1974 Mercury 1150 EXTREMELY hard to start

[DylRod94]

Just rebuilt carbs, fuel pump, and replaced fuel lines and primer bulb. Only had the boat for about two weeks finally got it started yesterday but it usually takes two people to start. (one cranking while the other feathers hand over middle carb) some one has replaced the choke button for a switch once and when choke is activated I can see space between the disc and carb not a lot though its just not sealed. Is that normal? Once started though it'll start right back up, but it's a nightmare if cold. Right now when I try to start I have gear lever in neutral, cold idle all the way up, put some fuel directly in number one cylinder, and have someone hand choke the middle card and it eventually starts. Any advice??????

 

[jimmbo]

Welcome to iboats
What are your compression numbers? Are you using the primer bulb? Squeezing it till it gets firm? You say you are raising the warmup lever. If the electric choke isn't working there should be a choke knob visible once the top cowl is off. The choke covers don't fully cover the front of the carb. In 74 the carbs still had plastic screens in front them, those should guide the choke plate against the carb. Some engines choked all three carbs, others only two of them.

 

[DylRod94]

My compression reads around 115 in all cylinders. Squeeze primer bulb until it gets hard and then another squeeze. I'm using the electric choke it's just not a button anymore someone replaced the original button for a pull switch and yes there's a choke knob on top of cowl

 

[racerone]

The choke plates are known to be ineffective on these motors.----------Try replacing / adjusting the warped choke plates.----------If this motor is a keeper you might look into an electric primer.--------Johnson / Evinrude have used an electric primer to spray fuel into a cranking engine.-------Virtually eliminates hard starting on your motor.----They used this electric primer on most electric start models since about 1980.-------There may be lots of used ones in your area.

 

[merc850]

There should be 2 choke plates 1 on the top carb and 1 on the middle one, the bolt that holds the plate on can be tightened to bring the plate closer to the carb throat.

 

[DylRod94]

Did a link and sync this morning. Had to take all the plugs out and pour fuel directly into the engine for it start but then it ran fine. Interested in this electric primer. Which one will fit my engine?

 

[racerone]

Many models can be adapted to your MERCURY motor.------Easy in my opinion.-----Any one of these primers from a V-4 or V-6 model JOHNSON / EVINRUDE from 1981 to the late 1990's will work.

 

[Chinewalker]

The Mercury primer/enricheners will work, too. I may have one if interested. They wire into the same choke circuit, so no additional wiring needed. Plumbing will require some hose and barbed fittings, but isnt difficult.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, are you starting it properly? Pump the primer hard, lift the cold start lever all the way, hold the choke button in and crank her until she fires? If that doesn't work, suspect the starter is turning slowly and clean the cables.

 

[merc850]

Nobody is reading the "stickies" http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...a-2-cycle-merc and if the low speed needles aren't at least 1 and 1/2 turns out it won't start/run at all.