81 Johnson fuel pump

[Del strickland]

Stupid question but I’ll try to emplain what I’m talking about lol. My motor runs rough and
Acts like it’s starving for fuel, gotta keep choking it a little when it’s running. I have cleaned the carb with sea foam and I thought to check the fuel flow at the pump. When i
Took it off I immediately had a small spring shoot up into the sky and into my yard somewhere lol. Anyway, the 2 pieces on either side of pump that are like gaskets have little places like a diaphram in them and they are deformed and hard. My question is, is this supposed to be like that or are the supposed to be soft and flexible? And do you think this may be the problem.

 

[timguy]

They will become deformed from those springs and pucks. Its normal. Your probably going to have to get a kit now. The diaphragms cannot withstand ethanol. They can get rigid and break down, or simply stretch out as if to melt. With proper non oxygenated fuel, they will last for many decades. Dont feel bad. These kits are cheap.