Trouble Re-starting

old merc

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
18
Re: Trouble Re-starting

OK...Update...As mentioned I replaced all ignition parts, battery, plugs and re-timed motor. Still will not start when warm! Interesting however...when warm, if I switch plugs it will fire right up.
 

old merc

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
18
Re: Trouble Re-starting

Any ideas guys?? Should I maybe just start from the beginning to see if maybe I bunked something up?? What would cause the plugs to foul so quickly?
 

casi77

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
122
Re: Trouble Re-starting

hi, try a can of seafoam in the gas tank with (50:1 oil/gas mix)next time you are out with the boat. Go through the whole tank of gas, and see the results after.
 

old merc

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
18
Re: Trouble Re-starting

Though I would reply with latest twist. As a matter of chance I found a solution. When it will not re-start all I do is pull the plug from #1 and put it back in. It will then fire on first crank. It's a pain but it has got me out fishing. Any ideas
 

studlymandingo

Commander
Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
2,716
Re: Trouble Re-starting

That sounds pretty bizarre. Is it harder to crank prior to pulling the plug?​
 

old merc

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
18
Re: Trouble Re-starting

"Bizarre" sums it up. I don't think it's harder to crank. I think I should probably purchase or repair my starter however, it's taken a beating in the last few months. Also I re-checked my compression and #2 is down about 10%. Thanks to all on this forum, I've learned more about outboards in the last few months than in the previous 10 years of trying to understand my buddies.
 

emckelvy

Commander
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
2,506
Re: Trouble Re-starting

Have you tried adjusting the idle mixture on each carb?

If the idle mixture needles were set too rich, it'd start up readily but begin to idle progressively worse when warmed up to operating temperature.

Try warming up the motor then idling in gear in the water; adjust each needle in and out to find the "range", lean-to-rich of idle mixture adjustment. Rich is CCW and lean is CW.

Once you find the range, set each needle to the midway point between lean/rich. See how it runs.

If it bogs with a sharp tip-in of throttle, you're a touch lean. Conversely, if it idles lumpy, you're probably a bit too rich.

Adjust each carb then you'll probably have to go back and 'tweak' them in a bit. Typically you'll want to be slightly rich for good throttle response.

You may have to adjust the idle speed stop if your idle changes drastically, up or down, as you adjust the mixture. You may end up needing to change the cable adjustment, depending on how much any mixture changes affect idle speed.

Remember you only need enough preload on the throttle cable to make sure it pushes the distributor back to the idle stop every time. If you get too much preload, it'll bind the throttle cable and the fast idle lever won't have much effect.

Anyway, give that a shot, nothing else seems to be helping so far so maybe it's worth a try!...........ed

P.S. are you using Champion J4C plugs or equivalent in this motor??
 

old merc

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
18
Re: Trouble Re-starting

Thanks Ed I have set the idle mix on each carb, perhaps a bit lean, although it does'nt bog down with sharp throttle. It is idling high at the moment and I haven't got a chance to adjust the idle stop down yet. I'm using Champion J6C as per my manual spec. Would running colder plug, like the J4C, help? Brad
 
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