Primer bulb doesn't soften...ever

Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Messages
11
I have a '94 sport jet 90. These are notoriously hard to start, but the solution is to put a primer bulb in to prime the engine which it has. Here's the issue, the primer bulb stays rock hard and never softens up for the next start, which means I have to manually spray some fuel into the carbs to get it running. Once running there's zero issues with anything else.
It's been sitting all winter and I checked it yesterday and it's still hard as a rock.
What can I check out to relive the bulb pressure?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
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47,306
are you using the choke when you start it cold?
 
Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Messages
11
Yes I am using the choke for cold starts. I bought the boat last August and the bulb has been hard since before I bought it, and I've always choked it.
 
Last edited:

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
36,046
Fuel primer bulbs go soft when any outboard type powerhead is running.--------So something is wrong here !
 
Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Messages
11
I understand there's a check valve in the bulb. The arrows on the bulb point towards the fuel tank, not the engine. Is it in backwards?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
Messages
47,306
the arrows point in the direction you want fuel to flow
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
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Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,585
Sounds like you found your problem. The primer bulb is in backwards. Simply change it around and happy boating .
 

ajgraz

Lieutenant Commander
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Mar 1, 2010
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1,858
Wouldn't it be nice if all problems were that easy to diagnose and fix?
 
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