Primer bulb doesnt get very hard

[rtpassini]

im not sure how hard they are supposed to get because im new to boating.

i also found this
"Had this problem for years with my O/B for me its been the floats in the carbs, I think that they are not/stop seating in the bowls. Samething as you? hard to start,must choke and throttle to start engine.My problem is the boat stays in the water for the season, so I keep the engine tilted up and some of the gas runs out and the floats aren't seated when not using the boat and this is letting the floats get stickey?? What I do is remove the overflow hose on the carb and spray crab cleaner gum out in let it sit 5min and start the engine to run it out.It's allways worked for me.Good Luck"

where is the overflow hose? and how do i go about this?

also which parts should i get?
http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury_parts/445/110.cfm

thank you! 71 merc 800

 

[film495]

Re: Primer bulb doesnt get very hard

I just learned there is an arrow on the bulb, in the direction of the gas flow - if you point that arrow directly up in the air, the gravity will affect the valve in the bulb and it will prime completely hard.

 

[theone28351]

Re: Primer bulb doesnt get very hard

Film495,
Thank you so much for that simple yet very effective advice, I have been trying to get my 1990 40hp Johnson to crank ever since last weekend, cleaning my carbs out, talking to people with their own boats, I could only get my motor to crank by spraying carb cleaner in it to start and then it would run non stop let it sit for 15 20 minutes it wouldn't start for anything. A friend at work asked about my primer bulb I checked it and it would not get hard bought a new on from Wal-Mart same thing ran across your post went outside turned arrow up pumped up Hard, motor started right up.........thanks a million!!!!!!!!!