"Larry R Harrison Jr" wrote in message
news:dC6Pf.41467$V27.17760@fed1read06...
.. I bought it at a
yard sale for 35 bucks,

it & pumped the thingie 3 times, but then it wouldn't STAY cranked. It
would then cut right off.
LRH

Yeah - go to another yard sale and buy another one.

You pumped the "thingie". The "thingie" has a small tube attached behind it
and these tubes break down. I would check / change the tube and pump it
more than 3 times. If there was water in the gas it wouldn't run at all
after the starter spray burned off.