fuel supply line and primer bulb

[monk-monk]

while on the lake today, my motor started to stumble (inline 6 1150)... this has happened several times over the last 2 years...and i know exactly what it is...told my brother to go pump the primer bulb, and sure enough, the engine smooths out and runs like a top...THIS IS THE 3RD SUPPLY LINE IN 2 SEASONS...i have tried attwood, i have used moeller....what is up with these primer bulbs...why am i constantly having trouble with these things...what is the solution...they should sell them as Buy One Get One Free...2nd quickest way to ruin these motors is running it lean...any suggestions...?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

You sure you do not have an air leak in one of the connections? The primers are better than you describe.

 

[Sunfish12]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

Squeeze the bulb tight and check for leaks infront of the bulb. Before the bulb would be a suction leak where air is being pulled in. You need to check the pickup tube and hose leading to the bulb. Last thing is to rebuild the fuel pump, it might have a pin hole in it.

 

[199675hpforce]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

Replace fuel pump or at least try tighten screws little then run again. Order a fuel diaphram kit your not waisting your money!

 

[j_martin]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

Buy real parts.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

Thanks for all the replies...one, in particular, i really liked, but i'll get to that in my closing...first, i do believe i need to take a good look at my bayonets and the rest of the fuel system on the supply side, BUT one thing im sure of...it's not my fuel pumps...i have rebuilt my fuel pumps and they are "spot on"...Here's another clue: as my brother was squeezing the bulb, i would only give enough throttle to keep up with the flow of fuel...the best thing was to get the boat on plane so i could back out of the throttle just enough to keep it on plane...keeping it in it's "sweet spot"...but evenually it would start running out of fuel because as my brother was squeezing the bulb, the bulb would not return fast enough for him to get another squeeze in...the bulb just collapsed and would not plump back up...I'll check my supply side and see if i find anything....NOW the reply i really liked is from Mr j_martin..."BUY REAL PARTS"...I told my brother the same thing: The only way to solve this is to buy a Mercury bulb...I'll take a Mercury NOS NLA 20 year old bulb before i'll spend another dime on current junk..BTW, i've went through so many of these, i can now tell just by the feel in my hand...and thats rediculous! BUY REAL PARTS...I like that...

 

[ac0j]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

Thanks for all the replies...one, in particular, i really liked, but i'll get to that in my closing...first, i do believe i need to take a good look at my bayonets and the rest of the fuel system on the supply side, BUT one thing im sure of...it's not my fuel pumps...i have rebuilt my fuel pumps and they are "spot on"...Here's another clue: as my brother was squeezing the bulb, i would only give enough throttle to keep up with the flow of fuel...the best thing was to get the boat on plane so i could back out of the throttle just enough to keep it on plane...keeping it in it's "sweet spot"...but evenually it would start running out of fuel because as my brother was squeezing the bulb, the bulb would not return fast enough for him to get another squeeze in...the bulb just collapsed and would not plump back up...I'll check my supply side and see if i find anything....NOW the reply i really liked is from Mr j_martin..."BUY REAL PARTS"...I told my brother the same thing: The only way to solve this is to buy a Mercury bulb...I'll take a Mercury NOS NLA 20 year old bulb before i'll spend another dime on current junk..BTW, i've went through so many of these, i can now tell just by the feel in my hand...and thats rediculous! BUY REAL PARTS...I like that...

Maybe your fuel tank vent is plugged?

 

[monk-monk]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

NO, i removed the cap from the tank to make sure of that...not being defensive, but im no dummy, i know how to troubleshoot...I have taken j_martins advice, i just purchased 1 Mercury bulb and 2 Quicksilver bulbs....i hope the Quicksilver bulbs have a date on them from somewhere in the late 70's...REMEMBER WHEN STUFF HAD A LABEL ON IT THAT SAID "MADE IN AMERICA"....you knew you could count on it to last...i think i have solved my problem...I BOUGHT REAL PARTS....LOL...!!!

 

[Gomer50]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

100% DITTO on BUY REAL PARTS..

 

[monk-monk]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

OH, i'll tell ya right now...im gonna follow up on this...when i get them new bulbs, i will know right away...when i squeeze these junk bulbs i have been buying, you can just feel it...it's a piece of junk...i had one that was 2 months old...same problem with the boat...i could shake the bulb and here the diaphragm rattling inside of it...threads here on iboats...people say can't get thier inline 6 started...they get advice to squeeze the bulb and try to flood it...can't get enough gas...thats when others say don't do that, you might bust the fuel pump diaphragm.....YEAH RIGHT, the bulbs i have been buying are so weak...everytime i have to fill this block with gas...it's like im squeezing a rotting tomato...

 

[j_martin]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

OH, i'll tell ya right now...im gonna follow up on this...when i get them new bulbs, i will know right away...when i squeeze these junk bulbs i have been buying, you can just feel it...it's a piece of junk...i had one that was 2 months old...same problem with the boat...i could shake the bulb and here the diaphragm rattling inside of it...threads here on iboats...people say can't get thier inline 6 started...they get advice to squeeze the bulb and try to flood it...can't get enough gas...thats when others say don't do that, you might bust the fuel pump diaphragm.....YEAH RIGHT, the bulbs i have been buying are so weak...everytime i have to fill this block with gas...it's like im squeezing a rotting tomato...

Well now there's 2 of us that have the same experience.

Today's fuel is pretty hard on the rubber stuff. 5 years ago when I bought my boat, it had a fuel starvation problem at WOT. The AtWood fuel line and bayonet parts would not flow enough fuel. I'm a scientific or engineer type, so all bad parts were determined by experiment with a temporarily installed fuel pressure gauge, and the repair verified with the same gauging.

Watch out for real old parts. Alcohol in the fuel will take the old rubber parts out pretty quick. One of the faults in my motor was the fuel pump valves were curled up like bacon. It had just ben rebuilt, but with old parts. The clear plastic valve discs are fine.

Murkery bulb just failed. 5 year old hose looks fine. Put in a 3/8" OMC replacemen bulb. It's a sacrilege, I know, but there wasn't a Mercury bulb available quickly.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

check your fuel tank vent maybe a bug suck in it or corroded

 

[monk-monk]

Re: fuel supply line and primer bulb

Well, it's follow-up time on my Thread here...I received my new MERCURY QUICKSILVER primer bulb today and promptly installed it...I really thought that i would have to take the boat to the lake to see if the new bulb helped....AS SOON AS I STARTED MY ENGINE, I COULD TELL A BIG DIFFERENCE...IT CAME TO LIFE AND ROARED! It's a different engine, it idles strong, i can really hear the compression and firing in the cylinders...this motor has never sounded this strong...MY BROTHER WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE AND COULD IMMEDIATELY HEAR THE DIFFERENCE...I don't know what brand primer bulb you are currently using...BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS: IF IT'S NOT A MERCURY QUICKSILVER BULB...DO YOURSELF A FAVOR...THROW IT AWAY AND PURCHASE A MERCURY BULB...I swear, i have been through 3 or 4 of these junk bulbs over the past 2 seasons...and i could tell a world of difference IMMEDIATELY as soon as it started with this new bulb....END OF STORY HERE! And what did we learn: BUY REAL PARTS!