startup procedure

[jmerc]

I was told to start my 1987 5.7 mercruiser / alph1 1 by poshing the neutral switch in and pumping the throttle 3 times leaving it at 1/2 throyttle and turning the key. This almost never seems to work, I usually have to pump quite a few times and then crank for what seems to be a long time , maybe 10 seconds before it fires up. Am I doing something wrong or is there something I should check.

 

[danond]

Re: startup procedure

Your boat needs a tune-up. When was the last time the carb was rebuilt, points replaced, distributor cap checked, wires, plugs, etc etc?

It should fire up almost immediately. Shouldn't require that much cranking or throttle pumping.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: startup procedure

Next time before you start it I would remove the flame arrestor and have someone pump the throttle while you look inside the carb......you should see 2 streams of fuel when the throttle is pumped. If you don't then there isn't any fuel in the bowl for some reason and that's why you need to crank it so much.....to replenish the fuel in the bowl.

I pump my throttle twice, leave the throttle at 1/4 and turn the key.......fires on the first revolution.

 

[danond]

Re: startup procedure

Ditto. Cold start is 2 pumps, 1 revolution.

 

[Edge180]

Re: startup procedure

My old boat with a 4cyl mercruiser required a few "pumps" of the throttle and then maybe 1/4 gas while cranking. If it had been sitting for a month or longer, the cranks required increased. Once she fired up though, she was golden.

Sure a tune up and new points and carb re-build can help, but if you can get her started without burning up your starter, your good to go.

 

[danond]

Re: startup procedure

I'm not a fan of betting on it "working this time" if I don't have to. If he's turning it over for 10 seconds to get it started, something is wrong. Count to 10 - that's alotta crankin'.

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: startup procedure

I had a hard start problem like that a month ago. I changed the plugs, cap rotor and wires.. Starts right up

 

[IVAZ]

Re: startup procedure

I had a hard start problem like that a month ago. I changed the plugs, cap rotor and wires.. Starts right up

When was the last time it had a tune up?

Confirm that you are getting gas from the carb to the engine.
10 seconds of cranking is a looong time. When everything is working as it should it should start on the first revolution as others have posted.

 

[Bondo]

Re: startup procedure

or is there something I should check.

Ayuh,... Give the ole girl a Tune Up....

 

[180shabah]

Re: startup procedure

Ayuh,... Give the ole girl a Tune Up....

and she'll return the favor...