Fuel line nightmare

[Kongfish]

Ok,
Here's the problem I am fighting with, & my equipment.
My mercury 175hp Carbureted only runs till the fuel empties from what fuel is in the fuel line & primer bulb & the motor dies. The primer Bulb will be empty, & I can't get the bulb to pull any fuel into the primer bulb at all.
When I remove the fuel line & put the fuel line in a separate portable fuel tank, the primer ball pumps right up.
I have a (in-hull) gas tank, it is plastic looks like around 30gallons.
-New anti siphon valve installed today.
-InHull fuel tank has been siphoned, cleaned, & replaced with fresh fuel (NON ETHANOL) yesterday.
-All new ethanol proof grade fuel lines replaced from carbs, all the way back to fuel tank.
-New fuel water separator, both new filter housing mount & separator filter

So, now what?
1 other question, I pumped the bulb with the key turned off, it had gotten dark so I was out of light and I just now thought about the fact that after finishing up replacing the anti siphon valve I did not have the key to the on position when trying to pump the bulb up, is having the key turned to the ON position a possible simple overlooked reason I was not getting any fuel to the primer bulb?
If not, at this point, I am out of ideas so anyone that might have some 411 on why I can't get that bastard to hold fuel pressure I am all ears. Boats located a 1/2 mile away so I can't check the key being the problem till tomorrow.

[Ski]

The Key will not have any effect on the primer bulb. It does sound like the bulb itself is the culprit. They have two check valves in them and if one of them doesn't seat then the vacuum from the expanding bulb is loss. Keep in mind that I have gotten new fuel lines out of the package that were a pain to get to work. The valves are kinda of cheezy.

[laguna21]

When you placed your ball by the engine it sometimes works best when it is in a vertical position with the bottom being the tank side and the top being the engine side. This helps when the check valves are finicky.

[Kongfish]

I have tried three balls or primer bulbs whichever you call them.
I can run the motor with throttle, but it won't pump that bulb up

[Ski]

The primer bulb is on the suction side of the fuel pump. Running the motor will not pressurize it. If it is collapsing then there is a problem with the pick up in the tank, line from the tank or the anti siphon valve

[muskamoot]

An anti siphon valve is not required to be on the tank for an outboard application,so try removing it and see if the bulb works.Also,bulbs can get clogged internally with debris from deteriorating fuel lines (from the ethanol) and need to be replaced after time.Also could be a vent issue with your permanent tank.The key has no bearing on the fuel bulb or fuel system unless you have converted from the stock pulse pump to an electric pump.To be honest with you,it may be as simple as a fuel pump rebuild.

[m3874payne]

check the pick up tube inside the tank , it may have a crack above the fuel
level inside the tank , or it may have fallen into the bottom of the tank,
test the bulb by disconnecting the new fuel line from the tank and submerge it inside a jar of gas , pump the bulb while watching the level in the jar.