Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

[drummerboy40]

Can someone please....!!, help me on any way to start my 79' Mercury 140HP, s6, it has just been "tuned up" in running order, but,,,I just can't seem to cold start the motor, w/o taking off the cowling, squirtin some start'g fluid, and so on , and so on,,,. What's the trick? I had takin it out for my first trip to Pueblo, CO, and what a hassle, I was lookin pretty bad on the boat ramp marina. After I would get her runnin, there is no problem with cuttin her off and on again. Appreciate any tricks from Veterans.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

The old Mercs are notorious for hard cold starts. A couple things to check.
1) make sure the electric choke is operating properly. All choke butterflies closing completely.
2) follow the proper starting procedure
3) have a fully charged battery

DON"T use starting fluid to start any 2 stroke motor, or you'll be posting back asking how much it costs for a powerhead rebuild. Only use premixed fuel in a squirt bottle if you have to.

To start the motor...
- pump the primer bulb until firm then squeeze it again.
- advance the cold start /fast idle lever at least 1/2 way forward
- depress and hold the choke button
- turn the key to start and crank the motor till it fires (don't engage the starter motor for more than 15 seconds at a time). Repeat as necessary.
- one the motor fires, adjust the fast idle lever as required and release the choke button. If the motor begins to die, momentarily press the choke button again.

Good luck.

 

[drummerboy40]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

ThanksAlot, will do..Wow, thanks for the tip on the starting fluid no-no. I've started it 4-5 times with starting fluid, Is there anything that I should be concerned about as far as damage already done? Oh, another thing, what about my battery, I have a Die-Hard Marine Batt 24M 500 CCA. Should I be using a bigger battery, it turns it over pretty good that I can tell..Thx DB40

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

Do a compression/spark test.Post the results.
That 500CCa if it's good,(load test) is more than enough to operate your boat.J

 

[bently]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

I don't mean to hi-jack a thread but I keep seeing a reference to a "fast idle lever". Either my controls do not have this or I am missunderstanding what it is referring to. Does advancing only the throtle half way do the same?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

Start your own thread.And include year/make model and serial# then the problem.
The fast idle could be a small lever on the side of the shifter or a shifter with a button that you push and then pull the handle out.Then it can raise the idle without being in gear.J

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

Wow, thanks for the tip on the starting fluid no-no. I've started it 4-5 times with starting fluid, Is there anything that I should be concerned about as far as damage already done? Oh, another thing, what about my battery, I have a Die-Hard Marine Batt 24M 500 CCA. Should I be using a bigger battery, it turns it over pretty good that I can tell..Thx DB40

The issue with using the starting fluid is that is does not provide any form of lubrication, and when the motor fires, it is basically running "dry" for a few revolutions. Not an ideal situation.

AS for the battery, it should be adequate. I've read somewhere that the motor should be cranking over at about 300 rpm.

 

[drummerboy40]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

THANKS..Will do the compression check tommorrow, should stop snowin and clear up to 58 deg. check plugs/change.

 

[nbnewbie]

Re: Mercury 79' 140 o/b cold starting problems..HELP!!

This may or may not help, but thought i would add it to what has been said. On mine the tilt position of the outboard is often times a factor, being tilted slightly high with carbs slanting even slightly forward can increase difficulty of a cold start.