older merc 80 hard to start ???

[PHOTOG]

I have an older mercury 80 (the black model, 1980's ish I think).

Anyway, I had the carbs rebuild and fuel pump, The motor will start if I give it a shot of starting fluid but if I dont it will not fire.

I have a brand new fuel can and line, I prime the bulb until firm but cant hear anything going into the motor...should I hear the fuel squirting in?

what could be preventing it from firing without spray?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: older merc 80 hard to start ???

either the carbs are not adjusted correctly, they may be improperly asembled, the choke shutters my be improperly adjusted, the starting procedure may be incorrect or we occasionally saw excesive wear in the crank labyrinth seals.
I ran a 150 that had been run out of oil by the previous owner. the seals were damaged and they are not repairable.
however a shot of WD 40 in each carb throat before starting did the trick for mine.
once running it idled well at 700 RPM and made power all the way to 6000. if you let it sit a week you had to spray it or no amount of cranking would start it.
DO NOT use starting fluids with Ether.
not only does ether tend to wash the oil from the moving parts, thats why it wont start in the first place.
as the lubrication is the fuel being used,no fuel, no lubrication.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: older merc 80 hard to start ???

Use more choke.

It's winter around here.

Use more choke.

 

[PHOTOG]

Re: older merc 80 hard to start ???

Turns out the choke linkage wasnt connected at all, so when I choked it ...nothing was actually happening.

a little bold and it fired right up.

Thanks guys.