trouble starting my 150 black max

i am a brand new boat owner and have recently purchased a 1982 champion with a 150 black max the boat started after just 2 trys when we took it out for a test run but it doesnt seem to want to start as easy for me like i said im a new owner so maybe it is me that is just missing a step but could use some help.

Re: trouble starting my 150 black max

Lots of fuel needed to start these motors.Depending on the controls youve got,you need to do the following.1)prime the bulb until firm.2)either lift up fast idle lever on control(if you have one)or,advance the throttle @1/4 using the button on center of throttle lever.3)push and hold in key.4)turn key to start.It may take a couple key pushes and turns before it fires,but if in good working order,it will fire.Once it does,back either fast idle lever or throttle down to acceptable level and let her warm up a bit.

Re: trouble starting my 150 black max

Sounds like me two years ago when we bought our first boat...

Is your primer bulb firm? How firm is it? Is it too firm?

My boat ran great the first two runs when I bought her, then it failed to start.

Turned out the primer bulb was broken. In effect the bulb was firm, but that was just because the valves were stuck, not that the gas was really primed.

Maybe that's not your problem though, you said it was hard to start? or is it not starting at all?

Re: trouble starting my 150 black max

the boat did start last saturday eventualy after i had to buy a new starting battery because i wore the old one down to far. should the bulb hold a constent pressure and for how long?

Re: trouble starting my 150 black max

With a good working primer bulb, you shoud be able to push gas through ever so slightly even if the engine is primed and the bulb is firm.

If the bulb is really firm, and the harder you grip it, it feels like you are just building pressure in the bulb instead of feeding gas into the engine, then the bulb is probably bad.

That's what happened with mine. The bulbs valves were busted so that when pressing the bulb, the valves just stayed shut. So the bulb was firm, but nothing was moving and the engine couldnt pull any gas because the valves were stuck closed.

So i replaced the primer.

Now, even when it is firm, if I apply more pressure, I can tell that gas is still allowed to move through.


Oh - but generally, the bulb should always be firm from the time you prime it, to while the engine is running, until you turn it off. It is only until after the engine has been sitting for awhile does the pressure start to give out.

Think of it, while the engine is running, the bulb must be firm, or else that is an indication that the engine may not be getting enough fuel, or will not be very soon.

Re: trouble starting my 150 black max

You should be able to prime once at start up and run/fish all day.Even spending hr or two at a spot not running.If you cant,either you have a bad bulb,line,connectors,etc or fuel pump needs rebuilt.Fuel pump kit is @$25 and easy to do(basically just a diaphram).If your connector from line to motor is plastic,junk it and get the genuine mercury connector.Can buy entire fuel line,bulb,and connector for @$40.Then follow my procedure in above response to start her up.