New Fuel tank, no fuel

[SailingAlien]

I installed a new fuel tank on my Morgan, hooked up the hoses, added fuel and hit the switch but the engine never got a spark. After some checking, the fuel was not making it to the fuel filter. I was expecting the fuel pump on the Atomic 4 to pull the fuel in from the tank once I started cranking. Crazy thought I guess. The tank is higher than the engine but the fuel line comes out of the top of the tank before heading down to the fuel filter and engine, so gravity is going to need some help to start. How can I get it to the engine. Can I prime it through the flame arrester? I can get some flow of fuel by sucking on the hose before it gets to the fuel filter, but all in all that seems like an unhealthy approach. I seem to recall somewhere that the fuel pump on the Atomic 4 didn't start working until the engine was running. That will make things a little difficult. Any thoughts on how I can get the fuel to the engine?
________
Honda VTX1800C

[hanleyclifford]

Do you have a mechanical or electrical fuel pump?

[SailingAlien]

I don't know. How can I tell? Based on my conversations with Ken, I have a late model Atomic 4.
________
screplays

[ndutton]

Which one of these?

[SailingAlien]

I'll take a look tomorrow but I want to say it is the second one which I assume is mechanical.
________
ultimate fighters

[ndutton]

We're all holding off until we know what type of fuel pump you have. Be prepared for the outboard squeezy bulb suggestion, the obvious inquiry about the tank valve being closed (many of us have experienced that), oil pressure safety switch bypass (if electric pump), loose clamps/air leaks and so on.

Looking forward to seeing your next post.

[SailingAlien]

Got a suggestion from a guy on the dock and it paid off. It's a mechanical fuel pump (the second picture). We poured gas into the flame arrester waited a few moments and let her crank a few times. We drained one battery and had switched to the second before we heard a response from the old A4. She finally said "I wanna run" with that higher cranking sound of almost catching. A few more turns of the key and gas and she roared to life. I gotta tell ya, she sounded smoother than she did last year. Ran it for about 30 minutes, and re-started her. Again she came alive. I am so excited I don't know how I will sleep tonight. I will, knowing I can go sailing.
________
ufc

[hanleyclifford]

We are all rejoicing with you that your engine is running again. A question does remain. You make no mention of the primer pump on the fuel pump. Do we assume it is defective or do you know?

[SailingAlien]

I don't think it's defective. I think it's owner is defective. I didn't even see the hand primer until this morning (Duh!). So instead, we manually (via the flame arrester) did the same thing I guess. Next time, I'll come here first instead of waiting until I have a problem. I do have a question though about the fuel ball. When we purchased the boat, it was equipped with an external fuel tank and fuel ball. It did take some a couple of squeezes to get the engine to start. That's all been removed. Would this be an indication of a bad primer pump? I haven't had a chance to get back to the boat yet, so I won't know until tomorrow if I need to prime it again. Why would the engine need a fuel ball?
________
FZ1