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Fuel Priming Problems engine won't start

rjs007

New member
I have a 1974 Mercury 200 20 HP 2 stroke outboard motor. I had the carb and fuel pump rebuilt in shop in january and the boat was working great after the tune up. I went to start it today to get it ready for springer season, and I couldn't get it to start. Normally, when I squeeze the primer bulb I can feel it sending fuel to carburetor, and once the float bowl is full, I can see the extra fuel shooting out an overflow hole next to the air intake. Today though, when I squeezed the primer bulb, it didn't seem like it was sending any fuel to the carb. It felt mushy like I was just compressing air. When I disconnected the line from the primer bulb to the carburetor to test the bulb, it worked like normal and I could pump fuel no problem. I'm wondering if the quick disconnect is going bad and won't let fuel pass through it to the carburetor. When I unplug the fuel quick disconnect, and squeeze the bulb, it feels and sounds the same way as when the disconnect is connected. Is there any way to test this? I suppose I could connect the fuel line directly to the carb and bypass the quick disconnect?

Thanks
 
It sounds like your carb is flooding and the excess gas is going into the motor.

Pull the plugs and see if they're wet. If so, the carb may need cleaning.

Jeff
 
Sounds like the primer bulb check valves may be bad. Try and borrow a different complete line or replace the fuel bulb.
 
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