A Simple Observation

[Downwindtracker2]

I picked up an '83 Mariner 15hp and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it started. It replaced a '77 7.5hp Merc.When I tuned the Merc ,the best start I got was 3 pulls, quite acceptable I thought. But the Mariner was 3/4 pull without any tuning.
This is an apples to apples comparison. from what I was able to find out the Mariner was an obsolete late '70s model Yamaha wholesalered to Mercury. I read somewhere the model was 15B ??? They both had good compression, BTW.

My guess is that the Japanese made better small carbs.What with all their motorcycles experience

 

[Tassie 1]

Nah, ya just got lucky lol

l used to have a early 70's 7.5 hp merc that did get used a lot for a while then was put out in the paddock when we bought a bigger boat,

was just used in duck season after that,
always started year after year 12 months apart on the first or second pull
l would change plugs every yr and have a look at the fuel pump at the same time,

had it serviced a few times until that started to get pricey,
sold it last year after nearly 20 yrs,
believe it's still much the same,
lives near my daughter interstate, one of her neighbours bought it

 

[Chris1956]

For a cold start, it could depend on the efficiency of the choke.....Older Mercs had plate chokes. These were replaced in the 80s (in higher HP models) by enricheners, which work better.

 

[444]

I have a saw from 1960 by a manufacturer that has a reputation for being junk and hard to start. Last winter I did a full regasket job on it, new carb kit, resealed the crank case, etc. I haven't used it in about a month until yesterday I decided to clean up a fallen tree in the yard. It started first pull. It has no primer and the fuel is not gravity fed, just a normal flapper choke. Makes me think that a lot of the old equipment guys think is junk probably started easy and ran well back in it's day.

 

[Downwindtracker2]

I don't think I got lucky, the old Mariner 15hp when they come up for sale on Craig's List, they boast about 1/2 pull starts.

On chain saws, I have a couple of good chainsaws, an old 380 Husqavarna and smaller Still(sp) but for trail work and quartering game,I use a Poulan. Even when new, it's "a you can get them started." After 3 or 4 hunting seasons, when I can't, I just pick up another at $149. BTW Poulan and Husky are both Electroluxs. Yes the Swedish vacuum company.