Crazy Strange with my primer bulb

[mav6759]

I was on the water the other day and went to prime my fuel bulb. I'm pumping away and the fuel bulb would not get hard. When I returned home, I decided to look over the motor, (2002 mercury 90hp) and I started pumping the bulb and 3 pumps the bulb got hard and the motor started right up. Twice this has happen to me, on the water no bulb, but as soon as I put the boat on the trailer, the bulb get hard. Does anyone have any idea what can be causing this. Looking over the motor, the only thing I can see is the guy that cleaned my carbs forgot to put a zip tie on the pulse outlet of the fuel pump. But other then that the motor runs perfectly on the trailer, in the water nothing.

 

[jimmbo]

Motor is in same Position, in the Water as on the Trailer?
No Fuel pouring out the Fuel System and going Overboard?
The Bulb has a Check Valve on each end. If one of them gets stuck open, you can squeeze it all Day and it will not pump Fuel.
Did you try shaking the Bulb-Hose, when it wasn't working? Perhaps there was enough vibration/jolting on the trip home to unstick the Check Valve.
You could replace the Bulb, and see if that corrects it.

 

[redneck joe]

Yeah bulbs are cheap, replace it. Side note, a half inch pex clamp works perfectly

 

[Mc Tool]

Maybe your primer bulb likes trailers

 

[racerone]

Bulb does not need to be hard when motor is running!-----Are you saying that motor won't start at the lake?----Any trouble shooting done?-----Motor will sound good running with a dead cylinder on the trailer.----Post the actual compression values here.----Does spark jump a gap of 3/8" on each lead?

 

[Jeff J]

Are you holding the primer the same way when the boat is on the water vs when on the trailer? I have had primer bulbs refuse to pump when horizontal but work great when the outlet end is pointed up.

I like ease of maintenance so I only use zip ties (cheap) or standard hose clamps (reusable) on hose connections. PEX clamps are a pain to remove and are not cheap or reusable. Of all the tools I have, the best thing I have to remove a PEX clamp is a Dremmel with a cutoff wheel. My Knipex cutters are a close second. They look like a mini bolt cutter. (Yes, I have PEX clamps and the pinch pliers to set them).

 

[Scott Danforth]

a scratch-awl works great on removing PEX clamps. just stick it in the little ear and twist and they pop off

having an RV means you keep PEX clamps on-hand at all times because they leak. seriously, the two biggest issues with RV's are because of Amish working on electrical and plumbing (think about that one)

zip ties on hoses in outboards is common.

 

[mav6759]

Thanks for all the replies, the bulb is about 6 months old. I don't t know if they go bad that fast. For the last 2 day, the bulb has been getting hard and the motor has been starting right up. I just got it back from the shop where I had my carbs clean. He gave it the once over and check the compression and all that, he says the compression is good. I don't have any issues out of the motor when started she runs great. Maybe the check ball in the bulb did get stuck a couple of times. I'm going to check it this morning and see. But just in case I'll pick up another bulb today. I am holding the bulb the sameway.when its on the trailer. I turned the bulb straight up and sideways to see if it's going to get hard. I did have to travel down I rocky rock road to get the lake, maybe all the bumping got the check ball stuck.

 

[racerone]

On board fuel tank?----New style EPA portable tanks?

 

[Jeff J]

a scratch-awl works great on removing PEX clamps. just stick it in the little ear and twist and they pop off

I will try to remember to try that the next time I have one to remove. I don’t like what it takes to get them off the hose even after I cut them with the Dremmel or the cutters so I am not seeing the advantage to prying on them with an awl. My old fingers don’t appreciate fighting that steel band and room to work almost always seems tight.

 

[redneck joe]

There are two types of pex clamps.

 

[Jeff J]

Solid ring and pinch are the only ones I am aware of. I can’t imagine anyone using the solid rings on anything except PEX.