Fuel Bleeding Westerbeke 40 - Electric Fuel Pump -- No Primer Pump

[stwagstaff]

On my boat a previous owner installed an electric fuel pump, but removed the manual priming pump from the fuel circuit. I had a fuel problem the other day that necessitated opening up the line and I needed to re-bleed the system, but I couldn't follow the manual's instructions, because there's no manual pump in the line. I was eventually able to bleed the line by leaving on the electric pump then opening the successive bleed points, so I guess the manual pump isn't absolutely necessary to pressurize the line, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to live without it.

Does anybody have a similar setup -- electric fuel pump, no priming pump -- or is this a hack that needs to be un-hacked back together? I don't know if there's anything wrong with the manual primer, or even if the parts are all there. There are no barb fittings or other output fittings on the primer pump at the moment.  Does it use check valves or just plain barb fittings? The manual shows a metal output tube going to the secondary filter? Is this necessary, or will high-pressure fuel hose suffice?

[INCOMMUNICADO]

Stwagstaff,What I have is the mechanical fuel pump/with the manual primer and an electric fuel pump.The reason for this is two fold,if my main pump goes out I can switch to the electric  in a few seconds and I use the electric to fill the filters and prime the engine.I also have a spare mechanical pump on board.Check valves in line at the pump I have never noticed  any but I could be wrong.Fuel lines I like copper on the suction side then you can run flex fuel line after the pump.Electric fuel pump only will work as long as you have the amps.Put a spare inboard.

[Tilikum]

Hi Guys,

I fitted an "outboard engine rubber fuel squeze ball" between the tank and the first filter. This  is cheap and makes priming very easy.

John