choke when starting

[jmarty10]

Hello all: I have 1993 northwoods 3.0l i/o alpha one drive. 18 footer. Last year marina mechanic put on new alternator and this solved alot of start up issue for the past year. When I first start my boat in the water, I pull out the throttle handle into the choke position, give it two full pumps and it turns right over. I let it idle for a short while at about 2k rpms and then trim down, back up and take off. We can go for an hour or two, shut boat off, but when I start boat back up, I have to choke again and each time I start boat. Today, after the 3rd and 4th startup for the day, it wanted to crank about 4 or 5 times before it turned over. Of course I dont give it two full pumps after re-starting.

My question: is choking every time normal? After its warm shouldnt it start in neutral. Thanks.

 

[ftltony]

Re: choke when starting

This don't sound right to me ...

USUALLY, when you push the key in while turing the key all the way to the "start" position, you are choking the motor.

Are you saying that you are pulling the handle out so it doesn't go into gear and pushing it to full throttle twice before you crank it over?

 

[jmarty10]

Re: choke when starting

Yes - exactly

 

[Silvertip]

Re: choke when starting

Did you guys miss the fact that this is a 3.0L I/O. The choke is automatic. Pulling out the lever is not a choke. It merely disconnects the shift linkage from the throttle so you can throttle up without shifting. Carbureted engines all have their personality. The trick to starting a hot engine begins before you shut it off. Let it idle for 2 minutes before shutting it off. It will not hot soak (meaning that fuel will not percolate or boil over in the carb thus flooding the engine). when you get ready to go again, Pull out the handle, set it forward a bit and crank then engine. Just for future reference. "Turning Over" means the engine cranks. Cranks and turns over means the same thing. If the engine doesn't actually start, you simply add the words "but won't start" to Crank or Turn over.

 

[ftltony]

Re: choke when starting

If your "Yes - exactly" reply means that you ARE just pulling the handle out and pushing it to full throttle twice before starting (which I am sure you are saying), you aren't choking the motor at all!

All you are doing is opening the carb/throttle to the "full" or "WOT" (Wide Open Throttle) position twice before you start the motor. All you are doing is basically, the same thing you would be doing in a car wiuth a carburator (Remember those days?!?!), you are giving it gas by stepping on the accelerator pedal twice before turing it over.

I may be wrong here because I've only owned onm I/O before in my life and I can't remember how I started it because its been so long ago, but if you push the key in, the solenoid will close the choke on the carb.

If you are having starting trouble, and it doesn't sound like you have too major a problem, but when was the last time you put plugs in it and did the tune up thing? Fuel filter?

 

[ftltony]

Re: choke when starting

The reply above mine answers all your question!

 

[jmarty10]

Re: choke when starting

Ok - thanks guys. I'm still new to this so the references on starting etc.. are still a little shaky. So.....do I have a problem and then does it really matter if I always have to pull handle out and open throttle to start? I agree on carbs having personalities of their own. Somedays I can start up 5 or six times right away and days like today it cranks awhile before it starts.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: choke when starting

I/O engines are auto engines with auto based carburetors and the only differences are that they have been marine-ized to eliminate the possibility of fire. They have automatic chokes, and have had them since Hector was a pup. Automatic chokes do not have a solenoid to operate them. Pulling out on the throttle handle (or pushing the button) to disengage the gear shift allows the choke to "set" when you move the throttle forward on a cold start. Pumping the handle twice gives the carb a shot of fuel from the accelerator pump. When the engine starts, a vacuum diaphram pulls the choke open a bit and the bi-metallic coil (either from manifold heat or an electric choke heater) pulls the choke open the rest of the way. Don't know what breed of I/O you had that would choke using the ignition key but there were some outboard powerhead based I/O's out there that would have required that feature. Push to choke was not used on auto engine based I/O's.

If you are having cold start problems, the first thing to check is to verify the choke is closing all the way. If it is, you very likely have a "technique" issue. If you are having hot start issues, again, verify that the choke is OPEN when trying to start. If not, it needs to be repaired or adjusted. If the choke is open and you can't start the engine readily, open the throttle fully (as in all the way). More air with a rich engine helps it start. Just don't let it rev at that setting once started. Again -- let the engine idle for two minutes before you shut down, especially after a long run at higher RPM.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: choke when starting

Ok -great advice silvertip. I ran the boat yesterday at full throttle for most of the day and probably the most all year by far. Rather than letting marina mechanic look at it I will try your tips. If it starts with throttle wide open when hot, well then it starts. and......I make sure it only runs at about 1500 rpm before I disengage and put it into gear.

 

[ajgallagher]

Re: choke when starting

If I can jump in here and ask another question...

I have a Merc 4.3L ('90) that is also a slow starter. The choke is closed when it should be.

I see that there is what looks like an adjustment nut on teh top of the fuel pump; does this do anything?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: choke when starting

Your starting procedure needs just a tad bit of modification. Running an I/O engine at 2000 rpm in neutral is borderline abuse. There is no reason to idle it that fast when cold. 1500 or less is best. If the engine won't idle at that rpm when cold you have an issue. When the engine is warm, as i pointed out earlier, don't shut the engine off immediately. Let it idle for two minutes to cool down -- then shut it off. On a warm/hot restart, you should not have to pump the lever twice but you should pull it out and move it forward a bit to open the carb slightly. Then start the engine. The choke on your engine is automatic -- you have no manual control over it. When warm, the choke plate should be perfectly vertical in the carb bore. On a stone cold engine it should be fully closed.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: choke when starting

Sounds like a slight vapor lock to me... Slightly cracking the throttle while cranking should give some fresh air to the mix to help it out. Or just crank it for the 10-15 seconds needed to clear it out and start. My Searay 3.0 used to have the same problem but it was intermittent.