Hard starting problem

[Shadow66]

2002 Merc Alpha 1 w carbs. While running it slightly surges then when stopped and try to restart have to crank it a while...sounds like it it starving for fuel. When I give it throttle it still has to crank a while (20 secs) and then "catches" and finally turns over.

Oh yeah, drained all fuel from the tank yesterday (again)n and found bits of black stuff in there all over the place...cleaned it. But could this have something to do with it?

Any ideas?

PS- Can someone tell me where all the fuel filters are on this motor? I know the canister, I checked the intake at the carb and removed the small intake fitting and nothing there...is it behind the large fitting? Also how about on the fuel tank intake?

 

[searay3]

Re: Hard starting problem

There is a pickup screen in the tank, and yes, the filter at the carb is behind the large fitting on the carb fuel intake. There is also a anti siphon valve where the fuel line enters the tank. The black crud could be partially clogging any of these places. If you can't find a good way to physically clean the tank, it'll take more than one try as it will slowly crud stuff up again.

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Hard starting problem

Do you check the choke? I was having the same problem with a 4bbl Rochester and the pull off choke was fully opened all the time and was a pain to start when cold and if it stalled even harder to start. The butterflies should be only 3/16" open from the side of the Air Horn and be fully open vertical after 5 minutes of warmup. Since I adjusted my choke by bending the choke rod to get the 3/16" measured with a drill bit I have no problems starting or restarting if it did stall. The boat may or may not have a fuel / water separator. My 1994 Chaparral 5.0L did not so I added one. It would look like a oil filter.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hard starting problem

2002 Merc Alpha 1 w carbs.

Ayuh,.... That's all Fine,+ Dandy,....

So just What motor,+ What carb are We talkin' about,..??

 

[180shabah]

Re: Hard starting problem

just What motor,+ What carb are We talkin' about,..??

beat me to it...

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Hard starting problem

3.0 and the carb is the standard 2 bbl Mercarb that came with the motor...

 

[180shabah]

Re: Hard starting problem

drained all fuel from the tank yesterday (again)n and found bits of black stuff in there all over the place...cleaned it. But could this have something to do with it?

Trash in any fuel system can cause problems. Probably have some of that IN the carb obstructing passages.