1973 Mercury Inline 6 1150 hard to start.

[Dale18]

Hey Guys, I have had my boat sitting up for 2 years. I check the gas and gas is fine. The problem I'm having is when I go to start the motor it will not start cold, but If I shoot fuel into the carbs it will start and run great and run for as long as I want it to run. it will also crank back up with no problem and run idle. What could be stopping it from cranking unless I shoot fuel into the carbs? Any help would be great. Thanks Dale

 

[Dale18]

I did just notice that the prime bulb is leaking.

 

[Chris1956]

Dale, those motors are hard to cold start. Prime them up fully, cold start lever all the way up, hold the choke button and crank them until they start.

Also, they need to crank fast to effectively choke, so check the battery condition and the battery cable condition.

Also, also, the quick disconnect and the wiring in general is probably on its last leg, on that motor.

 

[Dale18]

Thanks Chris, I will see how it does in the morning. I have a new wiring harness in the motor. Thanks for all the advise. I will let you know. Thanks, Dale

 

[racerone]

You can make starting these easier by installing a Johnson / Evinrude electric primer set-up.----Look into how they work and then look at installing it on a MERCURY !

 

[Dale18]

Hey Guys, For some reason I changed the leaking primer bulb and it cranks easy now. Thanks for all the help.

 

[eggs712]

Glad it works now. I just wanted to add that on my inlines, I squeeze the bulb so hard that gas starts to come out of the carbs. It helps!

 

[Texasmark]

Glad it works now. I just wanted to add that on my inlines, I squeeze the bulb so hard that gas starts to come out of the carbs. It helps!

Don't know how hard is hard but gas shouldn't come out of the carbs.....float needle valve leaking....how long since you put carb kits in it? While you are at it, replace the fuel lines in and out of the engine and new fuel filter and new fuel pump diaphragm. Won't regret it. Wink!

 

[Chris1956]

Nah, eggs is just overpowering the carb floats with his great grip strength. As long as the carbs don't drip, when the motor is running, and he is not pumping the primer.

 

[eggs712]

They run great and no dripping while the motor runs. Like Chris said, I just squeeze the hell out of it