Remove the throat packing nut spacer to avoid the excessive paint leakage. If leakage continues, consider tightening the nut slightly.Pump Prime Difficulty: Check and tighten all fluid connections. Also try reducing the engine speed, proceeding to cycle the pump slowly while priming to get rid of any air that might be present in the pump. If the difficulty of priming is still present, it's possible there might be a leak in the intake valve. If leakage likely appears to be the problem, proceed to clean the valve and make sure the ball seat is positioned properly and is not damaged or worn.If none of these troubleshooting suggestions work, it's best to take your paint sprayer to a tool repair shop. However, the key to avoiding power tool repair troubles is maintaining your airless paint sprayer.Simple Upkeep Suggestions:Keep your airless paint sprayer clean by flushing the pumping system after each use. To keep all movable parts lubricated, use mineral spirits or a cleaner/flushing agent recommended by the manufacturer. Before winter comes around, be sure to remove all paint from the sprayer and then proceed to flush the pump with the one of the previously mentioned cleaning solutions. This will prevent the suction and delivery systems from cracking.As for maintaining individual parts, replace the spray tip when signs of wear and tear begin to appear. Additionally, don't forget to clean all inline filters in the delivery system, inspect the metal screen system and replace strainers when it begins to show signs of build-up. For more troubleshooting tips and maintenance recommendations for your airless paint sprayer, talk to your local authorized repair maintenance professional.