I HATE "primer bulbs"

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67Dart273

67Dart273

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I'd really like to FIND the Alpha Hotel who "invented" getting rid of chokes on small engines and going to "primer bulbs." All my old engines, years ago, used to start just fine with a manual choke. I don't think of the 6 or so engines I've got "lately" (meaning the last 20 years) which have primers work worth a crap. They either don't get enough, and you crank till you drop, or they get too much, and you ....."crank till you drop."
 
Ethanol kills them.
 
I'm not referring to them failing as in falling apart, I'm simply referring to the fact that the damn things don't work nearly as well as a choke. A HUGE improvement in small engines "generally" came with the implementation of breakerless ignition. I can NOT say the same for the change from "chokes" to "primers"
 
My biggest gripe is the elimination of throttles altogether on mowers. True, most can be modded with throttle repair kits, but still!
 
I dunno, i got a 10 year old craftsman mower with a tecumseh engine. 3 pumps of the primer and jerk the cord, the ***** starts right up.
 
First thing that comes to mind is the first gas powered push mower in my memory. Unfold and wind a lever. Return fold lever and turn release knob to spin engine. Repeat over and over again. Next step, go get a tool, remove breather, and attempt to pour just a small amount of fuel in carb.
Today.., I push the primer bulb as many times as req'd to get that juicy fluid moving sound. Then the 3 recommended pushes, pull the start rope once, and boldly mow where no mower has gone before. LOL
My grandpa should have had life so good.
2 things contribute to my success, ethanol free fuel and Stabil additive.
 
The new ones have no predator controls whatsoever. I'm curious where they'll be in ten years. Could be junk could be jems. I guess we'll see.

I bought a husqie to replace a primer bulb snapper. Kinda curious how it will go but it's a champ for now!
 
Hey easy now.
We're lucky mowers still have steel blades instead of some sort of "Safety Blade" that doesn't cut worth a ****.

As far as the primer bulbs, they did that because most consumers are too ignorant to know how to use a choke, and it looked bad for their product to not start.
 
RedFish said:
First thing that comes to mind is the first gas powered push mower in my memory. Unfold and wind a lever. Return fold lever and turn release knob to spin engine. Repeat over and over again. Next step, go get a tool, remove breather, and attempt to pour just a small amount of fuel in carb.
Today.., I push the primer bulb as many times as req'd to get that juicy fluid moving sound. Then the 3 recommended pushes, pull the start rope once, and boldly mow where no mower has gone before. LOL
My grandpa should have had life so good.
2 things contribute to my success, ethanol free fuel and Stabil additive.
Click to expand...

I was just telling my fiance, that in the old days in the winter, you had to go "play around" with a cold car to get it started, and if it flooded, you were going to work a little late. I'm talking points and a carburetor, and cold in the teens to below zero. My mom drove 60's cars in the mid-late 70's and I remember she would always have it tuned up right before and after winter. points and plugs every 6 months. Cars today are virtually maintenance free except for oil changes and tires and brakes.
 
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