1968 Sea Ray 3.0L Hard Restaring

[Chobes]

Good Morning, My 1986 Mercruser 3.0L 140 has a hard time starting after sitting for half hour to and hour. Runs great first time it is started for the day fires right up. I will tube the kids for an hour, so motor is nice and warmed up. We stop for a half hour or an hour and go back out. When i try to restart it it turns over fine, after 15-20 seconds of cranking spudders some then will fire some times. Other time no fire! If i drip a few drops of gas into carb it fires right up. I checked the Spark Plugs and they are fine. just kind of baffeling. Keep scratching my head. I know i should convert it to electronic ignition! but not sure if that will solve my issue. one thing i do not have is a water seperator in the fuel line. Could that be my problem? Slight mostiure in fuel keeping it from starting? the moistuer in the tank getting sturred up while im driving? that why it start fine first thing and not so good after running it?

Thanks for you time and responses in advance!
Chobes

 

[alldodge]

Good Morning, My 1986 Mercruser 3.0L 140 has a hard time starting after sitting for half hour to and hour. Runs great first time it is started for the day fires right up. I will tube the kids for an hour, so motor is nice and warmed up. We stop for a half hour or an hour and go back out. When i try to restart it it turns over fine, after 15-20 seconds of cranking spudders some then will fire some times. Other time no fire! If i drip a few drops of gas into carb it fires right up. I checked the Spark Plugs and they are fine. just kind of baffeling. Keep scratching my head. I know i should convert it to electronic ignition! but not sure if that will solve my issue. one thing i do not have is a water seperator in the fuel line. Could that be my problem? Slight mostiure in fuel keeping it from starting? the moistuer in the tank getting sturred up while im driving? that why it start fine first thing and not so good after running it?

Thanks for you time and responses in advance!
Chobes

Doesn't sound like a spark issue it's a fuel issue. Probably have some vapor lock going on. It happens most often when the engine is shut down before it fully cools down. Running pulling tubes, then stop the engine and sit. The heat soaks in and start boiling the gas out of the carb. Happened a lot in the old days for cars. Boats run at lower temps so it's not so bad, but then came ethanol gas. EFI engines have a worst time then carbs with vapor lock.

After running try to find some time to let the engine idle for 10 minutes as you ease over to a resting place. While doing that turn the blower on to help get more air into the engine compartment. Only other suggestion is to buy marina gas because most sell non-ethanol gas, it cost more but less likely to vapor lock

 

[slag]

Put the shifter into neutral and pump the throttle a few times before starting it. It will pump gas into the intake and start the engine a lot easier.

 

[Chobes]

Thanks for the responses! Pumping the throttle helps. I just replace the old Points and condenser Ignition system with an electronic one! Cant wait to give it a try in a few weeks. Need to adjust the timing to 6 Deg BTDC. Didn't have my special cut off 9/16 wrench that i use to get to the distributor bolt!