4 Ways To Fix Primer Bulb Not Filling

A primer bulb is an extremely important part of a number of small engines. This part of the engine is very useful as it lets the user draw fuel from the fuel reservoir. From there it will be transferred straight into the carburettor.

How to Fix Primer Bulb Not Filling?

Sometimes the primer bulb may malfunction and end up not filling all. This also means that it won’t be able to transfer fuel to the carbonator like it is supposed to. This may disrupt the machine and stop its proper functioning. If you face such a situation, it is better to find out the root of the problem and solve it so that the machine can work like normal again.

In case you are unable to find the cause of the problem and don’t know how to fix this, you will find this article helpful. We have found some super easy and fast fixes for the primer bulb if it gives you trouble. You can read through them to help shed some light on the problem and the solution.

Possible Air Leak

The most common reason for primer bulbs to not work and land with this issue is air leak in the intake line. Air leaks are mostly due to incorrect sizing of intake lines along with fitting issues which does not secure the primer bulb. Another possibility for an air leak could be that the line with the filter is not fully or properly submerged with the gasoline.

The solution to this would be to inline the tank by using a bit of line hook. Then you can test it with a cup of gasoline to see if the device has started to work again. 

Pressing the Bulb

Sometimes the primer bulb may not work until you manually press it down to make it do so. All you should do is push the bulb down while holding your fingers at the end of the line. This line must go all the way back to the tank. Release the bulb after sometime and repeat the process again till you see results.

Make sure that you don’t have all lines reversed while manually pressing the Bulb. If there is this problem, then you must straighten up the lines for it to work properly.

Faulty Primer

It is also probable that the main reason why your primer bulb is not filling is due to the fact that you may have a damaged or a defective primer. The fault of not working may simply lie in the primer bulb itself.

While there is no easy way to check and confirm if the bulb is faulty, you can just buy a new one and replace the old one to see if it works. Here are some reasons why your primer bulb may be faulty and not working:-

  • Unable to create suction
  • Have cracks or damage on the bulb
  • There is no pressure even when manually pressed

Replacing the Fuel Lines

You might replace the old primer bulb with a new one but still your problem may continue to occur. If this happens, it might be due to the fact that your fuel line needs to be replaced asap. We would actually recommend you to buy both the primer bulb and fuel lines together when you need to replace one. This will spare you the trouble of constantly replacing each part.

Before you install the new fuel lines, make sure that you have cut the new lines in the exact same dimensions as the old one. If you do not check then the problem might keep coming back as stated above. There are multiple YouTube tutorials available on how to change fuel lines. You can also call a professional in case you are not so confident about your skills.

The Bottom Line

If you follow all these guidelines that are stated in the article, you will be able to solve this problem in no time. You might have to be a little patient while trying to locate the source of the issue. Try to check everything before you decide to get a new set so that you don’t spend unnecessary money on less urgent requirements.