1973 65hp starting question

Imlanctot

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Hi guys... I just bought a 1973 65 hp 2 stoke. So I should say that that the previous owner install the engine with Mercury controls. So my question is I have to prime the engine with a squirt bottle of mixed fuel to start cold. Once started I runs fine so I think somehow with the merc controls I'm missing the proper priming system. Any help would be great I don't mind finding Evinrude controls if that's what I need. Thanks in advance Mark
 

racerone

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Need to find the wire in that control to operate the electric choke.----Used controls with the red plug are quite plentiful.------After you evaluate this motor , compression test.-----Install a new water pump impeller.----If motor is a keeper , look for a control box.
 

F_R

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Put away the squirt bottle.. Motor is supposed to have a manual choke knob on the front of the cowl pan. If memory serves correct, the knob has 3 positions, Choke, Automatic (electric), and Choke Off.

Hm.m.m.m., wondering, do those Merc controls work otherwise????
 

Imlanctot

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Ya the merc controls seem to work otherwise. The manual choke seems to work fine as well but I still need to prime her.
 

Imlanctot

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Need to find the wire in that control to operate the electric choke.----Used controls with the red plug are quite plentiful.------After you evaluate this motor , compression test.-----Install a new water pump impeller.----If motor is a keeper , look for a control box.
Compression is 110 in all 3. I have an electric choke button on the dash but it shuts off as soon as I start to crank which is not right so I use the manual choke on the engine.
 

racerone

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It is NOT really automatic !!-----When it left the factory the choke would come on part way when key was turned on.----Operator still had to understand that toggle switch was to be operated for full choke.----When motor warmed the " automatic " part would kick off.----Since we cannot see your 50 year old motor we cannot tell if changes were made by 6 previous owners.
 

racerone

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Compression at 110 PSI is considered low.----Perhaps test with another gauge.
 

F_R

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Nevertheless, with manual choke, it should not be necessary to squirt gas in from a bottle. How does this thing run otherwise? Have you actually run it on the lake? Hate to be a pessimist, but I suspect serious internal engine damage.
 

Imlanctot

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Nevertheless, with manual choke, it should not be necessary to squirt gas in from a bottle. How does this thing run otherwise? Have you actually run it on the lake? Hate to be a pessimist, but I suspect serious internal engine damage.
Ya i agree. I does seem to run fine otherwise but I have not run it on the lake yet until I can get it to start properly. But I will get a good compression gauge and do a proper compression test first and go from there.
 

F_R

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Those 65hp motors are notorious (in my experience anyway) for water ingestion into the cylinders, destroying everything inside. My father-in-law went through three of them in short order.
 
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