Primer Bulb???

[Downstate Doug]

Equipment:

1995, Mercury 150 EFI, 35 gallon built in fuel tank.

While trolling this weekend the engine would begin to sputter every now and then. So I would check the primer bulb and it was nearly empty. A couple of squeezes and the engine would run fine. Why am I losing prime? No sure when the fuel filter was last changed. Can anybody add some insight? Thanks.

DD

[roger23]

I had a MERC do the same thing at first it seemed like the sun would heat it up and expand the bulb and creat a vapor lock , it worked for a while keeping it covered, after awhile that did not work, so I replaced it no more problems for a couple years, It started again I just replaced it everything ok . The bulbs seem to dry rot the replacements went faster than the origional all were Merc parts. If that seems to be ok check the fuel over flow line some times they will get a sag in them and fill with gas and not vent the fuel tank lots of luck;)

[Mags]

We use a 200 H.P. Merc seadrive on our 22ft. Sportcraft, both are only a couple of years old. The motor would troll for a long time real well, then started to sputter and die out. We checked everything and couldn't find out why. For some reason, my partner replaced the primer bulb, and now the engine runs just fine, high and low. Looking at the old primer bulb doesn't show anything, so who knows? Probably bad karma or must have offended the fish fairies somehow!:D

[kingfisher 11]

Same thing happened to my 1999 merc 115 hp. This happened when it was still under warranty. I took it back three times before the dealer found out the primer bulb was bad. The bulb was new and what the dealer told me was he put a vacum gage on it and found out it was loosing pressure. He also stated the merc had been having problems with them. It has been two years now and it runs great.

KF

[Icet]

Check the bulb. Same thing happened to me. Have a 2000, 200HP Merc EFI. Dealer (joke) finally had to call in a Merc rep. Changed the bulb and have had no problems since. Make sure you get the new one Mercury recommends. Has yellow fittings.

[Downstate Doug]

Will replace the bulb. Had the smae thing happen on the 15 HP Kicker. Replaced the bulb, got the initial prime and "seemed" to work OK but have not used it for some time. The original equipment has those plastic tie clamps. Should probably replace with metal? Its down in the battery compartment shielded from any weather so that shouldn't be a factor but it is about 7 years old. Thanks for the help fella's.

DD