ox 66 help please

Hello I have an 0x 66 200 VTLRW, I normally prime the fuel bulb before dropping in the water. Today no matter how long I tried i could'nt get the bulb stiff, The engine started up with no problem anyway. However while easing on the gas to get up on plane the engine seems to lag a little and it did this all day, If I mash it there is no problem.
Last year I replaced all the low pressure pumps, and I added a external water/fuel separator about a month ago.
My question is, are my symptoms consistent with that of having a bad bulb?
If the engine starts without a primed bulb why the need for a bulb in the first place?

Thanks for any help

Sounds like a bad bulb. The bulb needs to be primed every first start of the day. When motor sits most of the fuel will eventually flow back down into tank. The fuel line needs to be primed so the lift pumps don’t have to work overtime. Perhaps its one of the reason why the lift pumps go bad so often because most people don’t prime the bulb.

I would change the fuel lines out too. Might be a small crack or hole somewhere too