Bad ramp ettiquette?

[smallboatlover]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

i always start the boat before going to the ramp it is just a habit for me it's not a far ride to the ramp for me but i rather be safe then sorry. I have a two stroke and never had a problem starting it. vent the gas, prime the bulb, put starting lever in start, put key in and push in and turn takes about 15 seconds even on a cold start. Better get it checked out tho a tow back a lot of money unless you got the tow plan. my engine has a idling problem and i'm taking it in for a tune up so even tho it's something small better get it fixed.

 

[dead-head]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I agree with all that you should have it fixed before you go out too far...
Also, I wish I had considerate people like you at my ramp too.
Seems every time I go there, I have to go ask a large party of kayak-ers to please take their little social event off the ramp, so the long line of boaters waiting with trailers, can get on with it. :facepalm:

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Unless the choke linkage is sticking, holding the choke (pushing in the key) for 8-10 seconds won't do anything to help at all. Check that choke!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Starting procedure - Prime the bulb till it's too tight to squeeze, lift fast idle lever all the way up to "Start" position (labeled on the controls), turn the key to on, then to start, turn over once just to give benefit of the doubt, then hold choke/key in for 8-10 count, turn to start for about 3 secs, bump choke/key while turned. release, turn to start again. I'll let it sit about 30 secs to 1 minute between tries to help save the starter. Then repeat, holding for choke/key in 8-10 count every 3rd try or so. Once she starts, she stumbles a sec like normal, then warms right up and never gives another issue the rest of the day.

Okay, I think your problem is the part I bolded. You need to push the key in the whole time you're cranking or at least until the motor starts to sputter to life.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

My truck starts right up each morning, I drive it daily and depend on it as a means to live, thanks for that helpful post dlngr.

NYBo - Ive always been scared to hold the key in too long in fear of flooding something. Ill see if that helps. Also, my fuel tank is one of those 27 gallon Moeller tanks that's bolted down. I've never thought to vent it, was only used to doing that on the smaller 6 gallon portables. Do I need to look for a vent fitting on the big tank?

 

[jonnymarquis]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

yes, i would think every tank needs to vent.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I'm glad to hear other people use the muffs at their home day of, thought i was the only one

I TEst run the day before because its 1 hr to the nearest ramp and an hour back again if it doesn't start.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

All tanks must have a vent in order to allow fuel to flow. If there is no vent fitting on the transom, it may be built into the filler fitting, like this one.

 

[LIVE WIRE]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I also agree with running it on the muffs before I leave to make sure everything up to snuff . I also think you have some mechanical issues to work out .

I would never pressure someone ate the ramp that was having mechanical issues . The ramp ettiquette applies to the guy who has nothing ready and is wasting peoples time due to there unorganization and disreguard to everyone elses day .Not Mechanical issues because we have all been there . But If I saw someone every weekend with the engine cover open I would start to get a little impatient.

Good luck with your motor .

 

[Quad82]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I don't get mad at the guy taking a little longer trying to start his motor while at the dock. But when he has the crowling off changing plugs ect.. isn't right either. I am useally by myself when launching. So I push off the trailer and use my electric motor to get away and beach on shore. Take care of my truck and trailer. Then come back and start the motor. I realize there isn't always a beach type area to do this. But I hate holding others up. What really sucks is watching a family pack their cooler and load it in the boat while at the dock. And then going to the outhouse to change into their bathing suits while the boat sits taking up a dock. Get in. Get out. But don't go screwing about!

 

[cribber]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I'm a big fan of if it doesn't start in the driveway where do you think you are going?

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

fix your boat, nothing good can come of long crank time, wearing out battery, starter, possibly over heating wiring and battery causing poor connections down the road.ramps are for launching, thats why you make sure your ready when you get in line, if the line is long you have time to adjust things,move coolers, change. but if there is no waiting then don't get in line until you a ready to go.

 

[trailking82]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

you have the same outboard i have. the only problem you may have is just your starting procedures, holding the choke in does nothing but close the first set of butterflies inside the carb. in order to properly choke the motor you have to push in the key, and while holding it in turn to the start position.

my ritual goes something like: raise warm up lever to the start or 3/4 of the way up, insert key, push in key to hear the choke selinoid "click", while pushing key in turn to the start position, engine starts to turn over, once it fires i then let the key go.. it then releases the choke plates, i then turn the key to start, she fires and runs, as she starts to warm up i then start to move the warm up lever down to control the RPMs, till i can get the motor to run with the warm up lever completely down.

try this when you can get to the boat next be it at the lake or preferable on the muffs at home.. i wish you luck.. this could be the easist "repair".

 

[etracer68]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

I start mine about the same way Trailking does. Each time you push the key in and hear it click, is a small squart of fuel. Holding the key in doesnt give it more fuel, just keeps the choke plates closed. Like I have said before, I sometimes need to push the key in 3 times, then hold it in and start. I think you need to check to see if your choke is working right. I would NOT take a boat out unless it started right, and somewhat quickly at the dock. I boat alot on the big lake(Lake Michigan) and you better have your boat and engine up to it.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Yeah.... 10 minutes on the ramp is about 8 minutes too long.

I agree to a point. I say it's 9 minutes 30 seconds too long.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

Holding in the key while turning worked! It didn't "fire right up", but it sure did help alot. I backed down the ramp, jumped in the boat and pushed off, and had my friend walk me to the dock as there was another boater getting his things situated to launch. My truck read 31 degrees out, and the motor was certainly cold. My friend went to park the truck, and I had the motor warming up by the time he made it back. It took about 5-6 turns of the key (about 2-3 seconds each turn) to fire up. Im sure I got some weird looks as I was verbally congratulating the motor on a job well done lol

I never knew to hold the key in, I always thought the longer I held it in, the more it squirted out and would lead to a possible flood. Didn't know it was just 1 quick squirt. I may need to syphon the gas outta the tank to be safe. It had a quarter tank of gas when I bought it, not sure how long its been in there. I've filled it up twice so far, but only ran it to almost a quarter tank each time. Will seafoam or stabil take care of it or should I syphon it all out?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

You also don't need to keep turning the key. Turn the key and keep pushing it in and cranking until it starts (unless you hit some ungodly long time like 20 seconds or something). Sounds to me like you got a good healthy motor there and the problem is somewhere between the helm and captain's chair

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

great that you figured it out. Alot of people have suggested things like "squeeze primer bulb until it is too hard to pump..please nobody do that. All you have to do is prime until the bulb is somewhat firm, any further will just force more fuel through the needle valve on the carbs and when those bowls are full, it just squeezes fuel through the carbs into the motor, easily leading towards a flooded state.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

LOL! very true! Once I hit 3 secs with the key turned, I get this image of a fried starter (or dead battery). Ill give it a 5-6 count next time and see how she does.

 

[takirb]

Re: Bad ramp ettiquette?

My primer bulb's pretty new. After 2-3 good squeezes, its firm and can't be "squoze" anymore. I did get nervous at the ramp, and the one "benefit of the doubt" crank was before I even squeezed on the bulb. It was early, it was cold, and I was nervous about her cranking up in a timely fashion. Luckily I didn't forget the drain plug Thanks for all the help everyone!