Hard Starting!

[LuvBoating]

Have a 1992 Celebrity 200 Cuddy Cabin. The carb has been rebuilt twice by Marina mechanic, both times last year (2009). First time, previous owner had it done and the second time we had it done just after buying the boat. The previous owner did not tell us that he had it done a month before selling it to us!
So, this carb now has now been rebuilt twice. Also, we don't have EFI, we have a manual fuel pump. So, I have to pump the throttle a few times and, once the engine starts, have to idle in higher RPM's for a minute or so until the engine will idle where it is suppose to (but still a little rough at times). We still can't afford a new (remanuf.) carb, but I bought some carb/choke cleaner to clean the thing with.
Wife and I agree......next boat will have EFI!! Would love to turn the key to the "on" position, hear the electric fuel pump buzz/do it's thing and WHAMO.......the engine starts and RUNS!
Please, any suggestions?

 

[Don S]

Re: Hard Starting!

So, I have to pump the throttle a few times and, once the engine starts, have to idle in higher RPM's for a minute or so until the engine will idle where it is suppose to (but still a little rough at times).

Sounds perfectly normal for a carbed engine to me. May need a bit of carb adjustment, choke adjustment, and maybe a tuneup. But basically, that's how carbs act.
You must be young enough to have never had a carb on your car, always EFI, right ?????

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Hard Starting!

Mechanic told us the carb has been adjusted out as far as it can be. Definitely need a new (remanufactured) carb, but.......
One thing I am NOT and that is young, not at 61 yrs old. Have had carbs on old vehicles that I owned, but I'd push down on the accelerator once to set the choke, the engine would almost always start right up and idle high until I hit the accelerator again to take off the choke for a regular idling speed. For us, after seeing other folks at the ramp start their newer boats a whole lot easier than our does, EFI is the only way to go and what we want next time!

Sounds perfectly normal for a carbed engine to me. May need a bit of carb adjustment, choke adjustment, and maybe a tuneup. But basically, that's how carbs act.
You must be young enough to have never had a carb on your car, always EFI, right ?????

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Hard Starting!

Still having somewhat of a hard time starting this dang thing! I'm almost 62, so I was around when choke/carbs were on vehicles. I remember pushing the excellerator down to the floor once, turning over the engine and it would start. To take off the choke, I'd tap the excellerator and engine would idle fine. Do I do the same thing with the boat throttle? That is, push the throttle all the way down to set the choke, but do I leave it down or pull it back up to the idle position? In doing that, will enough gas be pumped into the carb from the gas pump to start the engine (pushing down the throttle once)?
What year did EFI start? Wonder how much it would cost to confirt our system to EFI?
I really do like hearing the "buzzing" sound of the electric fuel pump putting gas into the carb on our vehicles.......just wish we had that on our boat!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hard Starting!

Wonder how much it would cost to confirt our system to EFI?

Ayuh,... If there's even an Efi available for it, it'll cost just about the total value of yer Boat....

 

[Daleg70]

Re: Hard Starting!

Here was our procedure from 20 years of using a carb engine on our old boat.

But first -- with engine off -- remove air cleaner -- have someone look into
carb. Pushing button to keep in neutral, pump handle once or twice -- can they see fuel being put in from the accelerator pump --- if not there is some other issue which can cause hard starting -- ie -- bad accelerator pump in carb/leaky bowl seat/leaky fuel fitting getting air in --- etc

Back to our procedure ---
first push in bottom to release shifter -- pump handle down twice (at least that was what we used) pull handle back almost all the way up, then push down to where you feel a slight resistance, this is where the throttle is just opening on the carb, move the handle slightly more -- only slightly --
start engine -- adjusting with handle to get a fast idle if choke does not do it automatically.

good luck ---

 

[90stingray]

Re: Hard Starting!

Still having somewhat of a hard time starting this dang thing! I'm almost 62, so I was around when choke/carbs were on vehicles. I remember pushing the excellerator down to the floor once, turning over the engine and it would start. To take off the choke, I'd tap the excellerator and engine would idle fine. Do I do the same thing with the boat throttle? That is, push the throttle all the way down to set the choke, but do I leave it down or pull it back up to the idle position? In doing that, will enough gas be pumped into the carb from the gas pump to start the engine (pushing down the throttle once)?
What year did EFI start? Wonder how much it would cost to confirt our system to EFI?
I really do like hearing the "buzzing" sound of the electric fuel pump putting gas into the carb on our vehicles.......just wish we had that on our boat!

EFI has been around for quite awhile... its usually an option on boats. There is not a set year that everyone went to efi. A friend of mine has a 2005 Glastron GX and it's carb. If he would have ordered the injection he would have a GXI. You will need to pump the throttle to set the choke and give her a shot of fuel. You can try two pumps... just see what the boat likes. Sometimes i give it two sometimes one... just depends how long shes been sitting. When you do pump it make sure you bring the throttle back close to the idle position or she will be revving very high. You can change over to an electric pump if thats what makes you feel warm and fuzzy but a standard fuel pump should do just fine.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Hard Starting!

Ok, I'm going to try the suggestions I've been getting and want to thank you gentlemen for them! It's just that it's so frustrating to see newer boats (w/EFI) being launched at the ramp and they start so fast/easy and run so nice.........of course the key word is "newer" as in much newer than our '92!
Another question now: We have a new fuel pump and a new distributor cap (came w/boat). Should we have these installed on the boat? As far as we know, the fuel pump and distributor cap are original on the boat......which would make them pretty old!

 

[90stingray]

Re: Hard Starting!

Yes, by all means... give the 'ol girl some love! (a tune up) Those parts prolly came with the boat since the original owner knew they needed changed. I am sure once you get her tuned up it will start just fine.