Runs fine but hard to start.

[Ds2400]

2001 Mercury 2 stroke. I really struggle to get it started. It idles and runs great once i start it but as soon as i shut it off and try to restart it turns over but refuses to fire up. Ball fills up and stays full no apparent fuel leaks. Plugs are good. I try using choke and throttle too but just keeps turning over. Any suggestions?

 

[Chinewalker]

It shouldn't be necessary to use the warm-up or enrichener when starting a warmed up motor. If you are priming it when already warmed up, it is likely you're flooding it out, resulting in hard starting.

 

[sutor623]

Whats the compression on this motor? I would check that first before going crazy looking at other issues. If it starts well on the muffs in the driveway, and harder in the water, that is a sign of bad crankcase or cylinder compression.

And obviously your choke works well?

 

[b.gagnon]

Is it an Optimax, or EFI or Carb?????

 

[Texasmark]

What engine? If it's the 90 triple, nature of the beast as far as I can tell. Mine was that way but mine sat for a month or so between outings. First start of the day and first hole shot was like that. After that, couldn't ask for a better engine all day. So I started running it the day before the outing on muffs and that pretty much solved the problem for me. Started right up the next day on the outing after that.