1987 140 V4..

[THEFERMANATOR]

The 85-87 loopers require you to open the throttle slightly to start them(hot or cold), if you idle them up so that they cold start easily then it will idle way too fast in gear. In 88 they added the QUIKSTART feature to advance the timing and help with starting. Easiest way to test your primer is with it running push the key in. If it loads up with fuel it's fine and working, if it doesn't change then the primer isn't working. Another overlooked item is that the primer system is fed it's pressure via the fuel pump. Alot of people don't pump up the primer ball and then the primer won't work because there isn't any pressure available yet. There was also some issues with the primer solonoid having a cap failure and not working. There used to be a repair kit for this.

And the hoses you have circled in red are for the idle recirc valves, not the primer system. The fuel prime system sprays the fuel into the intake behind the carbs.