematic of the tank assembly on Yamaha parts.