Re: Mid 80s Johnson 40 hp

[jerry-ahrens]

It sounds to me like you had an air pocket inside the primer bulb. The correct way to use a primer bulb is to hold in horizontally, with the OUTLET side of the primer bulb facing upward. While squeezing the bulb, the internal check valves will work alot better. This may sound crazy to some, but it works. Some boats that I’ve worked on have the fuel line routed in a way that makes it difficult to hold the primer bulb in this manner, or the line may not have enough slack in it to allow this.
The cheapy aftermarket primer bulbs are notorious for this kind of thing as well. By a Quicksilver or BRP (OMC) primer bulb to get a good one.