Best way to start a flooded engine

[dmangi]

This doesnt happen very often, but every once in awhile, I may run my boat wide open, and then slow down, and sometimes at idle it may die, then I have trouble starting it. I assume its flooded. Anyways, if I try to start it without giving it any gas, it turns over and then dies right away. If I give it gas while starting, it wont start. If I wait for like 15 or 20 min then I can start it, but if sometimes I dont want to wait that long, especially if I'm drifting ashore. Last time I got lucky and cranked it over in neutral then immediately threw it into gear and gave it gas and it took off. I dont know if that was just luck or if that will work. But anyways, what are the best techniques? Its an 88 2.3 L OMC. Thanks.

 

[MooseHootie]

Re: Best way to start a flooded engine

Sound like one of two things. Dirt or rust in carburetor bowl getting sucked up at high speed. or float sticking and flooding like you said. You might have to disassemble and rebuild. My engine was doing the same thing yours was and the carburetor was full of dirty junk.

 

[MooseHootie]

Re: Best way to start a flooded engine

Sound like one of two things. Dirt or rust in carburetor bowl getting sucked up at high speed. or float sticking and flooding like you said. You might have to disassemble and rebuild. My engine was doing the same thing yours was and the carburetor was full of dirty junk.

 

[Baldguy]

Re: Best way to start a flooded engine

A flooded carbed engine in a car, the proper way to start it is to not pump the accelerator, but hold it down to the floor while cranking. Does sound like your carb is allowing it to flood, but in the meantime you might try starting it by taking it out of gear and giving it a lot of throttle without pumping.

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Best way to start a flooded engine

I,ll second baldguy, WOT throttle in neutral and be ready to decellerate when she kicks over,

 

[dmangi]

Re: Best way to start a flooded engine

Well I dont know anything about disassembling and rebuilding carbs so I think I will leave that for now. Is there any other simple way to clean a carb? I'll try what you guys said about wide open throttle. Thanks.