Faulty fuel bulb primer?

[SeaStu1]

Been out today for the first sail of the season in a boat new to me a 20ft bilge keeler. The engine source is a 4hp two stroke outboard mounted on the transom and fuel is fed from an external tank.

Today on leaving the mooring the outboard ran ok and then suddenly spluttered and died. I then noticed that the fuel bulb primer was soft and needed plenty of squeezing to fill it up with fuel. The motor then ran starting ok before doing the same over and over again. Its my first year with an external fuel tank so any advice would be appreciated. Also on connecting the outboard to the motor I noticed a drop of fuel leaking before I took it off and put it back on again, I suspect a faulty 'o' ring is to blame.

Regards.

 

[SeaStu1]

I'm going to try fitting a new fuel primer bulb over the weekend and see what happens. Any thoughts would still be appreciated.

 

[oldharry]

A leaking O ring wont help: the fuel pump in the engine is sucking fuel up from the tank, so any leak will interfere with the suction possibly causing fuel starvation.

The fuel lift pump in the engine may be faulty.

 

[sarabande]

air valve on tank filler not open ?

non-return valve inline not functioning properly ?

 

[SeaStu1]

I will replace the o ring also to be sure. The air valve on the filler tank has been open, although maybe only half to one turn. I will try again this time with it wound open fully. Cheers for the suggestions.

 

[alahol2]

Check for any possibly blocked fuel filters in the line. There may be a fine mesh one in the remote tank.

 

[VicS]

The bulb will not stay hard, it will go a little soft or at least relaxed!

If is is being sucked a bit flat it indicates that the tank vent is closed, but you say not, or the fuel pick up from the tank is blocked ( it may have an in-tank strainer) but you wont easily be able to hand prime it again immediately


If the bulb is just losing its initial firmness after being pumped then the fuel pump could be faulty or there could be an air leak into the line, esp at the connector.

The drop of fuel may or may not indicate a faulty O ring in the connector.

Check the connector and check the fuel line right up to the pump for possible air in-leaks.

Check the pump.

You can hand prime and pump with the bulb. It is therefore OK