primer bulb question

[harshman]

I have a 1989 Evinrude 150 hp that  recently had the  vacuum fuel pump replaced and as a result I have lost the ability to pump up the primer bulb to the same tightness as before the repair, my boat technician says that not all bulbs have to get tight before the motor can start. Other than the bulb not pumping up tight the motor runs great....any suggestions to just live with it? I also had the canister style fuel filter replaced at the time the pump was replaced and now when I pump the bulb I can hear fuel go into the filter, unlike before the replacement.

Thanks

Harshman

[Jig Man]

If it ain't broke don't fix it.  I only pump my bulb when I replace my water seperating fuel filter which is once a year.

[mferris]

i had the same issue,then i read a post here that someone said to have the arrow on the bulb pointing up when you pump it..i tried it and the bulb fills up and the motor starts better....

[Way2slow]

If the bulb does not pump up firm, one of two things are happening.  The fuel is bypassing into the motor, which could be it's pushing a needle off the seats in a carb/s, the manual primer leaver is not fully sealing off or blowing by the diaphram in the fuel pump and going into the pulse hose.  

It's not uncommon to push the needles off the seats when squizzing too hard on the primer bulb.  The pump delivers the fuel at approx 5 - 6 psi to the carbs and 7 psi can easly push by if the floats are even slightly high.  You can squiz a whole lot more than that with the bulb.  So, while the motor runs great, it's possilbe to not get a firm bulb.

It could also just be one of the check valves in the bulb.  If the one in front doesn't hold, it doesn't let the bulb completel fill up.  If the one in the back doesn't hold, it lets fuel go back into the tank.   Either of these will cause a mushey bulb.

[Long Mike]

I took my new (used) boat out for the first time yesterday.  It has a 2004, 150hp Mercury on it.  I pumped the bulb until I was blue in the face and couldn't get it to firm up.  I finally said "what the hell," backed the boat into the water, hit the key, and it fired right up and purred like a kitten.  Now, somehow, I need to learn when I have squeezed the bulb enough.  Is it going to be ten, twenty, fifty ... ?

[bass or bass ?]

My motor is a 1967 Evinrude Starflite 80hp. I have been having consistant fuel problems with my boat. The primer bulb has always SEEMED to be working properly until today, I couldn't get it to pump up firm, and the clear glass fuel filter never filled up with fuel. Also, fuel flowed out of a small port at the top of the carb. Motor would fire, then die. I'm replacing the bulb tomorrow, and doing a carb rebuild next week. I've had a constant fuel delivery problem for months. >

[cart7t]

I took my new (used) boat out for the first time yesterday. It has a 2004, 150hp Mercury on it. I pumped the bulb until I was blue in the face and couldn't get it to firm up. I finally said "what the hell," backed the boat into the water, hit the key, and it fired right up and purred like a kitten. Now, somehow, I need to learn when I have squeezed the bulb enough. Is it going to be ten, twenty, fifty ... ?

Talk about a slow, hanging curve ball.  

[Muddy]

I took my new (used) boat out for the first time yesterday. It has a 2004, 150hp Mercury on it. I pumped the bulb until I was blue in the face and couldn't get it to firm up. I finally said "what the hell," backed the boat into the water, hit the key, and it fired right up and purred like a kitten. Now, somehow, I need to learn when I have squeezed the bulb enough. Is it going to be ten, twenty, fifty ... ?

 If you keep squeezing it when it gets hard, you can go blind or get hair in the palms of you hand, according to Sister Agnes  :

[Long Mike]

Dammit Dominick!  I just spit wine all over my screen and have it running out of my nose!  

[Muddy]

Cart 7 told me you left a big one hanging, so i took a swing. Thanks for the opportunity ;D

[harshman]

i guess the age old if it works don't try and fix it will have to suffice for now. I have tried another primer bulb with the same results so it does sound like the fuel is getting past the carb somehow but not enough to screw things up yet Thanks for the tips and disturbing images I now have to live with the rest of my life.....no hairy palms  yet Sister Agnes

Harshman

[Dave D]

One thing to always remember when pumping the ball, make sure you have the arrow on the ball pointed to the sky! It helps a lot in getting the ball hard.

Dave

[Hot Rod]

Had a similar issue recently on my '04 150 Johnson after it had the fuel pump replaced.  Before having the fuel pump replaced I tried to fix it myself by replacing all the fuel lines and the bulb.  Once that didn't work I took it to dealer and he repalced the pump.

Problem was I got one of the chepo's bulbs from wally world.   When I got it back from the shop it ran fine for about a day or two then fuel delivery was a problem and the bulb wouldn't pump up completely.

Just replaced the cheapo bulb with an OEM bulb.  Took it out last night.   It ran better and the bulb worked better.

The tech at the dealer told me that another possible cause is the anti-syphon valve in the fitting at the fuel tank might be bad.  Though unlikely, he said he has seen it happen.