140HP losing it's prime

[82Johnson]

This weekend I was using my boat and it started fine and ran fine. After sitting shut off for a period of time I restarted and it died. I checked my fuel primer bulb and it was soft. I pumped it to get hard again and it ran for about 5 minutes before dieing again. This happened several times. I was planning on replacing the primer bulb but it appears to be in good condition. Am I headed in the right direction? I have used the boat several times this year with no problems. The only change I made was tightening a loose fuel line under the splashwell. It is a 1982 140 HP.

 

[Brew2]

Re: 140HP losing it's prime

Welcome to Iboats!<br /><br />Sounds to me like you've got an airleak somewhere in the fuel system. I'd go back and check every single connection. Might also be a bad valve in your primer bulb.<br /><br />What kind of condition are the fuel lines in? If at all hard, likely time for new ones.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[ddbyrd3]

Re: 140HP losing it's prime

I have a 1981 140 Johnson, I didnt have as bad as a fuel leak as you describe, but I rebuilt my carbs and fuel pump and found the fuel line from the pump to the plactic "T" type manidold was rotted BAD!!! <br /><br />This hose has a factory 90* bend in it. Just by looking at the hose you cant see the cracks, but if you bend the hose backwards slightly you can see if in fact it is cracked, etc.<br /><br />My primer ball would never really pump up hard, but would loose any firmness it had. <br /><br />As Brew2 stated, I would replace any and all fuel line.

 

[82Johnson]

Re: 140HP losing it's prime

Brew2 and ddbyrd3,<br />I did a little snooping over the lunch hour and found a leak. My boat has a built in tank and when I squeeze the primer bulb a stream of fuel squirts out of the hose. That would explain the fuel smell I came across when I got into the boat today. I will be replacing the fuel lines. <br /><br />Should there be fuel squirting out between the tank and primer bulb? I thought there was a check valve in the primer to hold PSI to the motor?

 

[ddbyrd3]

Re: 140HP losing it's prime

NO, fuel should not be squirting out anywhere...<br /><br />There is a check value in the primer ball that should maintain pressure.

 

[82Johnson]

Re: 140HP losing it's prime

Then I think my primer bulb is bad also. The reason for the fuel squirting out is the bad hose. I am just using that as an example since it has a leak in it. I would think the check valve would not allow that to happen if it was working properly.