I've been fighting this problem for quite awhile now and think I may have found the problem but need confirmation.
Motor is hard to start first time out and runs rough for awhile after starting . Then runs great and starts quickly thru out the day of fishing. I had assumed it was a fuel issue with either the carbs not filling when primed or a malfunctioning prime start valve. Did the bench test on the prime start valve and it checks out ok. You can also hear it coming off fast idle a couple of minutes after the engine starts which leads me to believe that it is not the problem.
Carbs have been cleaned, new fuel line, bulb, and filter. I no longer think it is fuel related.
Since it only happens when the boat has set up for a week or two, I thought about a battery issue. Although it cranks ok I'm not sure it is giving a good enough spart to start cold and could be why it smokes (fouled plugs?) after starting.
Checked the battery voltage with a good digital meter = 12.3 volts no accessories on, 10.4 volts when cranking. Seems to me to be a large drop. Can anyone advise what the voltage when cranking should be? After it runs awhile and charges the battery it starts too fast to check the cranking voltage. I guess I could pull the stop lanyard and read it that way?
While I keep a charger on the trolling battery I have never put one on the starting battery. That should help by starting out with a fully charged battery but, especially if anyone agrees that this could be the problem, it may just be time for a new battery (three years plus old).
Motor is hard to start first time out and runs rough for awhile after starting . Then runs great and starts quickly thru out the day of fishing. I had assumed it was a fuel issue with either the carbs not filling when primed or a malfunctioning prime start valve. Did the bench test on the prime start valve and it checks out ok. You can also hear it coming off fast idle a couple of minutes after the engine starts which leads me to believe that it is not the problem.
Carbs have been cleaned, new fuel line, bulb, and filter. I no longer think it is fuel related.
Since it only happens when the boat has set up for a week or two, I thought about a battery issue. Although it cranks ok I'm not sure it is giving a good enough spart to start cold and could be why it smokes (fouled plugs?) after starting.
Checked the battery voltage with a good digital meter = 12.3 volts no accessories on, 10.4 volts when cranking. Seems to me to be a large drop. Can anyone advise what the voltage when cranking should be? After it runs awhile and charges the battery it starts too fast to check the cranking voltage. I guess I could pull the stop lanyard and read it that way?
While I keep a charger on the trolling battery I have never put one on the starting battery. That should help by starting out with a fully charged battery but, especially if anyone agrees that this could be the problem, it may just be time for a new battery (three years plus old).