Hunky Dory
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2003
- Messages
- 102
Cold start routine beyond embarrassing. Long cranks, long pauses to preserve starter. Then "kick-out" starts. Finally smoke city, lousy idle but let it struggle or will die (meaning don't move the fast idle lever). After twenty seconds, and perhaps three restarts, can nurse fast idle but engine unresponsive. Finally smooth run, great power and immediate restart all conditions.
Yes, I'm pressing the key during crank and the choke blades do respond.
OK, I'm guessing it's air in the fuel line. Vented tank is above the motor (pontoon). I'm pumping the bulb with arrow pointing up to max grip but can feel that line still contains air (pressure very high but bulb not hydraulic). Bulb is lower than top of tank but above most of motor. Yes, bulb-arrow points toward engine-end of fuel line.
Bulb remains hard for minutes during testing (no crank). Thinking great needles and seats! After cranking awhile, bulb gets soft but situation is not improved by pumping hard again.
Each start in season is easier than prior (3 outings so far). Guessing 3 minutes then 1 then 30 seconds. Multiply by 146 for effect while performing public spectacle.
Seems to be air in line and no way to get it out. But the setup is factory and one would think that they knew what they were doing (famous last words).
Ideas?
Notes: Gas was Seafoam-ed and carbs are fine. Start and run are perfect once cleaned up. Will jump from idle to WOT without hesitation. Next cold start is better than last but painful...
Spark plugs are used (maybe 50 hours) but pretty (after day of use). Serious confidence that spark is NOT the problem.
Have owned the boat several years and am sure that situation was very similar last year. Too old to remember beyond...
One funny observation: First start of season extreme cranking (battery awesome) could NOT get above idle in neutral (would quit). Finally throttled hard (maybe 1/4 throttle) in gear against trailer and engine did not die but quickly picked up three then four cylinders; smoke dissipated, joy returned. Alas, poor marina etiquette!
Yes, I'm pressing the key during crank and the choke blades do respond.
OK, I'm guessing it's air in the fuel line. Vented tank is above the motor (pontoon). I'm pumping the bulb with arrow pointing up to max grip but can feel that line still contains air (pressure very high but bulb not hydraulic). Bulb is lower than top of tank but above most of motor. Yes, bulb-arrow points toward engine-end of fuel line.
Bulb remains hard for minutes during testing (no crank). Thinking great needles and seats! After cranking awhile, bulb gets soft but situation is not improved by pumping hard again.
Each start in season is easier than prior (3 outings so far). Guessing 3 minutes then 1 then 30 seconds. Multiply by 146 for effect while performing public spectacle.
Seems to be air in line and no way to get it out. But the setup is factory and one would think that they knew what they were doing (famous last words).
Ideas?
Notes: Gas was Seafoam-ed and carbs are fine. Start and run are perfect once cleaned up. Will jump from idle to WOT without hesitation. Next cold start is better than last but painful...
Spark plugs are used (maybe 50 hours) but pretty (after day of use). Serious confidence that spark is NOT the problem.
Have owned the boat several years and am sure that situation was very similar last year. Too old to remember beyond...
One funny observation: First start of season extreme cranking (battery awesome) could NOT get above idle in neutral (would quit). Finally throttled hard (maybe 1/4 throttle) in gear against trailer and engine did not die but quickly picked up three then four cylinders; smoke dissipated, joy returned. Alas, poor marina etiquette!