How long should it stay hard??

[jollymon]

I know I am going to get a lot of wise answers to this, but if I get one good one it is worth it!!!<br /><br />90HP Merc Classic 2 Stroke 2002<br /><br />I pump the bulb hard when I go to start it, no matter how long or short I run the engine, the bulb goes soft, it can be a 10 minute run or a 2 hour run.<br /><br />I have not pumped it up and just waited to see how long before it goes soft. I will try that this weekend.<br /><br />The problem I think it is creating, is alot of times when I come down to an idle after running the boat, it will stall. I am think the bulb being soft, is part of the problem.<br /><br />I can not find a fuel leak, and I can not smell any fuel.<br /><br />I do have a fuel water seperator, and a Navman fuel sensor, between the bulb and the motor.<br /><br />So my 2 questions are, how long should it be hard, and will it going soft cause running problems.

 

[AndyL]

Re: How long should it stay hard??

When the engine is stopped and you pump the bulb you will reach a point where the floats etc in the carbs will close off the needle and no more fuel can get in. When the engine is running the fuel pump will be suppling the fuel to the carbs sucking it from the tank, fuel line, filter and bulb on the way as the engine uses it. It would not be uncommon that, (depending on the length of line), you would be able to pump the bulb a couple of times before you would say it was hard when the engine is running. The problem would be if the fuel bulb was flattened, indicating a blocked line or air vent from the tank, or it took more than 4 pumps to fill the bulb. You didn't mention if by pumping the bulb the stalling problem is cured. If so I would suggest that either you have air leaks on the suction side or your fuel pump diaphragms / non return valves need replacing. A new fuel pump kit is not expensive and not particulary difficult to fit. Instruction and diagrams included in the kit.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: How long should it stay hard??

I was going to say that it depends on if you use Levitra or Viagra, but decided against that. The bulb will only be hard initially, when you are pumping to the point of filling all the float bowls and seating the float needles. After that, it will soften, but should only take a few squeezes to harden it again. The hardness or softness of the bulb once it is running has nothing to do with engine performance. You may need a tune up, decarb, or the idle may just be set too low. It may also depend on how you are coming down to idle. You should never just jam the throttle from wot to idle, you should bring it down smoothly and evenly. Otherwise, you have cyinders that are still hot suddenly deprived of the oil that is needed to lube and help cool effectively. Good luck...

 

[mulliganmagic]

Re: How long should it stay hard??

We have a 150 Mercury that's an 86 and when you bring it down from WOT to idle it dosn't like to idle when trimmed all of the way down because the carbs aren't level, so we found out to trim the motor up a little past level on the trim gague to level the carbs and make the fuel flow to them better and it works like a charm.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: How long should it stay hard??

If everything else is working properly--- carb.s & fuel pump, the hardness of the bulb is irrelevant.<br /><br />All the bulb does is sort of the deal of pouring a bit of gas down the carb. of a old car engine to get it started rather than let the fuel pump try to suck gas all the way up from the tank with just the starter motor when the carberator & fuel lines are empty.<br /><br /><br />The bulb just fills the float bowls, so the engine thinks it hasn't been shut off for a long period of time, and lets it start easier. <br /><br />Like a car that ran out of gas, if the engine is healthy, it will eventually start without having a squeeze bulb on it at all.<br /><br /><br />If the bulb pumps up when you go to the water,<br />the boat runs OK while out--- don't sweat it.<br /><br /><br />Watch other boaters:<br /><br />How many do you see sitting around fishing for however long, or people stop to swim in the open waters,,,,,, <br /><br />then go back and pump the bulb before they crank up and leave?