Interested to know / hear comments re rubber primer bulb located beside fuel tank on 2004 Hunter 33. Engine vacuum continually causes bulb to deflate causing fuel restriction then obvious fuel starvation issue. Question is is as engine Yanmar 3YM30 has primer level / pump on engine is rubber priming bulb necessary? Have only previously seen one on outboard engines. Initial response is to replace total fuel line to remove another potential weak spot in the system.
Fuel primer Hunter 33
- Thread starter lbd
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My 3YM30 is self bleeding as I would expect yours to be. Maybe another owner can substantiate but I have never heard of a priming bulb being Hunter installed. I would remove it.
I think a fuel flow restriction at the fuel pick up or maybe at the tank vent is causing the bulb to deflate. The bulb itself could be defective. I use such a rig to refill the Racor filter after changing the element. It never has caused any restrictions to the flow.
The bulb must be have been added as it is not original equipment. There is a major problem with the H33 fuel system which every owner will eventually encounter and I suspect you are in the first phase of it. There is a fine gauze thimble filter at the end of the intake pipe at the bottom of the fuel tank. This will eventually get blocked as it is doing the job of the primarly fiter and there is no mention of it in the manual. The problem is that it is inacessible. I had to cut a hole on the rear port locker floor to be able to extract tthe inlet pipe. I threw away the filter and problem solved. I then added a hatch on the locker floor to cover up the mess. I have since read literature on fuel tank design and it is all adament that there should be no restriction in the tank itself.
I have also added a new primary filter beside the fual tank as the original Hunter one is very difficult to get at.
I have also added a new primary filter beside the fual tank as the original Hunter one is very difficult to get at.
If you end up replacing this hose be sure that you use the propper hose for marine diesel engines. This may help prevent leaks in the future.
Thanks for all suggestions. Replaced full hose with marine grade replacement and no issues.....touch wood. For interest dismantled old hose with primer bulb to find bulb well endowed with weed and debris. Was more a reservoir for rubbish rather than fuel. Could have cleaned and re-installed but total line replacement removed another weak spot from the system. Next project to install extra filter with glass / see through bowl near tank which will be far easier to access if contamination occurs. Also replaced 4" screw type inspection cover with 8" version in port rear locker. Much easier access to inspect tank / lines etc. Easy job, unsure why not completed at production. Again thanks to all for assistance.
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