1978 115etl78c dosent want to start, unless....

[chrislee73]

my 115etl78c doesn't want to start without ether. but after I run it around the lake for a bit she'll start right up, BUT, if I let her sit for about 45 minutes or longer after running, she does the same thing and its back to the ether.
im running 40:1 mix, and gapped at I believe .040. I changed plugs, and filled it up with premium, but still the same results.
any ideas to a fix??

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1978 115etl78c dosent want to start, unless....

Have you checked the choke, is it working properly?
Really shouldn't use either, no lube in it.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1978 115etl78c dosent want to start, unless....

I'd run it at 50/1. It is a bear to start when cold without a functioning choke. You should be able to see the choke solenoid activate when the ignition is "ON" and the key is pushed in.

 

[chrislee73]

Re: 1978 115etl78c dosent want to start, unless....

Yes, the choke is working fine (it was the first thing I checked.) and I thought about running 50:1, but not sure because I'm already above the recommended 30:1

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1978 115etl78c dosent want to start, unless....

My 79 85 hp is very sensitive to choke. When starting, I need to be careful not to flood it by keeping the choke on too long. I use just a little choke, then let it start on it's own. Make sure you raise the fast idle lever so you get some air moving through the carb venturis. That engine was always spec'd for 50/1 fuel/oil ratio. The factory recommended gap on the Champion QL77JC4 plugs is .030

 

[F_R]

Re: 1978 115etl78c dosent want to start, unless....

Yes, the choke is working fine (it was the first thing I checked.) and I thought about running 50:1, but not sure because I'm already above the recommended 30:1

Don't know who told you that, but 50:1 is the correct mix.

Since you say the choke is working properly, the next thing you should check is the fast idle / warm-up function of the throttle. When you raise the warm-up lever on the control, does it crack the throttle butterflies open a bit on the carburetors? Maybe all it needs is a simple throttle cable adjustment.