Priming Bulb for 356C
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- 356 Fan
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- Location: Metairie. Louisiana
Priming Bulb for 356C
I am planning to install a priming bulb to speed up starting my engine after the car has been sitting for a while. Every brand I have looked at has plastic hose barbs. I would prefer a bulb that has metal barbs for strength reasons since it will be located in the engine compartment. Is such a bulb available? If not, what is a recommendation for a good brand to obtain.
Thanks, Wyatt Blankingship
Thanks, Wyatt Blankingship
Wyatt Blankingship
- Gary Carriveau
- 356 Fan
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- Location: North San Diego County, California
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 1280
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Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
That's a reasonable concern, but you could also extend the same concern to the rubber squeeze bulb as well. Having said that these are commonplace in the marine arena and, for one, West Marine carries these as kits in several line diameters. Most importantly, make sure that the hose and bulb is rated for use with ethanol gasoline.
< Jeff >
Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2
Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 4184
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:54 am
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
Wyatt,
I've never added such a unit as I always prime the oil thru the engine 1st vs a dry startup! Just make sure the carbs are set to specs (injections), fuel pump works w/proper output, engine tuned to specs, and a good battery. Even w/an electric pump, I wouldn't start the engine (my 4-cam) w/o oil priming for about a minute before a 'fire-up'.
On Saturday--after a 2-week 'sit', the '58 N Speedster I was servicing (w/outside temp @ 28F--47F in the garage, tho) was started w/in 35 seconds; the owner said after a 1/2 year's sit, it took a little longer, but it started OK.
Dick
I've never added such a unit as I always prime the oil thru the engine 1st vs a dry startup! Just make sure the carbs are set to specs (injections), fuel pump works w/proper output, engine tuned to specs, and a good battery. Even w/an electric pump, I wouldn't start the engine (my 4-cam) w/o oil priming for about a minute before a 'fire-up'.
On Saturday--after a 2-week 'sit', the '58 N Speedster I was servicing (w/outside temp @ 28F--47F in the garage, tho) was started w/in 35 seconds; the owner said after a 1/2 year's sit, it took a little longer, but it started OK.
Dick
- Dave Wildrick
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 1953
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- Location: Houston, TX
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
I've been using these bulbs for about 12 years now in both of my C coupes. I've tried Attwood, Moeller, and SeaSense brands. I have not noticed much difference in how they work or their longevity, so I would not say one brand is better than another. They seem to last for around 3-4 years before they harden up and get tough to squeeze, which is when I replace them. Current ones are alcohol resistant, if you read the fine print. Wal-Mart used to sell the SeaSense bulb for about $6 or $8, but I believe prices have gone up on all brands.Wyatt Blankingship wrote:I am planning to install a priming bulb to speed up starting my engine after the car has been sitting for a while. Every brand I have looked at has plastic hose barbs. I would prefer a bulb that has metal barbs for strength reasons since it will be located in the engine compartment. Is such a bulb available? If not, what is a recommendation for a good brand to obtain.
Thanks, Wyatt Blankingship
I just checked on Amazon, and I find the Attwood bulb (5/16 inch fittings), which specifies alcohol-resistance, for $13.57 (with Amazon Prime, free 2-day shipping if you are a member).
See: http://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Universal ... ulb+5%2F16
I locate the bulb at the rear of the engine compartment and suspend it off the "deck" with wire ties, to keep it further from any hot sheet metal parts. I have never experienced any softening of the plastic bulb fittings or any fuel leaks from them.
Unlike professional mechanics, some of whom seem to experience no evaporation of fuel from the carb bowls when the car sits for weeks and whose cars are always in tune, both of my coupes (with the unorthodox and unloved by many, Weber IDF40s) seem to require lots of cranking that runs the battery down if I don't use the squeeze bulbs to refill the carb bowls prior to starting. So, I will continue to use them because they work for me.
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
I also sourced my priming bulb from Walmart's sporting goods section for my previous '65C which, if it wasn't driven almost daily, would suffer from dry carburetors. My 6V system would run out of cranking boost quickly, even with a fresh battery, and the priming bulb just made everything easier.
< Jeff >
Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2
Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
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- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
It is nice that Amazon has set up Amazon Prime , I am guessing it is specifically for selling priming bulbs. That is real service.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Ron LaDow
- 356 Fan
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- Location: San Francisco
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
http://instantrimshot.com/Martin Benade wrote:It is nice that Amazon has set up Amazon Prime , I am guessing it is specifically for selling priming bulbs. That is real service.
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
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- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
That is great- I selected an appropriate one to razz myself, from you.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:40 am
- Location: Metairie. Louisiana
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
Thanks to all for you input on priming bulbs. You have all been a real help.
Wyatt Blankingship
Wyatt Blankingship
Wyatt Blankingship
- Dennis ODonnell
- 356 Fan
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Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
It's not a boat. How about something that looks like it belongs there?
http://www.precisionmatters.biz/primer-reservoir.php>
Never one to beat his own drum.
<Never one to beat his own drum.
- Gary Carriveau
- 356 Fan
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Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
When will these be back in production???
Gary
'64 C Coupe
Gary
'64 C Coupe
Gary W. Carriveau
'64 C Coupe
'64 C Coupe
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
I would like to see an integrated shut off valve on the output side. If I don't use my car for several weeks I let the carbs run dry before I shut it down.
Fred
Fred
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
Dennis, the nice thing about Ron's primer is that even though it "looks like it should be there" most observers cant see it's being there.
< Jeff >
Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2
Registry Member Since 1978
1963 356B T-6 Super 90 Coupe
2009 997.2 Carrera S
2015 958 Cayenne diesel-1 & 2015 958 Cayenne diesel-2
-
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:01 pm
- Location: Southern Arkansas
Re: Priming Bulb for 356C
Wyatt,
Here's a picture of the bulb instillation on my C coupe. Origionally it had a loop of new fuel line, but I recently fabricated a new line out of truck steel brake line as recommended by Ken Dougherty. The new line before the bulb attach point is shorter and more elevated than factory line. So far it works well, doesn't get hot, and no fuel leakage.
Here's a picture of the bulb instillation on my C coupe. Origionally it had a loop of new fuel line, but I recently fabricated a new line out of truck steel brake line as recommended by Ken Dougherty. The new line before the bulb attach point is shorter and more elevated than factory line. So far it works well, doesn't get hot, and no fuel leakage.