4.3 LX starting issues

[jimmyc607]

I am experiencing some hard starting issues with my 4.3 liter LX (carbed) engine.

The thing is the engine starts great after sitting for the week... just a couple pumps of the throttle and put the throttle at the high idle position and it fires right up perfect everytime. It also starts perfect while out on the water just shutting it off for a few minutes to get tubers/skiiers into the boat etc and it starts without any movement of the throttle at all while doing this.

The problem lies when the boat sits for maybe 15 min or more while in at the dock or out swimming or floating. Upon trying to start the boat back up it won't start easily. It seems like I need to play around with the throttle quite a bit to pump it or bring it back to neutral and eventually I end up just putting it at full throttle to get it started.

Any ideas on what to look at to help with this problem? The boat has never not started for me but I do not like the feeling that it might not start one of these times.

Thanks ahead!

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3 LX starting issues

The problem lies when the boat sits for maybe 15 min or more while in at the dock or out swimming or floating. Upon trying to start the boat back up it won't start easily. It seems like I need to play around with the throttle quite a bit to pump it or bring it back to neutral and eventually I end up just putting it at full throttle to get it started.

Ayuh,.... If ya begin at full throttle, it'll probably start quicker...
Those Merc/ Weber 4bbl.s are known to leak off, internally...
It's Flooded durin' that time period...

 

[PS94]

Re: 4.3 LX starting issues

What can be done to prevent this? Lower the floats? I just did a full rebuild on my weber and it starts ok cold...but still has the 45 second crank time when warm...

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 LX starting issues

Are you using the correct starting procedures for a warm engine? Just leaving it idle may not work for your engine.

 

[achris]

Re: 4.3 LX starting issues

What can be done to prevent this? Lower the floats? ...

Nothing. It's a characteristic of the carb.. Yes, I did that too...

Here's a few threads in the same vein...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=559496&p=3843820&viewfull=1#post3843820
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=560004

And if you do a search you'll come up with at least 2 dozen more... All the same :facepalm:... And Merc tell us "There is no problem"...

Chris.......

 

[PS94]

Re: 4.3 LX starting issues

But, there IS a problem.... this boat, is 17 years old, and JUST started this issue midway last summer...Used to start with a touch of the key, then one day.....this issue reared it's head, and won't go away....