I've been working on my return lines & a few other things, and am getting rather tired of removing my fuel filter to prime it. I have disabled 2 otherwise new fuel filters (net cost $50) in so doing.
I discussed this with a friend who is an OTR semi driver & he was surprised that my truck doesn't have a hand-operating priming pump for use when the engine loses its prime. All the semis he has driven have had this, as have his reefer engines with their tanks 10 feet below the engine. I did further reading & found the largest diesel-operated RVs often have hand-operated priming pumps since they are based on semi-truck designs. Some Mercedes auto diesels have special hand priming pumps built into their systems.
Has anyone here installed a manual priming pump on the F250-F350 type models?
I know I could install an electric lift pump that would also work to prime the system, but am not interested in doing this.
Here is a link to an after-market hand operated priming pump from a company called Separ of the Americas, LLC.
Interested to learn from anyone who has done something like this, or who knows of other sources for aftermarket pumps.

 

electric fuel pump is easier to use, and probably easier to install too.

 

And probably easier to break....
I know electric is a simple fix/upgrade, but not everyone wants that change. I'm curious about a manual one too.

 

I believe that your system should prime itself. When you turn the key to run, your pump should turn on automatically. I could be wrong, but that's what I remember. However, if you do put one on, take pictures and post so I can benefit from your hare work. My old skid steer had a squeeze bulb in line to the filter that I had to pump now and then after it sat for a long time. I got a replacement from Napa for around $15, but that was a few years ago.

 

One of these should do the trick!
NAPA AUTO PARTS | FIND A PRODUCT

Good luck!

 

Maybe it is just that easy. I wonder how the rubber bulb would hold up under a truck hood with the vibration & heat. Here is a mention on a sailor's forum about priming marine diesel engines with bulbs, rather than with electric pumps: Opinions on adding a primer bulb to fuel line - SailNet Community

 

A bulb like this came stock on my old skid steer, an '85ish bobcat. Around three years ago I had to replace it after it weathered and cracked, so 25 years out of one isn't too bad. If you've never run a skid steer, they have way more vibrations than a pickup. You can really beat yourself up if you don't pay attention and take your time.

 

So did you ever install a hand pump?

 

pretty old Post.......

squeeze bulb works fine.....
old Carter Rebuildable mechanical pumps have a Priming Lever on them, you might need a Broom stick, but they work fine.

also ... this is what I install in Marine diesels down here.... Hand Priming Pump

 

Thank you, that is exactly what I need!

 

can you run a smallk electrical primer pump to manually prime then shut off toallow the mechanical to do its job?? or is the hand pump the easiest install??

 

yes you can. only problem with that is if the mechanical pump dies and you revert to using the cheap e-pump to run the engine, they do not last very long.
i use a facet duralift e-pump. the one on my 88 has been on it for over 20 years and 300,000 miles.

 

so you run it only as a primer? or as a regular pump instead of the mechanical??

 

sorry for the confusion. main pump. the mechanical died late saturday night and i only had the facet on the shelf.
it has worked flawlessly for 20 years now.
the cheap mr gasket style e-pumps are gas rated, and do not last very long when trying to push thicker diesel through them.
they will work as a primer pump, but not as a main pump.

 

where did you mount it??pics if you can...