Hey guys. I seem to have a plugged primer line. Not getting any fuel into my primer at all. What's the best way to fix this? Take the line off the primer end and blow back through it with compressed air?
Thanks in advance.

Mine were plugged years ago. Made cold weather starting really hard! I changed Ap right after that. This AP takes them out. I am guessing it is solvent, brush, and a blow nozzle.

Cheers...Rob

It is most likely plugged at the nozzle itself. I would do as Oregon maule said, pull all the nozzles, soak them in a solvent (MEK will work great if you have it) brush the solvent around with an acid brush, and clean them up with scotch bright as needed.

When you have all the nozzles out, have someone actuate the primer while you watch the various lines, that way you'll be able to confirm a nozzle blockage.

It's a common problem. My IA took care of it for me, so I can't help on the cure. But the prevention, according to him, is to use your primer somewhat forcefully, which forces the fuel through and keeps the gunk from forming. That's better for atomizing the fuel, anyway.

Cary

With no fuel getting to the primer it is a plugged supply line or? Be carefull about blowing backwards with air. It may blow you gascalator or ??? apart. I would start taking the line apart section by section to establish where the blockage is then use air or wire to clean it out. Not sure exactly how your system is set up but it sure would not be nice blowing out some fuel selector or carb/fuel injection parts.

175 magnum wrote:With no fuel getting to the primer it is a plugged supply line or? Be carefull about blowing backwards with air. It may blow you gascalator or ??? apart. I would start taking the line apart section by section to establish where the blockage is then use air or wire to clean it out. Not sure exactly how your system is set up but it sure would not be nice blowing out some fuel selector or carb/fuel injection parts.

Thanks 175. I agree that it is not the nozzles but the supply line. No fuel at all getting to my primer pump. It's on a 62 model C180. I put a one of the Steves gascolators on it this spring, and haven't used the primer all summer. Now that it's cold I have a heck of a time starting it. Note to self will be use the primer every so often to keep it working.
So does the primer get supplied from the gascolator?

If the plunger goes back in then its not the nozzle. If the nozzle is plugged the primer will just stay locked out.
Most likely is a stuck valve in the inlet of the primer. especially if its not being used too much. You can take the line off at the gascolator and at the nozzle and blow through with a little compressed air to see if it jars loose.
Probably worth cleaning the nozzle anyway as long as you are in there.
I have seen the o-rings on the plunger get too leaky to form enough vacuum to pull the fuel past the inlet valve also.
New o-rings are easy to do.
Also you can take the whole primer apart to clean valves if all else fails.

Watch where the springs and BB's go .

I had the same problem a few years ago.
I started loosening fittings on the pressure side to find the blockage. Crack a fitting loose and have someone work the primer, fuel will spray through the fitting if there is fuel there.
Mine ended up being plugged nossles. 6 point system with the nossles in the cylinders with one or two working so the primer would still pump.

Terry wrote:I had the same problem a few years ago.
I started loosening fittings on the pressure side to find the blockage. Crack a fitting loose and have someone work the primer, fuel will spray through the fitting if there is fuel there.
Mine ended up being plugged nossles. 6 point system with the nossles in the cylinders with one or two working so the primer would still pump.

Was it pumping fuel though? I'm not pushing any fuel, just air. I'm thinking Tango Fox is correct on it being a sticky valve. I'll be into it in an hr so I'll let y'all know.

Yes it was pumping fuel. I agree it must be on the suction side then.

Well took the primer apart, everything appeared good. Put new o-rings on it because I had it apart. Fuel was running from the gascolator to the primer, but I disconnected it from the gascolator and blew through it anyway. Put it back together and it didn't want to work at first, so I disconnected the outlet side of the pump and game it a push while keeping my finger over the opening. After I let my finger off fuel started coming out and it primed good after I reinstalled the line. I think it's all good now! Thanks for the help!

Great that is working again but don't you just hate it when you don't know exactly what actually fixed it. Some times I think there is magic involved.

175 magnum wrote:Great that is working again but don't you just hate it when you don't know exactly what actually fixed it. Some times I think there is magic involved.

You got that right!
Thanks again.
David