An easy fix to keep side-draft carbs primed?

By Tim Suddard
Apr 23, 2025 | Shop Work, Carburetors | Posted in Shop Work , Restoration & Renovation | From the Nov. 2020 issue | Never miss an article

A lot of cars, especially those with side-draft Webers, tend to lose their prime after sitting for a while. This problem makes these engines difficult to start without pouring a bit of fuel into the float bowls. According to Weber expert Mike Pierce, the issue is common with some older Ferraris and is maddening for owners.

We were experiencing this problem on our Weber-equipped Lotus Elan. As avid boaters, we turned to that world for a solution: What about using the same kind of priming bulb found on every outboard engine back in the day?

Pierce, also a longtime boater, exclaimed that he’d never thought of that approach. As long as the engine received enough fuel, he said, he saw no reason why this wouldn’t do the trick.



So we went to a local boat supply store, spent about $10 on the part, and gave it a try. We located the bulb beneath the trunk mat to keep things subtle. The install took about 15 minutes and solved the problem. If our Lotus sits for a few weeks, we’ll just open the trunk and give the bulb a few squeezes, quickly sending enough fuel to the carburetors.