1984 Evinrude XP 150 Primer Bulb

astrokc8

Cadet
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
24
When I pump the primer bulb on this motor it never gets hard, it's pumping fuel ok. It does have the electric primer on this motor. Should it get hard or does this indicate some other issue. Primer bulb was replaced thinking it was the bulb and the new one does the same thing.
 

ONERCBOATER

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
536
Re: 1984 Evinrude XP 150 Primer Bulb

well glad I am not the only one....
I bought a new ATWOOD primer from walmart and returned it the next afternoon... it would not get as hard as I thought it was sposed to.... then I checked the others they had in stock, by blowing into the out nipple.... results for the whole lot of them was a slow leak back.... I think that may be what you are experiancing as i was thinking a had a misadjusted float, or the float valve was leaking..... neither was the case..... of course i had to remove and test the carb to be sure before i took a brand new primer back.

this brings up the question.... was this a fluke at walmart are they all this shoddy, just atwood or all of them now? I remember primers getting almost rock hard when pumped a few yrs ago.

Sean
 

emdsapmgr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 9, 2005
Messages
11,551
Re: 1984 Evinrude XP 150 Primer Bulb

The primer bulb should get firm when you first pump it up prior to cold starting. Once the engine runs, it will suck the fuel through the line and the bulb will soften up-but the primer bulb should never collapse. Sometime the ball valves will fail in the primer bulb, requiring it's replacement. Usually a new bulb will resolve the problem. You say the new bulb still does not get firm? The other thing is if the needle valves on the floats are bad and not sealing when the bowls are full. Perhaps you have a fuel leak in the carbs or in the fuel system? I have also heard that it is recommended that the primer bulb is oriented so that the arrow on the bulb is pointing upward. Make sure the red lever on the cold start primer solenoid is in the correct position.
 

Jungleboat

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
78
Re: 1984 Evinrude XP 150 Primer Bulb

Yes, you DO have to hold them upright.

I replaced a bulb that was starting to split, with a lovely new and larger one.

Couldn't get it to work at all, yet if disconnected it squirted high and far...

That's when I suddenly realised it worked when I pointed it up (to avoid fuel in the boat) but I wasn't doing that when connected. Reconnected and tried aiming up, worked like a charm, getting firm with about 3 squeezes.

Strangely the older, smaller one didn't seem to need that but if it's a replacement then yes, try that.



JB <-- pleased to answer a question instead of always asking!
 
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