Air leak question

[mcgreavster]

Ok so my 88' XP150 gets up on plane quick and has lots of power and then dies about 20 seconds later. My primer bulb goes flat and after pumping it the motor starts right back up. I have two tanks and it does this with both of them. I replaced the primer bulb/hose and the in line fuel filter and ran it on muffs yesterday and it still had a hard time getting fuel. I would pump the primer bulb and watch the fuel filter fill about 80% full with fuel then I'd go and start the motor and while it was running the fuel filter looked almost completely empty. There was hardly any fuel in it at all.

So my question is does that mean I have an air leak before the pump? Or could it still be an issue with the pump? The only boat side thing that I haven't checked or replaced is the fuel tank selector valve. Can these go bad?

 

[racerone]

Facts for you.-----When the bulb collapses and goes flat there is a blockage / lack of venting between the bulb and the fuel in the tank.--------And most fuel fiters appear to run empty once the motor is running.