1973 Chrysler 70 horse wont start w/o primin

1973 Chrysler 70 horse wont start w/o priming with fuel mix. Then it starts and seems to run fairly good. Help!! Also prop spins in neutral when running, not super fast but spins about like a fan. Any help would be appreciated. Cleaned all carbs.

Re: 1973 Chrysler 70 horse wont start w/o primin

Back off mixture adjustment screws by a full turn then crank the motor with fuel under pressure from prime bulb. Reset the mixture screws to where they were originally and see if that helps. Best guess is to rebuild fuel pump, carbs and priming bulb. When starting you are pumping the bulb till hard engaging the choke by pushing the key in and then trying to start the motor?

On the prop put the motor in neutral and turn the prop with your finger both ways(obviously do this with motor off and battery disconnected). It should spin freely with no noise. If not the shifter needs adjusting. If no resistance is felt it is probably spining from the torque of the motor. When you notice this do you have water muffs on or is it in a water tank?

Re: 1973 Chrysler 70 horse wont start w/o primin

With the engine out of water, it is normal for the prop to spin while running in neutral. There is a bronze bushing inside the forward gear which rides upon the prop shaft. Since both gears are constantly in mesh (turning) with the pinion and drive shaft, in the air, friction of the oil (hysteresis) between the bushing and the shaft will cause the shaft to spin in a forward direction--even in neutral. In the water, resistance of the water against the prop is greater than the oil/bushing resistance and the prop will not spin in neutral. There is not much force turning the prop, but I wouldn't try to stop it with my hand or a stick though--it will still be turning at about 500 RPM and just the weight of the prop and inertia will give you a nasty cut.

As stated above, pull out the silver nknob and push the control handle as far forward as it will go to put the engine in start/fast idle. Some of these engines are cranky and just will not start unless in this position. Next, push in on the key while turning it to start position. This closes the choke. If you are already doing this, then behind the air box you will see three gaskets between it and the carbs. With age they swell a bit and sometimes jam the choke levers so the chokes will not close. Just trim them a bit with a razor knife.

If you push in on the key in the run position without the engine running, you will hear the chokes click closed. If you do not hear them, then check the gaskets and the green wire to the choke solenoid.

Once the engine is warmed up, it should start in neutral without choking and without putting the control lever in fast idle position.

Re: 1973 Chrysler 70 horse wont start w/o primin

How do I adjust shifter? Fuel pump rebuilt and carbs cleaned.