4.3lx a pain to cold start

[Merc_man77]

Il have a 96 4.3lx, when I start if for the first time in awhile it starts up, idles for a few seconds then dies. After that it's a nightmare to get fired back up, sounds like it's either flooded or not getting any fuel. After I finally get it going after trying every combination of key turns and throttle pumps countless times it runs fine and will start right back up no problems Admittedly so I dont have alot of knowledge with carburators and I'm not entirely sure I'm even doing it right, but I was told to pull the throttle to the neutral position, pump it a few times and that primes it, I've never heard of manually priming anything outside of a lawn mower or old outboard. Is there a problem with the choke? Or am I flooding the motor by pumping the throttle?

 

[harringtondav]

My recipe for my '96 4.3 LX 4bbl Webber:

After winter layover...well charged battery. Crank until you see some oil pressure. This is needed for the elec. fuel pump to replenish the float bowl. Stop cranking. Then three good pumps on the throttle to force the accelerator pump to prime the carb. Throttle lever just above idle. Too much more and you'll open the choke. Crank until it starts, and lightly work the throttle to keep it running. It'll likely die. One more good pump and repeat, throttle just above idle. This time you'll be able to keep it running and control the idle, but keep it at 1000 rpm for 30 seconds, and ease off until it struggles, and hold there.

Thereafter for weekly starts. Your float bowl will be full. Two or three pumps, throttle above idle and crank. It should bite and you should be able to control a high idle until it stabilizes. My key is give it enough throttle to keep it from dying. Even if you're plugging a boat ramp slot, let it high idle for a minute before putting it into REV to back out. Carbed engines will stumble cold if you try to force too much throttle too soon once in gear.

There is a fine line between starving for fuel, and flooding the carb. Once the engine has started, more than one or two pumps will flood it. If flooded, you need to slowly open the throttle wide open ... to avoid pumping more gas while opening the choke and throttle valve for more air. Crank and it will start and take off..agressively, so pull back on the throttle quickly to stabilize the idle.

 

[Merc_man77]

Thanks, I'm gonna screenshot that and try it next time I'm out. It ran a week ago and I had more trouble starting it this time than last.

 

[alldodge]

Being a 96 it probably has an electric fuel pump, give us the engine serial number so we can see what the motor has

If the fuel pump is not turning on, you can pump all you want but it won't help. After cranking for a bit, remove the flame arrestor and look down the carb to see if you see and smell fuel