Fuel primer bulb

[Cobia270]

I just went to prime my engines for the first time after the winter and noticed one of the bulbs I couldn't get to stay hard. I did manage to get fuel to the engines and they started and ran with no problem. When I went to check the primer bulbs while the engines were running one of them was soft and lost it shape. My question is should I change this bulb or leave it, does it sound like it went bad? Yamaha twin 200 hpdi's.

[ausnoelm]

replace it, then look for the blockage between the primer and the tank vent.

[99yam40]

If it is collapsing because of a restriction to the tank, then it may still be a good bulb.

All depends on what you call lost it's shape

[Cobia270]

If there was a restriction wouldn't the engine be starving for fuel? By lost its shape I mean the bulb is flattened and not popping back

[99yam40]

check the vacuum being pulled by the pump, apparently there is a restriction and it is pulling too much of a vacuum and is flattening the bulb

[Tucker]

Assuming this is a Yamaha bulb, kind of doubt the bulb is bad. Theyr'e made better than most. I always thought a collapsed bulb indicated a restriction BEFORE the bulb not after.

[Cobia270]

Yes it is a yamaha bulb. Would I be getting fuel to the engine if ther was a restriction?

[99yam40]

said restriction not blockage, probably will not keep up at full throttle or maybe it will. Just working pump way too hard if the bulb is collapsing.
Check to see if it is pulling too much

[Cobia270]

Would a restriction affect the fuel pump? I had to change the pump at the end of the season. It wasn't putting out enough psi. I gonna change the bulb tomorrow. How do I check for restrictions or tell if the bulb just went bad?

[99yam40]

apparently you are not reading what I write

[mrpontoon]

check the vent on your fuel tank

[Cobia270]

I just replaced the primer bulb and now I can't even get any gas to siphon. What can I do?

[Bilge Rat]

Are both engines fed off the same tank?
Start by opening the fill cap for the tank. If the bulb then works properly the tank vent is clogged.

Is the water seperator filter new?
If good then you need to check the fuel hose from tank to filter and filter to bulb. How old are the hoses?

If hoses check out then the anti siphon valve and then the pickup in the tank.

Last is sludge in tank clogging pickup.

Start at the source and work towards the bulb or from the bulb towards the tank, Your choice.
A vaccuum gauge would be handy too.

[gilberto1107]

Primer buld

Change for a new ones, some of the Yamaha primer build have problem I was having problems with my for weeks, on my 2013 Sailfish 270CC; until I change then and problems solved....Is good to check the filters water-gas separators just in case, if they are cleans, then you such replace all primers build......Good lock

[FabricGATOR]

Turn the primer bulb around so the arrow faces the tank, and give it a squeeze.
It should tell if a restriction and possibly blow the crud off of the tank pickup.

I remember as a kid, back in the eighties, I had an OMC bulb that the shuttle valve in the bulb got loose and I could feel it in there. At one point it got turned around and stopped fuel flow. I don't think that is the case, but mention that things like that can happen.

I don't want to be master of the obvious, but did you install the new bulb with the arrow facing the engine?