Carburator Can't Prime

[jerry525]

I have a Ryobi gas edger 4 cycle. Problem is not Ryobi specific, it could be for any small motor carburator.

I bought a new carburator for my edger which wouldn't start. Fuel flowed OK, spark OK, air filter replaced, muffler and spark arrester cleaned, new gas tank, new fuel lines, new gas, new spark plug. Still wouldn't start.

Time for a new carburator. Sooooo......



I replaced the carburator and the gasket between it and the carburator motor mounts.

Hooked up the new gas tank with fresh fuel. Gas tank came with new fuel lines to carb.

Torqued everthing properly.

Installed air filter and cover.

Everything new and installed in the proper sequence from where the carb attaches to the motor mounts. first the motor mount gasket > carburator > air filter > cover. Hooked up throttle linkage and air breather. Nothing else to it.

PROBLEM

When I prime the bulb it does not suck fuel into the bulb therefore no fuel gets to the carb.

While I'm trying to prime, I do hear a slight air hiss with each squeze of the bulb.

I would think that a brand new, out of the box carburator would not do that ! ! !

The only external gasket involved is the one between the back of the carburator and the carburator motor mount. Everything forward of that gasket is self contained within the new carburator which came fully assembled from the factory.

There are four screws that hold the primer bulb to the side of the carb. With a small philips head, I carefully tried tightening them. Got just the tiniest movement in each, not enough to beleive they were loose and therefore not properly affixed to the gasket behind it.


Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Jerry

[csquare1]

I replied to this question yesterday but apparently did not get through.

I had a similar problem with my chain saw. Primer would not suck fuel from tank. Besides the fuel line, the only other thing between the primer and the fuel is the fuel filter. So check it to be sure it is not clogged. The best way to check it is to remove it altogether. If fuel starts to flow then it is the filter. But don't run engine without it for very long.

If it is not the fuel filter, the hissing sound you mentioned suggests the fuel lines may be crossed. Reverse the present set up and see if that works.

If you just want to see your engine running again, make yourself your own gas tank from a small plasitc bottle and attach it directly to the carb intake. Allow the fuel in the bottle to gravity feed into the carb intake lline. If everything else is working the engine should start. If it starts, check everthing from the intake line back to the gas tank including possible loose lines.