mercury 115 starts hard

[sswright]

I have a 115 hp merc. outboard that starts hard but when it does start it's able to start and stop fine all day. after a few day's of not running I can pump and pump the ball and it won't harden up (you can even hear air bubbles in it). as long as the battery is good it will turn over for a long time before it finnaly starts, only then will it start and stop and run fine all day. I hope I'm explaining myself ok this is only my second year with this 73 glastron and maby I'm not doing something right, or is this a feul delivery problem. please help a beginner!

 

[mr 88]

Re: mercury 115 starts hard

Sounds like the one way check valve may be bad and you need to replace the primer bulb.It is allowing the fuel to flow backwards and sucking the carbs dry. Try a new bulb and see if that helps,the inline 6's like to be fed as much fuel as possible for the initial start up.You could also have someone pump the old ball when your trying to start her and see if it fires that way. I pump and keep pumping the bulb until there is nothing more being pushed into the carbs and it starts great that way. It does not flood out like a 4 stroke,might. Your carbs may need to be rebuilt but the easiest thing to try is a new bulb and throw some seafoam in your next fill up.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: mercury 115 starts hard

The easiest thing to try is to hold the primer bulb upright when squeezing it rather than horizontal.

 

[PontoonboatFun]

Re: mercury 115 starts hard

check your fuel line from your tank. This is what I found this week. replaced with 3/8" ethanol proof ,fuel injection rubber hose from auto parts store.

 

[oldman570]

Re: mercury 115 starts hard

And some say that the ethenol gas will not hurt a thing, and is fine to run in outboards. Thanks for the pictures to prove them wrong. A search at Pure Gas . Org will get you gas stations near you that has gas with no ethenol.
Oldman570

 

[sswright]

Re: mercury 115 starts hard

of course I tried the easest thing first and just holding the ball upright made it hard in just a few pumps. sounds wrong now, but it started up quicker. thanks for the tip