Re: 1955 Brooklure Fuel Pump
Hmm - the carb on this motor is a conventional carb - looks almost the same as the carb off a '55 Johnson 5.5hp, except it doesn't have the glass filter bowl on the bottom. It doesn't have the prime feature. The fuel pump does look like an add-on with a make-shift bracket. However, it is painted the same color as the rest of the motor. It sits on the starboard side of the engine and connects to a vacuum hook-up on the block. The pump/glass bowl with filter are all one unit. Maybe I'll see if I can get a large diaphragm and cut it to fit. To connect it, I guess I would have to disconnect the line from the built in tank, or add a tee and a couple of shut-off valves. Seems like this motor should have some sort of priming feature if you're going to use the built-in tank, as the fuel line enters toward the bottom of the carb. It takes a lot of pulls to get her started with a dry carb.
OK, for one thing you don't have a '55 if you have a conventional carburetor. Somebody has cobbled a non-Gale pump onto your motor. OR maybe if it truly is a 1955 they have cobbled a convetional carburetor on it too???? But that would be a very difficult task---I know because I tried it, and never got it to work. The pump you describe seems to be for a Scott-Atwater. Or possibly a large OMC pump from a 35-up horsepower. If it is the large OMC pump, repair kits are available right here at i-boats.
The proper fuel pump for a 1956-up mounts directly to the lower starboard side of the cylinder block. There are 3 holes cast into the block for that purpose.
As I said, the pump kit was intended to be used INSTEAD of the built-in tank. If you want to use both, well thats more cobbleing.
With the proper fuel pump accessory installed you primed/filled the carburetor by squeezing the bulb in the tank hose. As you already figured out, somehow running the built-in tank hose through the pump will only cause problems, beginning with no way to prime it.
