Thread: Learned something today

I bought a new fuel line assembly for my boat. My old bulb was deteriorating and left black gunk in your hand when you pumped it so I figured it was time for a new one. Bought a Mercury assembly from a local shop and put it on my boat. It is a Tracker with a built in tank. Well I pumped until I was blue in the face and could not get it to pump up. Checked the fuel flow arrow 20 times and yes it was installed correctly. Called my buddy who is pretty handy with mecahnics and he headed over to see if he could help. I tried loosening the gas cap, holding the check valve open, holding the end of the hose down on the ground, nothing worked.
Called the shop where I bought it and after checking for the 21st time that the arrow on the bulb was pointed the right way, he said get up on the back deck and hold the hose straight up in the air above the tank and try it. I asked him to repeat what he said cause it did not make any sense to me. I was desparate and out of ideas so I did what he said and guess what? Pumped right up in about 4 or 5 squeezes of the bulb. My buddy drove up about this time and he was as puzzled as I was. Got no idea why it worked but it did.
SeaRay

My OMC bulb will not pump tight if the motor is tilted, but I can lower the motor to normal position at it will pump tight in 2-3 pumps. Does anyone else notice this?