Is Engine Primer really necessary?

[Radioflyer]

My O-320 LongEz has a manual primer pump with lines going to cylinders 2 and 4. I can't remember the last time I even used the primer. I simply turn on the facet fuel pump until pressure registers, turn it off, switch on my electronic and magneto ignitions, press start and the engine fires on forst or second blade. Maybe it take 3 or 4 blades in the winter, but I always preheat. So...I'm thinking of removing the primer plumbing.

[lezdriver]

If your carb has an accelerator pump you don't need the primer plunger. 1-2 strokes on the throttle will pump fuel into the air inlet filter. If you manually pull the prop through 3-4 times before cranking, that will charge the cylinders with fuel vapor and the engine will fire right off.

 

If you don't have an accelerator pump there isn't a quick way to get fuel into the inlet before cranking without the primer plunger.

[Radioflyer]

Yes, I do have the carb with accelerator pump. I usually don't even "pump" the carb before starting. Well, I guess 2 votes so far for removing the manual primer plumbing.

[oscarm98]

If you throw it into the air and it comes down then it weighs too much...who wasit again that said that?

[Kent Ashton]

I had a pumper carb with no primer engine that i finally added an electric 2-cyl primer to. The no primer/pumper carb would usually start Ok but when it was cold, the primer worked better.

 

I was always afraid of an intake fire with the pumper carb but that's pretty rare.

 

I'd keep it for cold weather situations and use it once in a while to make sure it works. Sometimes debris can clog the atomizers

-kent