Primer ball bad??

iggyw1

Ensign
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
955
Hi guys,

I think I know the answer to this question, but before I spend more money on something I just bought, I thought I would ask anyway. I just bought a cheap fuel line with a primer ball on the line for my 6 h.p. trolling Evinrude motor. When I pump the ball now, it does not get hard, and I can hear bubbles (air or gas) swishing into the tank when I squeeze the ball. The ball is on the hose in the correct direction according to the arrow on the ball, but it seems like the gas is traveling the wrong way when I squeeze the ball.

If I remove the hose from my motor, and take a screw driver in and push the check ball into the fitting at the end of the hose, it shoots gas out all over the place, so I know that it is working as far as getting gas out of the hose end. If I hold the little check ball in with a screw driver, and squeeze the primer ball, gas shoots out of the hose end fitting freely.

I might add that after I push the check ball into the hose end at the motor end of hose, I hook it back up to the motor and then I pump the primer ball and it gets hard, but I need to do this every time I want to start the little motor if it sat for awhile out on the lake without running. Even if this check valve or check ball is sticking, should the gas go back into the tank when I squeeze the ball?? I will get a new MUCH BETTER hose, primer ball and hose ends if this will solve my problem.
 

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
Squeezing the ball should force gas toward the motor. Letting up after squeezing should refill the bulb from the tank.

​Are you hearing gas flow to the carb when you pump? It may be that the new clip isn't fully seating on the connector at the motor (tight o-ring).
 

jakedaawg

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Messages
4,275
arrow onbulb should point to motor.

If, when squeezing bulb you hear gurgling in they tank, it may be a bad pickup assembly on the tank. Beg, borrow or steal a known good tank and try that. Eventhe bargain hoses and bulbs are good for a day or two, lol.
 

iggyw1

Ensign
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
955
Squeezing the ball should force gas toward the motor. Letting up after squeezing should refill the bulb from the tank.

​Are you hearing gas flow to the carb when you pump? It may be that the new clip isn't fully seating on the connector at the motor (tight o-ring).

I do get gas into the carb after I remove the hose from the motor end and push in on the little check valve inside the fitting on the hose. Maybe I just need a new fitting? This is a new fitting that I have as it came on the hose, but it could be defective I suppose and sticking??? Seems like it is seating all the way on, so it should be pushing in ok.
 

iggyw1

Ensign
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
955
arrow onbulb should point to motor.

If, when squeezing bulb you hear gurgling in they tank, it may be a bad pickup assembly on the tank. Beg, borrow or steal a known good tank and try that. Eventhe bargain hoses and bulbs are good for a day or two, lol.

I am starting to think that I have a faulty hose end fitting on the motor end of the hose. I guess that is cheap enough to try a new one of those things. Thanks for the reply.
 

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
Before you buy something, put your old fitting on the end of the new line -- see if that works for you.
 

Vic.S

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
4,721
I am starting to think that I have a faulty hose end fitting on the motor end of the hose. I guess that is cheap enough to try a new one of those things. Thanks for the reply.


The worst that can happen there is that it leaks instead of making a good seal with its "other half" on the motor. That would lead to air ingress and problems when running, rather than problems priming the system.

I feel that the problem is bad valves in the new ball. making it difficult to prime initially, allowing fuel to drain back to the tank while not running and subsequent difficulty re-priming.

Holding the ball with the motor end pointing upwards might help and try oldboat's suggestion of trying the old connector by all means, other wise I'd suggest replacing the ball with a good quality new one.
 
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