Motor won't stay running

[jasonjmccoy]

I purchased my first boat, a 1985 Lund Pike w/ a Mercury 18XD motor. Everything on the boat is in great shape as it's only been used a handful of times since bought by the original owner. I took it out today on my maiden voyage and everything went great, except for one small problem. I had to keep squeezing the fuel tank bulb every 10-15 seconds or the motor would quit. I'm guessing that I'm getting air into the system and causing it to lose prime. I also noticed some fuel leaking from the front of the engine when I squeeze the bulb. I took the cover off and squeezed the bulb and noticed fuel leaking from the top of the white cup that goes over the fuel filter. This brings me to 2 questions. 1) Would that bad seal introduce enough air into the system for me to experience the problem I described? and 2) When I removed the cup, I noticed there is no gasket or o-ring between the cup and the part it screws onto (picture below because I'm really lacking on the terminology here). Am I missing a gasket?

 

[canoemang]

Re: Motor won't stay running

Yes.. there is a o-ring that goes between the 2, go look for a parts diagram of fuel filter assembly.