will start/will not start

[Soundslikefun]

After rewiring the harness on my boat and running it in my garage, adjusting everything and getting it to start first time, every time I decided it was nice enough to finally put it in the water for a little bit tonight and see how it runs. I went from having it running in my garage to being in the water in less than a half hour.

WOULD NOT START! It's never not started since the carbs were just done and fuel pumps rebuilt. Starter turns it just fine, plenty of gas getting to the carbs. Seems as though there just wasn't a spark.

It did backfire once this afternoon while running which it had not done before. Don't know if that has anything to do with the problem.

I brought it home, put it in the garage and now it will not start still. Plugs are wet, but look good.

Ideas?

Wanna buy a boat?

 

[rosser1]

Re: will start/will not start

were your battery/ies charged enough for motor to crank. it takes mine fully charged to cold crank, no matter where it is. and after running its easier to crank.

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: will start/will not start

Ummm what is your motor?

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: will start/will not start

Ummm what is your motor?

1964 Mercury 65 HP.

Put new plugs today and it fired up after a couple cranks. Odd that it would just stop when I put it in the water. Seems to run fine now. We'll see what happens this weekend.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: will start/will not start

a little backpressure on the exhaust will make an older tired motor sometimes struggle to start if there is a small issue with the ignition. Sounds like the backfire popped one of the plugs and the backpressure caused it to not want to start. I keep a NEW set of plugs as spares at all times in my boat or truck for this very issue!

I'll bet it fires up and runs good for you this weekend..........

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: will start/will not start

Now, it won't start cold, UNLESS I put it in gear while starting. It just wont start in neutral. After starting once though, then it will start instantly in neutral.

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: will start/will not start

OK these motors are fuel thirsty to start, try this when starting yours.
prime fuel bulb until hard, then squeeze it a bit more, if you want look in the carb throat, untill you see a bit of fuel begin to run out. Then holding down choke button, crank it over. If it doesn't start on a couple of cranks, re do the priming. By putting your motor in forwards, you are in effect just adding more fuel to the motor, the air is being choked off by the choke plates. So I suspect if you try this procedure, it will now start, a bit easier. Also don't worry about the motor flooding, thats next to impossible.

 

[Soundslikefun]

Re: will start/will not start

Got it out today. Started fine, ran great, except no reverse. After a few hours on the lake I took it to my repair shop and they made some adjustments (free) and I'm all set.

Only problem now is that the prop I have is a 15 pitch so it's a little slower than it needs to be. I'll have to pick up another one and we'll be all set.

Thanks for the tips.