[chkm8]

I have a 2 stroke Mercury 115hp outboard which I fill with a 50/1 mix. The engine since I bought the boat about 1mth back has always been difficult to start. It appears to turn over ok but does not seem to get enough fuel. If you give it some throttle and use the choke then by the 3rd turn or so it usually floods. Yes I know this contradicts the not enough fuel theory but there seems to be a fine line between the 2. The bulb for priming the engine will only go hard on squeezing it several times if there is at least quarter of a tank of fuel any less than that and it never fully hardens on priming. Not sure if this is relevant but the engine is also easier to start if the tank is over quarter full. The tank is filled via a cap on the floor at the drivers seat and for whatever reason the boat seems to list to the starboard side. After spending almost an hr trying to start the boat today in an effort to get home we finally tried the desperate measure of using the ropes used to tie the boat to the jetty to physically pull the boat into a more level position and this was the first time it really made an attempt to start. After just 3 or 4 attempts we had it running but I am at a loss as to how to correct the problem. I wont always have help to correct the list or passengers to sit at the opposite side to have a similar effect. Any help greatly appreciated.

[Chris1956]

I would not think the side to side list would have any effect on the motor's starting ability. Those motors (Depending on year) have always been hard to start when cold. The newer ones had enrichener valves rather than choke plates. This was an improvement.

The correct method it to pump the bulb hard, then squeeze a bit more to slightly flood the motor, and raise the cold start lever. Close and hold the choke plates, and crank her for all she is worth.

If the bulb doesn't get firm when you have less than 1/4 tank, you have a leak in the fuel pickup tube in the tank, or a bad primer bulb.

[chkm8]

Thanks for the reply.
The engine while always hard to start had on this occasion just been used for a 8 mile run and the attempted restart was only 45min to an hr after we stopped at the jetty. I will try the method you mentioned and also replace the bulb. Though you can tell it is flushing petrol to the engine when priming but for some reason never really hardens and pretty much just feels similar to when you initially try to prime it.

John.