Primer bulb doesn't fit...

[MassillonBuckeye]

Its a Quicksilver 89396Q01 which says "fits 1/4" Inside diameter hose." The site I ordered it from has it listed as 1/4". My fuel lines are definitely 1/4". It's an older Mercury. Well the bulb has 5/16" hose barbs. I confirmed with a piece of 5/16 hose here AND at a local West Marine. Who also has the same quicksilver bulb, which we tested and theirs was the same way. Fit 5/16 line. Anyone have any ideas? I ended up just buying the Moeller or Tempo 1/4" bulb kit from them and it fits just fine. My girlfriend is crazy jane and says its made for some special space age alien technology 1/4 fuel line that apparently only she knows about. "its stretchier".. Yes?

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

ID vs OD. Whitchit? Stretch it if it will.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

ID vs OD. Whitchit? Stretch it if it will.

Says "inside diameter". The end of my 1/4" fuel line was starting to break up.. I also thought I was going to break the plastic hose barbs I was putting so much pressure trying to get the thing on. Thats when I decided it was the wrong size and started looking around. Grabbed a chunk of 5/16 line and verified.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

I have come to believe that Quicksilver, Attwood, Moeller, and others are all liers.

Sometimes they fit, sometimes not. Even with the same part number.

Either way the bulbs from all the above suck, and get stiff after a year. Even if you do manage to get them to fit, check and you will see that their bulb-end-pipe is smaller diameter than a decent OEM bulb pipe.

This is one case where the best bet is to get an OEM part. Johnson/Evinrude bulbs are just a few dollars more, but they are way better. I've never seen one in a store, you have to get the OEM Johnson (or MERC or Yamaha) bulb online.

Oh yeah, those fuel tank fittings they sell in Walmart are liers too. They are all 1/4" hose fittings, instead of the 3/8" as it says on the package. For fuel fittings, spend the extra $3 and get the Johnson/Evinrude/Merc/Yamaha name brand OEM fittings.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

I have come to believe that Quicksilver, Attwood, Moeller, and others are all liers.

Sometimes they fit, sometimes not. Even with the same part number.

Either way the bulbs from all the above suck, and get stiff after a year. Even if you do manage to get them to fit, check and you will see that their bulb-end-pipe is smaller diameter than a decent OEM bulb pipe.

This is one case where the best bet is to get an OEM part. Johnson/Evinrude bulbs are just a few dollars more, but they are way better. I've never seen one in a store, you have to get the OEM Johnson (or MERC or Yamaha) bulb online.

The search for an OEM Mercury bulb is what lead me to the Quicksilver. That is what is listed on Mercurypartsexpress website.. Anything I could find in reference to Mercury OEM bulb was this quicksilver part#. I didn't think to look for the OMC. Was looking for 1/4" and you can't find too many of them to begin with.. Anyone have any links to anything better then? 1/4" hose barbs? Thanks for the replies.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

The Quicksilver bulb may not totally suck, I just assumed that based on other Quicksilver stuff I've dealt with. Attwood and Moeller bulbs definitely suck. The OMC/Johnson/Evinrude bulbs are top quality.

With the 5/16" bulb you now have, and a 1/4" ID hose, with a pencil and a couple of day's patience you may stretch that hose to get it to fit.

If your hoses are old, this may be a good time to replace them with 5/16 or 3/8.

I assume we're talking about a smaller outboard?

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

The Quicksilver bulb may not totally suck, I just assumed that based on other Quicksilver crap I've dealt with. Attwood and Moeller bulbs definitely suck. The OMC/Johnson/Evinrude bulbs are top quality, Yamaha bulbs are great too, if you can find one.

With the 5/16" bulb you now have, and a 1/4" ID hose, with a pencil and a couple of day's patience you may stretch that hose to get it to fit.

If your hoses are old, this may be a good time to replace them with 5/16 or 3/8.

I assume we're talking about a smaller outboard?

Its a 1978 70 HP. 3 cyl. Ehh.. I'd have to replace the check valve on the aluminum tank, about 5 feet of fuel line and the hose barb adapter on the quick disconnect. Not major but.. I've also already purchased the correct fitting 1/4" bulb and installed it. I dunno.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

Bigger hoses are always better, but if you managed to jam that 5/16 bulb onto a 1/4 hose, you'll be fine.

If you find that your motor bogs down ONLY at high rpms, you may have a fuel restriction issue.

That "check valve" at the tank (called an Anti-siphon valve) is a likely culprit.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

Take the 1/4(aka 5/16) bulb, hose, and a glass of water to the kitchen when the admiral is gone!
Place the glass of water in the microwave for 3-4 minutes or until the water comes to a boil.
Quickly remove the glass of boiling water from the microwave. Wear Oven Mitts!
Stick 1-2 inches of the hose in the water for 30 seconds to soften it up.
Quickly shake off the water and shove the hose over the barb!

Hint: A light coating of silicon grease or vaseline on the barb also helps.

If the 1/4 bulb is truely a 5/16 it may have been packaged wrong and it will never stretch that much.
If your fuel line has braided fibers within the rubber, your stretchability will be limited.

Otherwise This has actual 1/4 barbs!

 

[sschefer]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

Quicksilver is Mercury.. The bulb is made for above deck fuel line using crimp on clamps. Above deck fuel line is the gray colored line that is USCG approved. The bulb will not fit regular automotive 1/4 black rubber hose but it will fit the FI rated hose with the blue liner. I went with a moeller when my Quicksilver wouldn't fit too. I didn't figure it out until I was futzing around in the shop one day.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

Quicksilver is Mercury.. The bulb is made for above deck fuel line using crimp on clamps. Above deck fuel line is the gray colored line that is USCG approved. The bulb will not fit regular automotive 1/4 black rubber hose but it will fit the FI rated hose with the blue liner. I went with a moeller when my Quicksilver wouldn't fit too. I didn't figure it out until I was futzing around in the shop one day.

Hmm. Ok, well do you guys think its worth it to swap the stuff out to 5/16 or 3/8? I do have an issue where I'm bogging on the water at mid to high RPM, but I attributed that to either dirty carbs(cleaning now) or electrical issues with stator shorting or something. My wires are rotting. I might as well eh? Ugh.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

If your whole fuel system is as old as your motor (1978 70-hp Merc you said), you might as well replace it all. Line, bayonets (o-rings inside do not last forever), bulb, filter(s), line under the cowling, all of it. And you might as well go 5/16 throughout, that's what size the fittings on your carbs are (I have the same motor).

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Primer bulb doesn't fit...

If your whole fuel system is as old as your motor (1978 70-hp Merc you said), you might as well replace it all. Line, bayonets (o-rings inside do not last forever), bulb, filter(s), line under the cowling, all of it. And you might as well go 5/16 throughout, that's what size the fittings on your carbs are (I have the same motor).

I ended up replacing the lines and fittings. Had a 5/16 fuel filter laying around that sealed the deal. I screwd up and grabbed the 3/8 hose connector for the tank side quick disconnect, but we made that one fit Wasn't nearly as difficult as trying to get that 1/4" on that new bulb...