Is it me or my manual primer?

[wbeaton]

I had the carb rebuilt and the manual primer on my 1987 20 hp Johnson replaced this spring and I've had trouble starting it ever since. It used to start on the second pull when cold, but now it takes at least 4 or 5. That's assuming I don't flood it. Runs great once its started.

When I pull the plunger on the new primer it feels like it shoots a little gas into the carb. After its pulled out, a spring brings the plunger back to its normal postion and it doesn't seem like it does anything on the return.

I've tried just about every combination of pulls and cranks, but its still hard to start - at times. I've even tried not priming the cold engine. I docked it at a cottage this summer and ran it twice a day everyday one week in July and it only got harder to start.

It seems like its getting too much gas. I don't think the primer can be adjusted at all. Could the fuel line pressure be pushing too much gas through the primer and partially flooding the engine? I wouldn't think this is possible unless the primer is damaged, but I'm at a loss.

Any ideas? Maybe I'm just not using it properly.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it me or my manual primer?

your carb float could be sticking, and when you pump the bulb you are flooding it. tap on the side of the carb bowl, and see if it will free up. or clogged low speed jets. have you checked your compession and spark?

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Is it me or my manual primer?

Compression is good and spark is ok when the plugs are grounded to the block. I have not put a spark tester on while running, yet. The carb was rebuilt and the motor was run once in between the carb rebuild and the primer change. It started fine with the old primer, but the engine was getting too much fuel when running at WOT. So I took it back to the mechanic and he changed the primer. Ran great after that but was hard to start. I'll tap the carb next week when I take it out for its final run. If nothing changes then I guess I'll just live with it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it me or my manual primer?

if this started with the mech changing stuff, i'd take it back to him. the primer should not have anything to do with being rich at wot, unless it was leaking, and that would effect all ranges.