Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

[charliegiggles]

Hi Again,

I have a 79 70HP mercury outboard. I rebuilt the carbs, put new floats etc. I set the fuel mixture needles "long silver needles on the front of the carb" counterclockwise one turn from lightly seated as per the instructions in the manual.

I'm having troubles starting the motor. I got it started but am certainly not following a "best way" to start it. The gear shifter is in neutral and I set the second smaller lever "starting throttle" to about 1/3 of the way. I then am cranking the motor and holding down the "choke" button while turning the ignition switch. The "starting throttle level" is properly adjusted and will close the throttle lever on the motor completely.

After several attempts the motor will finally start however I'm not sure if I'm suppose to keep the choke button "on top of ignition switch" pushed in continuously until it starts or use some other method.

Any help would be appreciated on the fuel needle setting and proper starting procedure.

Thanks as always...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

raise the starting lever all the way up. pump the bulb till hard, then start with the choke held. if it does start on the 3rd try repump the bulb. and repeat. just give it a couple of good revolutions, and stop then try again. don't burn up the starter. they are gas hungry when starting cold. be sure you have a fully charged battery, as they have to turn around 300 rpms to start.

 

[charliegiggles]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

Great thanks for the starting procedure. When you say put the starting lever all the way up do you mean to 12 o'clock or past 12'oclock to around 10 o'clock "or as far as it will go forward".

Thanks again...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

Charlie, Put the cold start lever up as far as it will go. It advances the throttle a bit, that's all. Hold the choke button until the motor is warm, and it starts to load up a bit. Now put the lever down and try to shift into forward. If it stalls when you try to accelerate, richen the carbs a bit and retry.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

Charlie, if I remember right your engine does not have chokes, it has enrichment valves built into the side of the carbs if thats the case the engine will not start with the throttle advanced to where the throttle butterflys are open, so if thats the case then advance the throttle only to that point to cold start the engine--Bob

 

[charliegiggles]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

Charlie, Put the cold start lever up as far as it will go. It advances the throttle a bit, that's all. Hold the choke button until the motor is warm, and it starts to load up a bit. Now put the lever down and try to shift into forward. If it stalls when you try to accelerate, richen the carbs a bit and retry.

Thanks,

If I need to richen the carbs do I turn clockwise or counterclockwise. Also I noticed with the lever "as far as it will go" the motor sounds like it's reving way too high when it does startup. It opens the throttle lever about 1/3 of the way on the motor maybe a bit more when the lever is fully forward. With the starting lever fully closed the idle stop screw is resting where it should be so I'm guessing it is properly adjusted.

I'm trying to find a tach that will plug into the 3 pin control box however they seem hard to find.

I was letting go of the choke button on the ignition switch perhaps a bit too soon after getting it started and maybe this was causing it to stall. As well I only had the starting lever opened about a third of the way. It definately appears to be very thirsty on startup as previously stated.

 

[charliegiggles]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

Charlie, if I remember right your engine does not have chokes, it has enrichment valves built into the side of the carbs if thats the case the engine will not start with the throttle advanced to where the throttle butterflys are open, so if thats the case then advance the throttle only to that point to cold start the engine--Bob

Excellent thanks for the heads up. It appears the choke button on the control box activates a solenoid for the enrichment valves as you stated.

 

[charliegiggles]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

I would just like to say "thanks alot" for all the great support you guys provide.

I used the procedures described and she started on the first shot. Just have to hit the choke button once in a while until it warms up otherwise it want to stall.

I adjusted the fuel mixture needles while it was idling. Basically turned them counterclockwise about a 1/2 turn and it seems to be idling nice and smooth now.

My last question is I'm noticing a bit of fuel "1/2 teaspoon" leaking out of the nozzle which holds the Venturi in place in the bottom carb when I'm tilting the motor upwards "as if to toe the boat out of the water". Is this normal? The top one is not leaking at all. When the motor is down it does not leak.
Thanks again. Can't wait to get on a lake.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

It's a common thing for the carbs to leak alittle if the engine is tilted up

 

[charliegiggles]

Re: Fuel mixture needle / Starting procedure?

Thanks again...