fuel barb on tank- no pressure in primer bulb

[love2fish]

I cant get my primer bulb to stay primed. I have read over all the previous threads and have replaced: fuel line from tank to the fuel/water separater, replaced fuel/water separater filter, primer bulb/hose from the separater to the engine. All plugs have also been replaced...

So other than replacing the tank (which I have plans for this fall),,, the only thing I have read about that I havent changed out yet is the fuel barb that is on the tank. before i pull the deck hatch off off the tank- does anyone one what the fitting size is? (I know my fuel line size,,, just wasnt sure if there was a specific size thread fitting for the tank- or if it was a standard size on all tanks).

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions- I'd love some advice! Thanks!

[seabob4]

Here's the barb for your tank, NON anti-siphon...http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50409

[Blue Agave]

Is the primer bulb pointed in the right direction?

[seabob4]

Is the primer bulb pointed in the right direction?

Not sure I am...  

[Capt. Bill]

What kind of primer ball did you buy?  A lot of after market ones do not provide enough pressure for newer outboards.

[gran398]

What kind of primer ball did you buy?  A lot of after market ones do not provide enough pressure for newer outboards.

True be that.

And the direction thing Fern mentions...not a joke. I spent an extra 90 bucks last year on my jon-boat with a second mechanic...because the first mechanic left her running rough...you guessed it...backwards bulb.

[Capt. Bob]

What kind of primer ball did you buy?  A lot of after market ones do not provide enough pressure for newer outboards.

True be that.

And the direction thing Fern mentions...not a joke. I spent an extra 90 bucks last year on my jon-boat with a second mechanic...because the first mechanic left her running rough...you guessed it...backwards bulb.

Sure you weren't lookin' at it upside down?

[gran398]

 

Upside down/rightside up? Did I mention the 90 bucks for professional assistance?

(Never looked at the bulb, like a dummy, just took it elsewhere)

   

Runs like a champ now that the arrow is pointing towards the engine....

Best 90 bucks I ever spent, having a professional reverse the bulb

 

[seabob4]

What kind of primer ball did you buy?  A lot of after market ones do not provide enough pressure for newer outboards.

Bill,
Which ones don't?  I prefer the OMC/BRP bulbs, but have installed them all.  Zuke, Yam, Merc (Quicksilver), Sierra, Attwood...no problems, unless the check valve is dead out of the box...

[Capt. Bill]

The off brand ones.  You pick them up at marine stores, usually a lot cheaper than the ones made by the engine manfacturers.  I always recommend for people to buy primer balls from there engine manufacturer. Some engines require a certain pressure to keep them running and the off brand ones don't hold the proper pressure.  I never tried mixing different engine manufacturers, IE a Merc ball on an OMC/BRP engine so I can't speak to that,.....but I did get burned the other way once. The problem he's describing sounds awful fimilar

[love2fish]

The primer ball I purchased was a Marpac Premier that is the full hose/ball set up.
I removed the 90' fittings that come off the fuel/water separator and wrapped the threads with fresh teflon tape (the tape was all but worn away) next step is to replace the Fuel elbow coming off the tank (switching it to a free flow barb)... I have received several PM's that the original fittings had springs that can wear out over time...that is probably a weekend project!

Thanks as always for all of your help and advice! Looking forward to getting this issue resolved.

[John Jones]

I have received several PM's that the original fittings had springs that can wear out over time...that is probably a weekend project!

If the spring were to get weak it would actually be less likely to cause a fuel flow problem.  However, a tiny piece of trash can plug them like mine.  This is all that is in the "anti-siphon valve".  I assume this sliver of red plastic came from a gasoline can but it would not let me get over 3000 rpm.

[love2fish]

I'm sure there's some stuff floating around in my tank that gets caught/partially plugging from time to time. was that in your original/in floor gas tank?

[Capt. Bill]

The primer ball I purchased was a Marpac Premier that is the full hose/ball set up.
I removed the 90' fittings that come off the fuel/water separator and wrapped the threads with fresh teflon tape (the tape was all but worn away) next step is to replace the Fuel elbow coming off the tank (switching it to a free flow barb)... I have received several PM's that the original fittings had springs that can wear out over time...that is probably a weekend project!

Thanks as always for all of your help and advice! Looking forward to getting this issue resolved.

This one of the brands I was talking about.  Try getting a new ball made by your engine manufacturer. Cut out the Marpac one and replace it with the good one. I'll bet it helps.

[slvrlng]

My Quicksilver bulb has been working fine on my Oceanrunner. I had one of those Marpacs and it would work about 10 percent of the time. I have heard good things about the BRP ones also.

Will the bulb go flat after running for a while? I had a older boat that would crank and run fine at the dock or on slick water. As soon as you would hit a wake or chop all the crap in the tank would get stirred up and clog the pickup. You would have to stop and let it sit and the crap would fall off the screen and then it would be fine until you got it stirred up again.