1988 88HP SPL

[sycamore]

Hard starting and backfires once before starts. Lots of smoke. Carbs have been cleaned, has proper jets. 115-120 psi compression on all cyl. <br />Will idle and run fine, is the smoke and hard starting normal? What would be a good tach to put on this motor? I've only had the motor for about a month. It runs very cool, much cooler than the Mercury motors I am used too.

 

[reeldutch]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

explain how you start your 88 special.<br /><br />i have a 89 110 is almost the same motor and it starts fine don't even need the warm up lever.<br /><br />after i primed the primerbulp till its hard<br />i push in the Choke/primer for 5 seconds and then i hold it and start it.n the motor might not start up right away the next time i dont use the primer and it will fire up.<br />if you think it will stall pres th primer again for 1 second.<br /><br />good luck.

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

I prime the primer bulb until it is hard.<br />I lift the warm up lever about 1".<br />I turn the key to run and then press in.<br />I turn to start with the key pressed in.<br />I hold it for about 10 seconds, curse a little and let off.<br />Repeat.<br />Backfire.<br />Then repeat and she starts, runs a little fast and smokes alot.<br />I immediatly push the warm up lever down to keep RPM's in check.<br />She idles and all is well. Can shut her off and turn her back on very easily from then on.<br />Have new plugs gapped at 0.040", new fuel, and from the shocks I got, spark at all cylinders.<br />I do know the book calls for .027" jets and there are .026C's installed. I don't think the difference is bad enough there.<br />Thanks for the reply. The 88 is mounted on a 20' SeaArk and runs pretty good. I do not have a speedometer or tach, so I do not know how fast. Any suggestions on speedometer or tach?

 

[reeldutch]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

seems to me that your starting procedure is fine try it without the warm up lever it is always better to coldstart with the lowest rpm's possible.<br /><br />do you mix 50:1?<br />they smoke more with a cold start bud after 1 minute it should clear up.<br /><br />do a decarb with seafoam it will clean all the crud out of the combustionchambers and exhaust.<br /><br />the tach should not be so hard just go to a evinrude dealer and they will get you wat you need there should be a plug in the controlbox (sidemount ore there should be a plug coming out of the wiring harnas.<br />my motor a 1989 110 bubbleback pushes a 20'mako at 5500 rpm at wot turning a stainless prop.<br /><br />good luck

 

[reeldutch]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

you might want to check if your primer is working .<br />when the motor is running press in the key for 2 seconds and it shoulkd drop in rpm's and then pick up again.<br />if not your primer is not working propper.

 

[Marc J.]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

I can identify with you Grandview. My 1987 88spl is also hard to start when cold. Primer works, similar start procedure as above. It requires use of the fast start lever for about a minute or so when it finally does bust off. I increased the idle speed today, it helped somewhat.

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

Primer is working, that was the only way I could keep it running when I got it because the carb jets were crudded closed. The motor sat for 2 years before I got it.<br />I usually mix 5 3/4 gallons instead of 6, using octane 89. Would it be better to use a higher octane (91-93)? <br />How about the gap at 0.040"? Thats what the manual recommends, but I've read several topics that mention 0.035".

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

Have you cleaned the carbs?

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

Cleaned them when I got it, took them back apart after 2 weeks to check for anything else that might have broken loose further up in the system. One idle speed jet was again plugged, cleaned it, still hard starting. Peeking at the reeds, they all seemed fine.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

What brand plugs?

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

They are brand new, Champion I believe. Not hot plugs, the number that the book recommends as standard. <br /><br />Do the coils lose their capacity over time?<br /><br />I did notice some black ooze from carbon buildup, I have not done a decarb, but I don't think that would affect starting.

 

[reeldutch]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

a decarb might help better starting if your exhaustports have a thick layer of carbon buildup a decarb will make it easyer for your motor to breath.<br /><br />i use champ ql77jc4 gapped .040<br /><br />yes coils do lose capacity overtime and they perform better with a warmed up motor.<br />but check the spark first if your spark jumps 1/4 of an inch you might be fine.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

Lets verify the plugs and go from there.<br /><br />When you cleaned the carbs did you soak them? New OE kits installed?

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

I checked at lunch, I use the same plugs you do.<br />I used carb cleaner and a brass brush. I cleaned all the jets with a brass wire, sometimes the stuff won't come out unless you scrub it.

 

[Toontime]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

I have a 94 88hp. She really likes to be primed when starting cold. I usually have to bump the primer several times after firing to keep her from losing crunk. Once she gets up on the rpm, she's good for all day. She also likes the lever up a good bit until first firing. My manual also says to always use the warmup lever if it's been shutdown for a while. Kinda reminds me of my old Merc 140 Stacked Six. They are(were) both gasoholics.

 

[sycamore]

Re: 1988 88HP SPL

A year later, now runs great. I finally decided to replace the power pack this week, all my starting problems and rough idling are gone. Must have been a weak spark all along. The cool engine was stuck open thermostats. I had rebuilt the carbs twice, linc and synced, new fuel pump and lines. I always thought that a power pack was good or bad, not in between, but now I think they can get weak.