Dropped the lower unit to service the impeller.



Upskirt.




 

Water seal is junk. Ordered a new one.

Scott a little wax on those and that merc will be ripping you through the water in no time

Ran another leak test filling the boat up to the top of the stringers. All watertight except rear lower seam running along transom width. Filled with POR15. Also the drain hole dripped continuously but will wrap some plumbers tape on the plug and should be good.

Bought some vintage water skis in anticipation.

Yesterday fired up the merc. Would turn over but no spark. Today on advice removed magneto and filed/sanded the points since motor had been sitting for 5 yrs. Reassembled tested spark and she fired off first start.

Telltale is a bit of a trickle so will be replacing the impeller next.

The bulbs pump fuel very well, air not too well, if the bulb is near the tank it will pick up fuel faster and it will prime everything down stream. 
An air leak anywhere is a problem.

It's about the check valve in the primer bulb.

The sooner it gets fuel the sooner it functions properly. Mine hangs off the bottom of the fuel filter/ water separator with the arrow pointing towards the separator.

I have the clear bowl with a floating red ring that has a specific gravity between water and gasoline. It floats on top of any water in the bowl. The bowl has a valve at the bottom for draining off water. 

The filter/separator on two Cummins I have do not have clear bowls but do have the water drain valve and a dash light indicating water in the filter. 

A mystery wrapped in a riddle. I’ll be happy she starts after sitting so long.

The pressure of primer bulb on suction side of separator would still push through discharge side of filter to carbs I think scoot68. 

Normal conditions…

we should think about abnormal conditions like bad seal or leak at filter.. would bulb suck air where we have it?
 

I put the primer bulb there as advised from a water separating installation video. Will see how it goes. No hassle to relocate.

Apparently works both ways. What one fella said...

In 30 years of running and working on outboards, I have never seen a primer before the fuel/water separator, it's not gonna serve any purpose before the separator. You're not priming your separator, you are priming your carbs.

If you have it before the separator and you pump it, all you are doing is filling up the filter, which is more than likely already full. The whole purpose of the primer is to prime the carbs from the filter full of fuel. I'm surprised you can even start cold with your bulb ahead of the separator.

Ray I mounted bulb the same on my boat and not had any problems as of yet. Makes logical sense what your saying but so far so good.