ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

[dukester]

1981 150HP Evinrude hard to start every time I take it out. After cranking over & over again for 20 or 30 minutes it finally kicks off and runs like a champ. Then the rest of the day all I have to do is bump the key and it starts right up. What is the probable cause & fix ? Thanks

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

Check your choke to be sure it is operating correctly.

 

[Solittle]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

A big welcome duke!<br /><br />Tell us in excruciating detail your starting procedure. Bet your problem is there.

 

[dukester]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

When I push the hey in I can hear the choke click on the engine assumming it is closing. My starting procedure is to pump the bulb 2 or 3 times , shove the fast idle lever all the way forward to full throttle (start) position , push the key in to choke and start cranking. After cranking for way too long the engine will fire and the starter kicks out.Then when I turn it over it fires and kicks out over and over until it fires enough times to run . Question,when squeezing the bulb on the fuel tank should it get to the point to where you can't squeeze any more or if you pump it to much does it flood the engine? I know I must be doing something wrong but don't know what . Thanks for the help.

 

[danthehorn]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

I have the exact same problem as dukester with my 1977 200hp Johnson Outboard. I have verified that the choke works. The power packs, starter, starter seleniod and coils have all been changed. I have the carburator kits but I would rather not have to do that work if it is in the starting procedure.

 

[Twidget]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

I pump the bulb until firm, ususally more than 2/3 times. <br /><br />Try pushing in the key, counting to 15, then starting. It works wonders on my 81 90 hp to do it that way.

 

[dukester]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

I have book on my outboard and have been reading from front to back. I find that my motor has a primer solenoid rather than a choke so I will take this apart to make sure the filter is clean. I also notice there is a mark on a cam of the throttle linkage stamped start. If I shove the fast idle arm all the way forward to the start position then the roller actually goes almost a quarter inch past the start mark on the cam. Should this mark on the cam line up with the roller exactly or does this even matter?

 

[Blueclaw]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

The roller cam is supposed to move when you move the fast idle. <br /><br />My suggestion is to pump the bulb until you have a Hard bulb. Listen as you pump, the carb bowls will fill and you hear a squirting sound, then the sound will stop and the bulb will get hard. If you keep hearing squirting or the bulb wont stay hard, one of your floats in the carbs is sticking and not closing the flow valve.<br /><br />If it gets hard and stays hard try this:<br />Motor down so its level.<br />Turn the key over with the choke depressed a few cranks then re-pump the bulb up hard then re-choke and crank till the starter throws out. Release the choke and crank again.<br /><br />See if it starts faster that way.<br /><br />The hardest part is getting the fuel to fill the bowls. <br /><br />When you tilt the motor the carbs drain and are bone dry in a day.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

Duke, you said in part:push the key in to choke and start cranking.

Does this mean that for the whole period you're cranking - up to 20 minutes - you're holding the key in? In other words, you're holding the primer solenoid in the 'active' position?<br /><br />Can you smell fuel as you're doing this?<br /><br />Daft question: Are you certain you're not overchoking the motor?

 

[dukester]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

Thanks to all of you for your advice and further questions.Since I last posted I tore down the primer solenoid and took a look . As I expected, the filter was clean and it is working fine.So,next I squeezed the bulb until it was firm then I shoved the fast idle arm all the way forward and while watching the start mark on the cam I pulled the throttle back until the mark was straight on top of the roller.I then turned the key on and held it in to choke for a count of 20 and turned it to start.It fired right up just like a brand new motor.Again,thanks for all the help!By the way,I never held the choke in or cranked the engine constantly for 20 or 30 minutes. It just took that long period of time to ever get it to fire enough to start.The whole time it was just starving for fuel.

 

[Blueclaw]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

yeah it helps to pump the bulb up. The mark on cam for the fast idle doesn't have to line up to start it. You just have to pump the bulb until you fill the bowls then choke the motor. the mark for the roller cam you refer to is for link & sync of the carbs and cabling

 

[squrleyboy]

Re: ENGINE HARD TO START 1ST TIME

i am having a similar problem, i have a 93 johnson 150. i pump the bulb till firm, try to start and just cranks, and cranks and cranks, tried on 2 different days first day with short choke, 2nd day with no choke. removed sparkplugs both days and found they were wet with fuel. tried drying with paper towel, still had problems starting, but it finally started.. took something like 5-10 min after wiping plugs for it to start though.. the wierd thing is that after the 1st day i ran the motor at high rpm hoping to clean the plugs with no problems, but the next morning, exactly the same problem.. by the way just tuned the motor prior to boat launch and it started immediately every time.. does anyone have any suggestions about that is going on. i am a automotive mechanic, but know next to nothing about 2-stroke engines.. any suggestions would be apperciated.