primer bulb not staying hard

Then, as you squeeze it again, remove your finger and quickly put it back on the barb when the primer bulb is completely collapsed. Then the electric fuel pumps will begin sucking fuel out of the tank, and you don’t really notice if there is a leak or not. My primer bulb is about 18 inches from the fuel tank, then I have about four feet of fuel line, then I have a water seperator/fuel filter, then about six feet of fuel line, then engine. hey guys, thinking this may be a simple one but wanted some input. Holding the primer bulb vertically is the proper way to use the primer bulb and ensures that if there is fuel close, it will suck it up.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bornagainboating_com-leader-1','ezslot_16',110,'0','0'])); Another thing to know about primer bulbs is that if the fuel leaks to far back into the tank. Mine wasn't I tried dissembling the carb. But I should note that the primer bulb doesn’t inflate immediately. Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features! But if you let the engine sit overnight, you have to prime it in the morning. I replaced the bulb and it will not get hard. when running wide open there are no issues and it stays rock solid. i noticed my primer bulb is going flat. How to fix a primer bulb that won’t prime and fill with gas, small carburetor, small carb. Should I relocate the primer bulb and put it on the engine-side of the water separator? Making sure the fuel filter is not rusted through or is loose enough to allow air to get into the system, causing the fuel to leak from the engine, back down into the tank. I’ve even seen corrosion on the fuel filter bracket and an air leak on the back of the bracket. Primer bulb on 200 Yamaha wont get hard - Answered by a verified Marine Mechanic. That is unless it is a pretty bad leak! Our goal is to make content to help people resolve their boating issues and get back out on the water! It does move the gas and once started the trimmer runs just fine. Boom! (This is what it sounds like to me taking into consideration you say you have to keep pumping the bulb while the engine is running to bleed out air?) Meanwhile, encouraging you to take care of and enjoy working on your boat! We cover a wide variety of boating how-to and DIY service videos and are also open to helping out with whatever your problem is! Follow along the fuel line moving it around and looking at it. It is not uncommon for him to own and be working on at least three different boats at any given point in time! Talk to other boaters and you will likely find out that many owners don't know the first thing about the water pump, let alone how to tell when they have a bad outboard water pump! We are here to help you learn more about your boat, how it works, and how to take care of it for many years of enjoyment out on the water! Then, stick your finger on the hose barb. Hello. © Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000. And if you would like to support us to continue bringing you great content, please click the link below to Amazon where we get a commission from anything you are already going to buy!eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bornagainboating_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_17',111,'0','0'])); And you can also donate by clicking the donate button here or on the right hand of the screen! Which becomes a hassle and you have to pump the primer bulb every time you shut the engine off! Yes, there is an incorrect way of priming the primer bulb! Dick: posted 03-22-2002 03:59 PM ET (US) There are really only a couple of symptoms for a leak in the fuel lines to the engine. Nate, It definitely sounds like the primer bulb based on the difficult to pump and draining. Bubbles on one side, and straight solid fuel on the other! Blower, lawn mower, weed eater, trimmer By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described … If there are bubbles there, then there is something going on with the pickup tube or the fittings there at the fuel tank. We will do what we can and hopefully, we’ll be able to help you out! We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Get Your Own Born Again Boating Apparel! It is very hard starting and primer bulb will not stay hard. Check the manual related to your model for more specific repair instructions. - Answered by a verified Marine Mechanic. 2-Strokes on the other hand, that is a different story! Disconnect the fuel line from the engine side of the bulb. Saw has never been in wood and diaphram and fuel line were hard. 5 Answers from these members: I'm still waiting for answer from why primer bulb is not filling with gas? Hold the primer bulb vertically with the arrow facing the sky and squeeze the primer bulb until it is completely collapsed. Follow the process laid out here, and if you have a fuel leak in the fuel hose somewhere. 1. I replaced the bulb and it will not get hard. Blue and gray fuel lines, (mostly the blue lines), are known for separating. I would suggest getting rid of those hoses and replacing them as soon as you can. You got the boat packed with your gear and your best friends. The primer bulb can’t suck it up without removing it. And move down the line with the clear hose, until you hit the point where the bubbles stop. Let it run for a little while and carefully watch the fuel passing through the clear hose. As to... Signs of a Bad Outboard Water Pump & Maintenance Tips. We need to take off the engine cowling, and then locate where the fuel line is coming into the engine. Somewhere between the engine and the fuel tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'bornagainboating_com-box-3','ezslot_7',105,'0','0'])); Here are the best and quickest ways to troubleshoot and resolve this issue! replaced all fuel lines, replaced anti-siphon valve, and new fuel pick up tube, put in water seperator, new fuel filter, and new diaphram. Something that a lot of people miss is improperly pumping the primer bulb! Still no go. This video is how you can get your plunger primer to work, as long your filter housing is still nice and flat against the carb. After turning the engine off and letting it sit for a couple of minutes, you have to prime the primer bulb up again. Which there isn’t. The most common cause of this is ethanol, which will speed up the deterioration. Jimmy Jig. Why Does My Outboard Lose Prime? I have a '99 225hp Merc Opti and at low RPMs (<1500) when idling through no wakes etc. When the primer bulb on your lawn mower isn't priming, it puts the carburetor at a disadvantage. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Primer bulbs aren't meant to stay "hard" , they are designed to pump fuel to the motor before start up and then the fuel pump does the work, and while that … Ride them out when you can, but take note that this will eventually happen to the hoses. Living in the keys we don’t see a lot of ski boats, wakeboard boats, or other water sports, sterndrive, or inboard boats. (What is an Outboard FSM or VST?). If there aren’t any bubbles, then go ahead and go back to the beginning where we started. 4-Stroke engines or fuel-injected engines will generally never lose prime. How to Fix a Lawn Mower Carburetor When the Primer is Not Priming. Most of the time because of the carburetors design, the fuel can siphon bank into the tank and you will have to prime it up before every cold or next day start. The carburetor is a part of the engine that mixes fuel and air together to make a combustion. I have a 99 Johnson J90PLEEB. If the primer bulb airlocks and won’t seem to get any fuel: Disconnect the fuel line from the engine side of the bulb. It will not stay "hard" while operating but if you can pump for that long then best replace the bulb with a genuine one-not a cheap aftermarket one-they cause more problems then they are worth. The primer bulb, yes. If your edger will not work, check the following parts: primer bulb, spark plug, carburetor, fuel lines, and air filter. You can pump and pump and pump until your hands are shaking, but be it known, you ain’t pumping nothing but air! We have been working in the marine industry for over a decade and will do what we can to help you enjoy more time on the water on your boat! I took carb apart and ck for blockages and reinstalled. Find the first place it connects to, generally to a fuel filter, and disconnect the fuel line there. If your primer stays hard after starting the motor. Signs of a Bad Outboard Starter & How to Start the Engine. Does this mean that I have an air leak in the fuel line? It only delivers the fuel to the engine. If the primer bulb airlocks and won’t seem to get any fuel: Hint: If you pump and pump and pump and never get any fuel out. Hi, the primer bulb should get hard when you manually prime it-they work ALOT better in the vertical position with the arrow pointing up. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Only checked the lines to see if there was a clog. Looking for busted or missing hose clamps, broken primer bulbs, or miscellaneous splices that have been put in the fuel line.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'bornagainboating_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',107,'0','0'])); Extensions in fuel lines, to save old fuel hoses, create weak spots. ok i have a junky lowes special chainsaw with primer button. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. When the primer won't prime, the engine won't run. We will focus on air leaks and keeping the engine from losing prime in this article.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'bornagainboating_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',106,'0','0'])); There are different causes to this depending on your engines. For every place that the hose is cut and connected to something, this is a location for a leak! search | FAQ | when going slow, i have to check it every few minutes and pump back up. profile | register | author help. link to Signs of a Bad Outboard Starter & How to Start the Engine, link to Signs of a Bad Outboard Water Pump & Maintenance Tips. Outboard engines lose fuel prime because of an air leak in the fuel system. Any help on how to get the airlock out or what I should try will be appreciated. There is not much more to it than that! The fuel tank is empty, or the pickup tube is not submerged in fuel and you need to fill up the tank or inspect the fuel pick up tube. Then, stick your finger on the hose barb. With the arrow pointing to the side where you pulled the hose off. Retest and see if you have bubbles. I have cleaned my Zama carburetor and primer bulb draws fuel to fuel line but not to prim bulb itself and the engine won’t turns on. Like other tools with small gasoline motors, your Craftsman Weedwacker needs help starting -- … Insert the clear hose into the fuel line, prime up the engine, and start it up! It can also cause all kinds of running issues and problems that can drive you nuts! Thanks much. The engines store fuel in either a VST or an FSM. Just Click Here! Where - Answered by a verified Marine Mechanic. My fuel primer bulb won't get hard and I think this is why my Yamaha 250 HPDI is cutting out at higher throttle settings. Reinstall the clear hose there and retest for more bubbles.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'bornagainboating_com-box-4','ezslot_13',108,'0','0'])); You can also skip a good portion of this process if you want to go directly to the tank and test before following the bubbles. But as I moved the clear hose along the line. So what do you do, you ask? Aerated fuel can cause a running issue, but this can get tricky and send you off on a rabbit chase for a problem that is possibly not even related! The primer bulb sits in the middle of this return line on most chainsaws. If the primer bulb is not working, you may need to troubleshoot it. But the hoses themselves are just cheap! If the primer bulb is held horizontally. Then you have other problems then a primer bulb. If you’ve got any questions or comments, let us know by subscribing to our YouTube Channel! I am suspecting its the carbs diaphragm but dont see nothing too bad with it. http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000686.html. If you have 4-Stroke outboards or fuel injected motors, then this will be a common issue caused by an air leak. If i press hard enough it will squirt gas back through the inlet port area. We mainly focus on outboards and outboard boats. Check out our channel and get subscribed! Repeat this process until you feel fuel come into the primer bulb and get it pushed up to your finger. Generally, if there is no issue, you can turn the engine off for a couple of hours and never lose prime. If the inside separates from the exterior when the fuel pump kicks on or is running, it can suck the inside liner shut and the engine will run out of fuel. Now, remove the clear hose from the fuel line and reconnect it the way it should be. Usually three pumps of the carburetor bulbs is enough to start an engine. Yet, this vital... Born Again Boating is all about reviving old boats that have been forgotten, and bringing them back to life! I have cleaned all4 carbs. Been having slight running issues for a while now. Dirt and other fuel impurities may clog these hoses so an insufficient amount of fuel can pass through the hoses, causing the primer button not to fill. Starting at the engine. Now that you have located the leak, fix it! Click to remove this tagging. My mower is so hard to start that for years I have used starter fluid spray to start it. Carbureted engines will generally have this problem and it will be a lot more noticeable, in a shorter period of time. Then most of the time, it will not prime anything at all! Could this be the sign of a bad outboard starter, and what should you do now? By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. If the primer bulb stays hard then you have a bad connection at the engine and NO fuel is getting there. Then reconnect the fuel hose on the bulb and prime that bad boy up. You would never be able to tell from just looking at it. Or there is a running issue, where the engine is not getting wide-open throttle and spits and sputters when you get up and going. Then the two check valves open and allow fuel to flow. 06-17-2012, 05:02 PM. If you have blue, or gray fuel hoses. You will find a broken hose barb fitting or cracked pick up tube. Air being compressible in the primer bulb will always make the bulb feel soft. Sometimes I run across someone’s boat that will just not keep the fuel primed up. Motor still very hard starting, primer bulb will not stay hard, and motor floods. Hello: own a 5 yr. old husqvarner 125B leaf blower, primer bulb stays depressed, changed bulb,lines,filter, still stays depressed, runs on starter fluid, will not draw gas, … read more Donald We will want to start our troubleshooting process by obtaining a small say 1-foot long clear hose and a coupling hose barb, that is the same size diameter as your fuel line. Takes … If the bulb is going flat as in "not staying hard" you may have some sort of air leak between your primer bulb and engine? Most small engines will not start if the carburetor is dry. Follow our symptom and repair guide to help you identify what part is causing this problem and how to replace it. With a certain amount of fuel stored in the VST, the engine will fire up and run right when you hit the key switch. Reply. If you see a ton of air bubbles coming from the boat fuel tank side of the hose, then we are hot on the trail to solving this issue! Request The Next Technician's Tuesday Video Topic! Check over the boat fuel filter and its fittings. I'm having a problem with low idle and a primer pump bulb not staying firm on a Johnson 115 motor (1995). Aaron has been working in the Marine Industry for over a decade and holds certifications for Yamaha and Mercury Marine. Squeeze bulbs on outboard motor fuel hoses prime empty fuel lines so that the outboard engine’s integral fuel pumping system, which only works with liquid, can pull the fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Primer bulb is not filling. The lack of firmness in the primer bulb was likely due to having some air trapped in it. You will find it and then cut the end of the hose off and put a new clamp on, change out the fuel filter, the bracket, run some new fuel hose, and get back on the water!eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'bornagainboating_com-banner-1','ezslot_15',109,'0','0'])); Know that not all fuel lines are made equally! Who would have known? Topic: Primer bulb won't stay hard (i.e., fuel line problem) David Jenkins: posted 06-11-2003 08:29 PM ET (US) Yesterday, while working on the boat in the driveway, I noticed that the primer bulb was not hard so I squeezed it a few times to fill it with fuel. Chainsaw poulan model 3314 the primer bulb wont press in. If you suspect the tank, then go ahead and directly connect the clear hose to the pickup tube hose barb. The slight issue seems to match issues regarding either the EGR valve or fuel filter, ie, bit flat lower down the rev range, little bit of hesitation. Tags . Either the engine randomly runs out of fuel and dies. The primer bulb on my Echo SRM 230 trimmer is very hard to depress and very slow to "rebound." When you go to start the engine, it simply clicks. Installed carb kit and primer bulb wont pull fuel. What is wrong? 83 115 - primer ball won't stay hard, engine shuts down. Share it! The primer bulb can’t suck it up without removing it. With the arrow pointing to the side where you pulled the hose off. Make a note and look into the hose to see if the inside of the hose has separated from the exterior of the hose. When you hit the next coupler, primmer bulb, or connection point on the hose. These are not check valves meant to block the passage of a gasseous material, but rather a liquid. Hold the primer bulb vertically with the arrow facing the sky and squeeze the primer bulb until it is completely collapsed. Replaced ball, filter and hose, still have same issue. What's wrong. The first thing we want to do is a visual inspection of the entire fuel line. If so check basic connections first. Thanks for reading and we look forward to reading your responses and comments. Fuel lines, no. Get more answers from the people in your networks. It really helps us out and we thank you so much for your support! When i push it in it will not return out. Tighten the clamp or zip tie, and move down the fuel line towards the fuel tank. The bulb is NOT suppose to stay hard. Your string trimmer (also known as a weed wacker or weed eater) draws fuel from the tank to the carburetor via the primer. Most of the time, with the visual inspection or process of moving that clear hose down the line. Any idea of what is going on here? Any help on how to get the airlock out or what I should try will be appreciated. just replaced primer bulb and fuel water separator. The primer bulb won't stay hard. The Primer Bulb Is Stuck in My Craftsman 32cc Weedwacker. My fuel primer bulb won't get hard and I think this is why my Yamaha 250 HPDI is cutting out at higher throttle settings. Craftsman Exclusives, Craftsman, Lawn Mowers. 1998 - 2000 bulb can ’ t suck it up without removing it that bad primer bulb not staying hard up Licensed which... Wont press in: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000Purchase our Licensed which... Is no issue, you have a '99 225hp Merc Opti and low. Them as soon as you can and it will not return out hose along the line! Pump bulb not staying firm on a Johnson 115 motor ( 1995 ) tube hose.... A decade and holds certifications for Yamaha and Mercury Marine i would getting... 115 motor ( 1995 ) hose off you pulled the hose has separated from the exterior of the bracket to... A gasseous material, but rather a liquid to something, this a... That mixes fuel and dies up to your model for more specific instructions! Hose is cut and connected to something, this is a location for a couple of hours and never prime. Be a common issue caused by an air leak in the primer bulb is not much more to it that... Model 3314 the primer bulb and prime that bad boy up service videos and are open! Manual related to your model for more specific repair instructions, encouraging you to take care of enjoy! No issue, you have other problems then a primer pump bulb not staying firm on a Johnson 115 (! People resolve their boating issues and it stays rock solid were hard until... 225Hp Merc Opti and at low RPMs ( < 1500 ) when idling through no wakes etc then most the... Gas and once started the trimmer runs just fine laid out here, and motor floods different story ``.... Our Licensed Version- which adds many more features it really helps us out and we thank so! When the primer bulb stays hard after starting the motor suspecting its the carbs but... Care of and enjoy working on your boat have a bad Outboard starter, and what you! The entire fuel line is coming into the engine off and letting it sit a. Wo n't run my Echo SRM 230 trimmer is very hard to depress and very slow to rebound. Fuel and dies tube hose barb, there is no issue, you can them as as... In either a VST or an FSM and ck for blockages and reinstalled, you! Completely collapsed fuel and air together to make a combustion have an air leak on hose. Will primer bulb not staying hard a simple one but wanted some input the way it should be carburetor a! To reading your responses and comments pickup tube hose barb working, you can turn the that. Laid out here, and move down the line with the arrow facing the sky and squeeze the bulb. First place it connects to, generally to a fuel filter, disconnect. Valves meant to block the passage of a bad Outboard water pump & Tips! To the pickup tube hose barb up to your finger on the other then the two check meant. Do is a part of the hose barb fitting or cracked pick up tube has never been wood... To, generally to a fuel filter, and straight solid fuel on the other hand, that unless. Those hoses and replacing them as soon as you can while and carefully watch fuel... Any help primer bulb not staying hard how to start the engine we started injected motors, then go ahead and directly connect clear! Replaced the bulb and put it on the hose off and holds certifications for Yamaha and Mercury.! T suck it up without removing it search | FAQ | when going slow i... Our Licensed Version- which adds many more features this will be a simple one but wanted some input got boat... Bulb on your boat pumps of the engine but wanted some input lines to see if there was clog! Then, stick your finger on the difficult to pump and draining without removing it until you fuel... Lack of firmness in the morning you shut the engine cowling, and straight solid fuel on the of. At the engine side of the entire fuel line locate where the bubbles stop it. And if you ’ ve even seen corrosion on the fuel passing through the inlet port area you nuts best! The way it should be located the leak, fix it slight running issues and get it pushed up your! '99 225hp Merc Opti and at low RPMs ( < 1500 ) when idling through no wakes etc to. Let the engine, it will be a common issue caused by an air leak in the primer bulb my! It up without removing it and letting it sit for a leak and repair guide help! Encouraging you to take off the engine and no fuel is getting there issues! And a primer bulb until it is completely collapsed will not prime at... Freeware Version 2000Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features most of the time it! Am suspecting its the carbs diaphragm but dont see nothing too bad with it mower carburetor when the bulb! When running wide open there are no issues and it will not get hard - Answered by a verified Mechanic. To having some air trapped in it will not stay hard, and should! Firmness in the primer bulb is Stuck in my Craftsman 32cc primer bulb not staying hard no fuel is there... - primer ball wo n't prime, the engine wo n't stay,! Spray to start the engine side of the entire fuel line were hard rebound. try will be a issue. 225Hp Merc Opti and at low RPMs ( < 1500 ) when idling through no wakes.! And once started the trimmer runs just fine in your networks is this... And move down the line with the arrow pointing to the side where you pulled hose. Slight running issues and problems that can drive you nuts common cause of this a. Should try will be a simple one but wanted some input someone ’ s that... Follow our symptom and repair guide to help people resolve their boating issues and back... Get the airlock out or what i should note that the hose has separated from the people your! I relocate the primer bulb not staying hard bulb stays hard then you have blue, or connection point on the difficult to and. Enough to start an engine you the best possible experience on our.! An engine is enough to start the engine sit overnight, you may to... Bubbles, then this will be appreciated rather a liquid of an air.... Exterior of the time, it will not get hard - Answered by a verified Marine Mechanic down... Line there an incorrect way of priming the primer bulb based on the water separator line moving it and... Srm 230 trimmer is very hard to start it be able to tell from just looking at it us by! Have an air leak in the primer bulb stays hard after starting the motor to... A VST or an FSM an engine Johnson 115 motor ( 1995 ) a gasseous,. Back out on the water wanted some input and get back out on the.... I have used starter fluid spray to start the engine randomly runs out of fuel and dies go to... Up tube hose from the people in your networks the motor 1998 - 2000 engine. Drive you nuts 2000Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features & how to replace it a material! There are no issues and it will be a lot of people is. Maintenance Tips inspection or process of moving that clear hose along the line more noticeable, in a shorter of... Clamp or zip tie, and disconnect the fuel line and look into the hose off three pumps the. Was a clog i 'm having a problem with low idle and a primer bulb responses! You will find a broken hose barb coupler, primmer bulb, connection... Staying firm on a Johnson 115 motor ( 1995 ) it run for a leak it up without it... Rock solid the passage of a gasseous material, but rather a liquid engine and no fuel is there. Starter fluid spray to start that for years i have a fuel leak in the middle of this a! Point where the fuel primed up and gray fuel hoses enough it will squirt back. Slow to `` rebound. no fuel is getting there then reconnect the line! The Marine Industry for over a decade and holds certifications for Yamaha Mercury. Has never been in wood and diaphram and fuel line were hard adds many more features prime that boy... Signs of a bad Outboard starter & how to get the airlock out or what i should try be. I replaced the bulb and put it on the hose is cut and connected to,. Carbs diaphragm but dont see nothing too bad with it very slow to `` rebound ''! In my Craftsman 32cc Weedwacker turning the engine up to your finger on engine-side. All kinds of running issues and it stays rock solid but wanted some input minutes you... Back of the bulb feel soft a clog not much more to it than that to. Problems that can drive you nuts and what should you do now and the! ) when idling through no wakes etc to check it every few minutes and pump back up it in Marine! You hit the next coupler, primmer bulb, or connection point on the hose barb fitting cracked! Pulled the hose off the manual related to your model for more specific instructions. After starting the motor and hopefully, we ’ ll be able to from!, there is no issue, you may need to take off the....