Hello:

When one pumps the bulb the few times that is required when starting the
typical lawnmower, etc.,
exactly what is one doing ?

a. e.g., does the pumping action just draw gas into the bulb, and then the
next push on the bulb
squirts it into the carb, or... ?

b. If there is gas in the bulb, can one consider the engine "primed" ?

If someone might explain this bulb pumping routine a bit, and exactly what
happens,
would be appreciative. Realize I really don't understand what is happening

Thanks,
Bob

Robert11 wrote:
Hello:

When one pumps the bulb the few times that is required when starting the
typical lawnmower, etc.,
exactly what is one doing ?

a. e.g., does the pumping action just draw gas into the bulb, and then the
next push on the bulb
squirts it into the carb, or... ?

b. If there is gas in the bulb, can one consider the engine "primed" ?

If someone might explain this bulb pumping routine a bit, and exactly what
happens,
would be appreciative. Realize I really don't understand what is happening

I don't know how far along the gas is pushed, but what you're doing is
flooding the fuel line (which drains when the engine isn't running) so
that you don't have to pull-start the engine or run the starter for a real
long time while eating up the air in the line.


John
--
Remove the dead poet to e-mail, tho CC'd posts are unwelcome.
Mean People Suck - It takes two deviations to get cool.
Ask me about joining the NRA.

wrote:
Robert11 wrote:

Hello:


When one pumps the bulb the few times that is required when starting the
typical lawnmower, etc.,
exactly what is one doing ?


a. e.g., does the pumping action just draw gas into the bulb, and then the
next push on the bulb
squirts it into the carb, or... ?


b. If there is gas in the bulb, can one consider the engine "primed" ?


If someone might explain this bulb pumping routine a bit, and exactly what
happens,
would be appreciative. Realize I really don't understand what is happening


I don't know how far along the gas is pushed, but what you're doing is
flooding the fuel line (which drains when the engine isn't running) so
that you don't have to pull-start the engine or run the starter for a real
long time while eating up the air in the line.


John

You are correct John, it pulls fuel up from the tank, but it does
actually push fuel into the "carb" bore. If you push it too many times
you can "flood" the engine.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

Robert,

It has always been my impression that there are 2 types of primers for
small gasoline engines:

1) One type primes the combustion chamber by squirting raw gasoline
into the fuel intake.
2) The second type primes the carb by pumping gasoline into the fuel bowl.

One crude method of determining the type of primer is by observing the
priming instructions. If you are priming the combustion chamber, then
you'll be instructed to pump the primer just a few times. If you are
priming the carb fuel bowl, then you are probably instructed to pump
more times.

A better method is to test the primer while the engine is running. Have
another person rapidly pump the primer while the engine is running. Ten
very rapid pumps should work fine. If the engine operation is not changed
with all of that priming, then the primer delivers gas to the fuel bowl
and not to the combustion chamber. But if the engine sputters or stalls,
then the primer is delivering fuel to the combustion chamber and the rapid
primer while running is flooding the engine with too much gasoline. Often
this will cause the engine to sputter and stall.

I've never read any of this anywhere and it is just what I've picked up
over the years. I have small gasoline engines which display both sets
of behaviors, so I'm a believer that there are 2 priming methods.

Good luck,
Gideon

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:44:34 -0400, "Robert11"
wrote:

Hello:

When one pumps the bulb the few times that is required when starting the
typical lawnmower, etc.,
exactly what is one doing ?

a. e.g., does the pumping action just draw gas into the bulb, and then the
next push on the bulb
squirts it into the carb, or... ?

b. If there is gas in the bulb, can one consider the engine "primed" ?

If someone might explain this bulb pumping routine a bit, and exactly what
happens,
would be appreciative. Realize I really don't understand what is happening

Thanks,
Bob

Pull off the air cleaner and take a look down the carb while pressing
the primer bulb and see what happens. You'll see the gas squiring
towards the engine intake.

Thunder

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:44:34 -0400, "Robert11"
wrote:

Hello:

When one pumps the bulb the few times that is required when starting the
typical lawnmower, etc.,
exactly what is one doing ?

a. e.g., does the pumping action just draw gas into the bulb, and then the
next push on the bulb
squirts it into the carb, or... ?

b. If there is gas in the bulb, can one consider the engine "primed" ?

If someone might explain this bulb pumping routine a bit, and exactly what
happens,
would be appreciative. Realize I really don't understand what is happening

Thanks,
Bob

===============
I believe all you are doing is pumping air (adding pressure) to the
fule tank thus "pushing" fuel towards the carb.... I used to trim my
lawn woith a lawnboy walk behind mower and the "bulb" was
dryrotted...and did not work....I just disconnected it and when I need
to start the engine I just blew a little air into the line and the
engine started right up... plugged the line with a golf tee when not
in use for years... Got smart years ago and now what my lawn tractor
will not cut just does not get cut...

Bob G

replying to Gideon, John Frick wrote:
Awesome measure of accumulated knowledge Gideon, Thank You!
-John

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