1997 70hp hard to start

[eggbert55]

Purchased pontoon boat with this motor 2 years ago was hard to start then but seems to be getting worse.
Staring procedures - pump primer bulb until firm, lift lever to about 1/4 throttle, turn key 1 notch press in for 10 seconds, and turn to start. Engine starts but only runs for a few seconds and dies, it will do this repeatly. If I turn the red lever on the electric primer to manual it will run but smokes alot, as it warms up I start turning the red lever back it smoothes out and will continue to run. Onces it has continued to run it starts fine the rest of the day. If it sets for 2 weeks we're back to not continuing to run.

This is what I did yesterday....
rebuilt electric primer, checked operation and for fuel flow - good
Sprayed carb cleaner into primer lines - no clog
Fresh fuel, new primer bulb, fuel line, fuel filter
Checked compression -125 in each cylinder- new plugs with good spark
Checked fuel delivery from fuel pump - strong fuel flow with every pulse to each carb.

Still wouldn't continue to run until I turned the red lever. Once it is warm and running it idles great and no hesitation or miss even at wide open throttle.

What am I missing with this problem any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 1997 70hp hard to start

You said you push key in for 10seconds then turn key, have you tried pushing key in while turning key?

 

[eggbert55]

Re: 1997 70hp hard to start

Yes but it would still die after a few seconds when I let the key go.... now when it is running if I push the key in the rpms drop telling me the primer is working and running to rich.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 1997 70hp hard to start

Have you checked the thermostat that its not getting stuck open?
You said if it sits for two weeks its back to the same problem.
How about sitting for only a day?

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: 1997 70hp hard to start

once the engine starts let key come back off the starter then push the key in and hold until shes running then bump the key if she starts to stall. If that doesnt work then the primer solinoid needs checking