hard starting 3.8L omc's

[fendersfender]

,85 searay with twin 3.8L v6 omc w/ 800 series drives...have had this problem since i bought this boat...starts fine and runs fine when cold...runs great all day long......except when engines are warmed up, if shut down to get gas, fish, etc....they then start hard as hell...will crank and crank and crank until they will evenually start.....both engines have FULL tune-ups and run perfectly...this problem is indentical with both engines....anyone have any ideas????? btw.....if you try to give any gas at all when warm...they will never start....for the life of me, i cant figure this out...thought about bumping timing up 2 degrees..not sure if that is a good idea??

 

[fendersfender]

Re: hard starting 3.8L omc's

also, i should mention that i have converted to pertronix ignition instead of points

 

[Coors]

Re: hard starting 3.8L omc's

Sounds like the carbs are heat soaking, and flooding the engines.

 

[marunr]

Re: hard starting 3.8L omc's

Sounds like the carbs are heat soaking

i_C...I've never heard this term...what do you mean?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: hard starting 3.8L omc's

Also called percolation. Engine heat causes the fuel in the carbs to vaporize and dump into the intake manifold thus flooding the engines. Try letting the engines idle for a couple of minutes before shutting them down. On really hot days you might even prop the engine cover/hatch open to allow the hot air to escape. On restart -- open the throttles wide open-neutral to give the engines a lot of air.

 

[marunr]

Re: hard starting 3.8L omc's

Also called percolation.

Thanks for clarifying.