I'm considering putting a primer bulb in the fuel line to help prime the the injector pump after
a CAV filter change. Has anyone done this and if so will an ordinary outboard motor bulb do
the job ?.

Select to expand quote

samsturdy said..
I'm considering putting a primer bulb in the fuel line to help prime the the injector pump after
a CAV filter change. Has anyone done this and if so will an ordinary outboard motor bulb do
the job ?.

Sam, I have read about this, seen pics of installs that have been in place for years and am led to believe that the only issue is the quality of the primer bulb, make sure it is suitable for diesel. If I needed to get the fuel to the filter after a change this is definitely the way I would go.

Thanks Bob. I would have thought that anything that handled petrol would handle diesel but, that might not be the case.
It's a real drag trying to get the fuel to the injector pump via the little injector pump lever and I thought a primer bulb
would be the way to go, however, I thought I'd check with the forum first.

I did it years ago & it works great - no dramas yet!!

From memory it was just an outboard one from BCF.

On woodyard with the very shallow timber epoxy tank we put a small electric fuel pump in the line.
Bleeding took about 10 sec
Even had a holder for the 10mm spanner for the bleeder screw in a holder in the engine box
It was a regular occurrence usually at bar crossings!!
It was the best worse solution
Eventually the tank was replaced and a new engine put in.

another option is to buy a cav filter wither a primer pump built in i have used all 3 methods and all are much better than pumping through with the manual lift pump on the side of the engine

I had a primer bulb set up on a bobcat and they did go hard brittle and eventually fail, ( collapse and restrict fuel flow the engine bay of a bobcat is a notably more nasty than the average yachts engine space ) but I'm sure you must be able to get diesel compatable ones, the cav filter with a built in primer would be my choice, that's more or less what my BT50 has and it a piece of cake to change filters

As per boty and woko, there is a diaphragm pump you can add to the CAV filter on the suction side which solves the problem.

See here. www.ebay.com.au/itm/Universal-Fuel-Filter-Assembly-with-Primer-Pump-CAV-Tractor-Bobcat-Truck-etc-/321604369327

I use one located between the fuel tank and the Cav Filter. Works great. Bought a diesel compatible one and still good after 6 years.

I like the idea of the bulb but I found the electric pumps are close in cost. I just jumper the power cables to prime.

www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-2-5-4-PSI-Gas-Diesel-Inline-Low-Pressure-Electric-Fuel-Pump-HEP02A-Universal/233606083328?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item366401f300:g:lFEAAOSwkLNe1KZE&enc=AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkai8xCwosGKpC0NWj85e%2FByTtz5nz4SVW8%2B7EwyJSNlGhk58k3i9O0cIjUI3XE3N%2FpSGG9UNRIdd7LiOhxoVlvwJwFdvfRDHVclyeF0Hpkm05BSb%2Frw5OvGTIQnHiL%2F07UKmnD%2Fw8vTvwhM90t6yDhJR4Oe7OxhW7W9xD6hKGtSIuxU2DjuzMUTXs0k%2B3%2F0UYxOxr9tVBqYqi7IjcA7k8t2fz%2BPWtlk9fw6%2Bnv9mpPygnWQ9S%2FNsz6byb0au%2B6EZCG0jFskJqZpbHGiZU48HVJ1Rjku%2BDANjBdFgOpUUlo5KEdRVTLH9xnlmldC5k7C8whFmB0j%2BdYawI%2BQ1K0Cnh7PXf4cLlRgw5oLnVNVngHY1zngVBncOy3CUapIw%2FIVfejXLsEpuEf2eY5SbAr1e3pAqfFnNqBjwM%2BvenlP%2FJaeLAqDvifWWVNls%2BDEHhphzHiC6bTeHTg0yv20sppBq%2B4o23QLxtwTpiYnHFIsO8ddUaKDzEvydemqNqOY6jPU1d7RucooPGbWDWIwzdzpU1uMKJiwO3YWOBBZEbtdIWqIVYBmMjVtGFDQwIVh1aB0xdCI5es7Irdl7utT91%2Ffg%2BXfC2LSXv4XHxBW5BxPfGdAl1GAWbzwj2AP7wBsLqCGekdm6QM81gxxnwO%2BWxGgiCgwoPCqFpYpIdFG5SHS2d1UILDfoUt9PI10EYHv6OHd%2BAZokjsWG%2B8jMSFuYbzOUOxYSAh4Je5D%2Bmytt%2BXXN3%2FOZSiiffu2ckY2e%2BhsvxyAz%2BTiWIvsk6iG20sZJjbDcl1w%3D%3D&checksum=23360608332863b7067703ac488dbb647bd98bb73ee8

Instead of the troublesome Cav filter I use the Ryco equivalent filter/separator. The Chinese alloy castings are superb and the glass bowl has a far better shape to hold and seal the O ring.

www.rycofilters.com.au/Universal_Fuel_Water_Separators

Select to expand quote

samsturdy said..
I would have thought that anything that handled petrol would handle diesel but, that might not be the case.

Nope, not always the case. Some bulbs may work ok while some may swell up so if you want to go that way measure it when new then maybe soak it in diesel for a couple of weeks then look for changes in size or damage.
Personally I'd go with all in one solution made to handle diesel and preferably included a filter and water trap/sensor, something like the primers used on HIilux, Landcruisers,etc. depending on the barb size you need.

www.ebay.com.au/itm/Diesel-Fuel-Primer-Pump-Assembly-Filter-suits-Toyota-Hilux-2L-3L/400991292421

Thanks for the info everybody.

Ramona....I like the electric pump option. Does it matter where it's located along the line eg. between the fuel tank and CAV filter or between CAV filter and engine. I like the idea of jumping the leads so that I can look at the engine fuel filter bleed screw and watch for the fuel coming through. BTW do you know the barb size, I think my fuel line is 5/16.

Select to expand quote

samsturdy said..
Thanks for the info everybody.

Ramona....I like the electric pump option. Does it matter where it's located along the line eg. between the fuel tank and CAV filter or between CAV filter and engine. I like the idea of jumping the leads so that I can look at the engine fuel filter bleed screw and watch for the fuel coming through. BTW do you know the barb size, I think my fuel line is 5/16.

5/16 or 8mm. Mine is between the primary and the secondary filter. The pump only needs to run a minute or so and leaves both hands free. My lift pump is in a very difficult spot that forces me to lay across the engine! Electric is better.

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..

samsturdy said..
Thanks for the info everybody.

Ramona....I like the electric pump option. Does it matter where it's located along the line eg. between the fuel tank and CAV filter or between CAV filter and engine. I like the idea of jumping the leads so that I can look at the engine fuel filter bleed screw and watch for the fuel coming through. BTW do you know the barb size, I think my fuel line is 5/16.

5/16 or 8mm. Mine is between the primary and the secondary filter. The pump only needs to run a minute or so and leaves both hands free. My lift pump is in a very difficult spot that forces me to lay across the engine! Electric is better.

Good Ramona, that's exactly where mine will go. Hopefully I can keep it outside of the engine box away from the heat.

Hi All
I just found that Aldi had a small manual pump on special last week for $10, I too have problems priming filters as they are above the tank,
The Aldi pump has hoses for suction and delivery.
What I did to prime my filters (Yanmar 3Ym30's) with large water separating pre-filters ,was to remove fuel return line from the filter on engine; clamp on Aldi hose and pump away till I had fuel coming out, refit return line and motor's started fine no further bleeding required.
Made the job so much easier as I have a cat I have to do this twice.
Best $10 I have spent for a while, pump can also double up to pump fenders!

I went with Ramona's idea of an electric pump. I mounted it in the lazarette after the CAV filter with the leads running to
the battery bank which is near the engine fuel pump. I clip the negative lead onto the terminal and hold the positive lead
on until the fuel comes through ( about 15 seconds ). Priming done......easy peasy. Love it.

Select to expand quote

samsturdy said..

Ramona said..

samsturdy said..
Thanks for the info everybody.

Ramona....I like the electric pump option. Does it matter where it's located along the line eg. between the fuel tank and CAV filter or between CAV filter and engine. I like the idea of jumping the leads so that I can look at the engine fuel filter bleed screw and watch for the fuel coming through. BTW do you know the barb size, I think my fuel line is 5/16.

5/16 or 8mm. Mine is between the primary and the secondary filter. The pump only needs to run a minute or so and leaves both hands free. My lift pump is in a very difficult spot that forces me to lay across the engine! Electric is better.

Good Ramona, that's exactly where mine will go. Hopefully I can keep it outside of the engine box away from the heat.

You can place the primer bulb on the fuel return line to the tank