Manny2308

Hey Guys having an issue with one of my 2006 Suzuki DF250 where it cranks but won't turn over. I can hear the fuel pump working when I turn the ignition switch, and I'm not getting any codes. I've tried squeezing the primer bulb and it firms up but goes soft with a couple of seconds. Can the primer bulb have gone bad? I don't see any leaks from the tank hose to the fuel water separator or any of the hose clamps which I just replaced ( yes, all the hose clamps are tight). No fuel smell in the bilge. Checked the white cable in the console and everything is intact, all fuses are good. Thanks

WeekendWarriorNoob

One simple test: your air vent could be clogged, try unscrewing your gas cap a little and see if it starts then.

Edit: I missed that you said you have a pair of engines and one was starting.

dcgator

Kill switch?

Manny2308

No, starboard engine starts perfectly, same kill switch.

WeekendWarriorNoob

Does it go soft after trying to start the engine or before? If before, then yes, it could be bad. Ethanol can dissolve the plastic balls in the check valve.

Manny2308

Before. I pump it a couple of times, it firms up (doesn't get hard either) and within 10 seconds it'll go soft. this primer bulb was replaced less than 2 years ago and I've only ran REC-90 since before then. Doesn't seem cracked or anything.

WeekendWarriorNoob

Is it oriented differently than the bulb for the other engine? The check valve relies on gravity, bulb has to be oriented with the arrow pointing up.

ChrisKirby

That doesn't mean anything. Each engine will still have it's own kill wire. You need to pull the plugs and make sure you are getting spark to rule out a kill switch issue.

Manny2308

Yes it's pointing up

WeekendWarriorNoob

Not sure then, but sounds like something is up with the non-return valve in the bulb. I'd try to rule that out since it seems to be the simplest explanation. Maybe try swapping bulbs?

WeekendWarriorNoob

Or just have a buddy pump the bulb continuously while you try to start the engine. If it starts, it would point to an issue with the bulb issue, I think.

1breakinit

did the motor break down or did it just fail to start ?? .
check for spark >>> report back.

Manny2308

Did not break down, hadn't been able to use the boat for a couple of months and got the chance to go out so I went to check everything was good the day before heading to the ramp and found the motor was not starting. I started looking around and found some of the hose clamps were broken off on the fuel lines at the bulb and water separator. Replaced all the clamps, and did the key cycling shown in the Suzuki service manual for priming the system, nothing. After a couple of tries I got to start and all was well. Then a week or two after the same thing but this time I couldn't get it to start at all.

SeaCat22

See if you can drain the fuel rails and flush it out. Drain the VST and pump the primer bulb to flush it.
See if that helps.

1breakinit

so have you got spark at the plugs when you are cranking it over ???.

remove 1 plug and ground it whilst someone turns it over .

we need to determine if you are possibly getting a intermittent spark failure.

have you used SDS yet to see if any stored faults .

MYBUD2

Check idle control valve

MYBUD2

Check idle control valve, same thing on my 05 200

WeekendWarriorNoob

Hi OP, any update? Resolution on stuff like this helps some of us learn.

Manny2308

Yes, sorry for no update. Went to change out the primer bulb and while I was at there I noticed the battery was low on juice, traced that issue back to a faulty charger. It seems that all the cranking trying to start before drained the battery as well. Charged the battery up after installing the new bulb, put it back in, and she fired right up. Although the old bulb doesn’t show any noticeable signs of wear it seems to have been bad. You’d squeeze it until it formed up and not 2 seconds later it’d go soft again. The new one did not do this.