OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

[rhillman75]

Please forgive me... like I said in my previous post... this pontoon has set for 5 years. I got it from my in laws without any information. I downloaded and looked in the service manual and for the life in me I can't find the start up procedure. I have been told 3 ways to do it. It is a 1998 Mariner 40 HP Jet 30 2 stroke 3 cylinder with electric ignition. Here is what I have been doing. I turn on the key, pusk the key in for 3 seconds to "choke" then release, then turn to start. I was told specifically not to mess with the arm next to the throttle that speeds the idle up (lift up to increase idle, push down to slow idle). Please advise or suggest if I am wrong or right?

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

they're all a little different and you just play with it until you figure out what works best for your motor. If it sat that long, I'd be sure and change the impeller and LU lube before trying anything.

 

[79Merc80]

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

I'm a little confused by your description. If it has a choke, ( When you push the button or key in for the choke, you should hear a click) then holding it in before cranking is doing nothing. You should hold the choke in while cranking and when it fires, let go of the key and choke. The arm next to the throttle only advances the timming. It doesn't hurt to have that lever 1/2 or all the way up to start, when it fires, bring it down to about 1200 RPM till it's warmed up. That's if you have the controler in the first and second picture.

If when you push the choke button and don't hear anything, take the cover off the engine and see if there is a choke flap on the carbs. If not, then you most likely have the enricher valve that pumps fuel into the crankcase. With that system, I push it for 1 second, then begin cranking (With the button still pushed) till it either fires or catches, then I let go of the button and crank again, but I always advance the timming arm for a cold start.

I hope this helps and doesn't confuse you.

Craig

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

You have an enricher not a choke.Pull up the idle arm,push in the key and turn.Do you have an electric fuel pump? Still have a squeezie ball?
If it's set for a while you will need to do some maint first.
Ethanol is messing up a lot of motors.It's delaminating the inside of older hoses causing clogs in the carbs and fuel filter.Check for soft hoses and junk in the filter on the motor.Check the diaphram J

 

[j_martin]

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Do yourself a favor.
SLOW DOWN
Read this: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086
SLOW DOWN
Do what it says
SLOW DOWN
Get a mercury service manual for your engine.
SLOW DOWN
Be sure everything is up to par.
Now you may start the engine safely and enjoy it for a long time.

Alternative is continue to push running an engine you don't know that is likely compromised by bad fuel and long storage till you blow it up with something really stupid like a bit of rotten fuel hose stuck in a main jet,

Hope it helps
John

 

[Silvertip]

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

You are missing one crucial step in this process. Even the enrichener won't work unless you squeeze the primer bulb to fill the carbs and slightly pressurize the fuel system. THEN raise the fast idle lever 1/3 up or so, THEN turn the key to RUN (not START), THEN push and hold for about an 8-count, THEN turn to START. When engine fires, leave on fast idle for a bit and gradually bring that lever down. If the engine tends to stall, give the key a quick push to give it a little extra shot. Don't wait until it stalls. Be ready to hit the key.

 

[ifixf18s]

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

Re: OK... I am going to ask the "stupid" question about start up procedures!

The boat sat for 5 years, should not the carbs be redone?