Hard starting

[Zook4184]

Hello everyone I have a 1987 88spl evinrude outboard from the time of purchase which has been the beginning of summer motor was hard to start it would sputter then eventually start but sounded like it was running on 2cyl then I would rev the motor and it would run perfectly fine idle great and run good all day long I could go out the next day tap the key would start perfect but if it sat for 2 weeks same starting problem up until now I have put new plugs / wires new head gaskets thermostats / cleaned fuel filter I’m thinking of doing rebuilding carbs fuel pump coils is this direction I should be going I am not completely sure of where to go next oh yeah forgot compression is 120 psi give or take a pond across all cyl and suggestion would be appreciated thanks

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, you replaced head gaskets, before cleaning the carbs? Why was that? Lack of a functioning choke and dirty carbs would be first check, I would think.

 

[racerone]

Are you raising the fast idle lever ?----Are you pushing the key in and holding it in while cranking it over.------Charge the battery and have it load tested.----Inspect starter motor internals.

 

[tphoyt]

Can you explain your starting procedure in the order you do it.

 

[Zook4184]

Gee, you replaced head gaskets, before cleaning the carbs? Why was that? Lack of a functioning choke and dirty carbs would be first check, I would think.

Ok thank you yeah it was overheating so in order to get to the point of being able to have motor run where we could see what it was actually doing it’s not overheating now so we want to get it run as best as possible but thanks for reply

 

[Zook4184]

Can you explain your starting procedure in the order you do it.

Yes we have tried multiple different starting sequences we would push up warm up lever push in key and then turn key we tried just turning key until motor popes then push up warm up lever and turn key pushed in once motor has started I would push warm up lever down hurry up and pop into gear to crack throttle and it revved up and put back in neutral it becomes a completely perfect working motor I can let it sit for a hour go out tap the key fires rite up run perfect just after sitting for a week or 2 it then becomes this marathon starting thing

 

[Zook4184]

Are you raising the fast idle lever ?----Are you pushing the key in and holding it in while cranking it over.------Charge the battery and have it load tested.----Inspect starter motor internals.

Yes I am doing all that starter and battery brand new

 

[tphoyt]

Sorry but I have to ask.
Are you squeezing the ball to prime the fuel line and does it go hard? If so I would be looking at the primer itself to verify it’s working.

 

[racerone]

Your motor should start right up.----But what are the actual compression numbers ?----And have you confirmed that the electric primer valve is OPEN while cranking ?

 

[Zook4184]

Sorry but I have to ask.
Are you squeezing the ball to prime the fuel line and does it go hard? If so I would be looking at the primer itself to verify it’s working.

Yes I do squeeze primer bulb until hard and it does stay hard but I have also done that and felt like I was flooding carbs out which kinda made me believe carb rebuild

 

[Zook4184]

Your motor should start right up.----But what are the actual compression numbers ?----And have you confirmed that the electric primer valve is OPEN while cranking ?

The compression numbers are between 119 and 121 even after head gasket rebuild ok now you have me electric primer valve not sure what that is is that the thing with red lever on it if it is no I did not check if it is working properly but I did check to make sure it is set I believe parallel to the solenoid I will have to figure out to check it

 

[Zook4184]

The compression numbers are between 119 and 121 even after head gasket rebuild ok now you have me electric primer valve not sure what that is is that the thing with red lever on it if it is no I did not check if it is working properly but I did check to make sure it is set I believe parallel to the solenoid I will have to figure out to check it

If this sets the choke I can hear it click when I turn key and push key in and out

 

[racerone]

The electric primer valve has the red lever.----The lever should be inline with valve body.-----It should click when you put key in " run " position and push in.------The motor in good condition should start right up if you are following the right procedure.-----It should not be hard to determine what is wrong here.----Maybe the filter inside the electric primer is plugged.-----I can not touch your motor so you have to post what you find!

 

[racerone]

There is no CHOKE on this motor.-----The electric primer valve opens.----Fuel is then sprayed directly into the air going through the carburetor while cranking.-----Far superior to choke flappers !

 

[Zook4184]

If this sets the choke I can hear it click when I turn key

There is no CHOKE on this motor.-----The electric primer valve opens.----Fuel is then sprayed directly into the air going through the carburetor while cranking.-----Far superior to choke flappers !

ok great I did just look up the signs and symptoms of a bad primer valve what it said is what it is actually doing cold hard start and then when warm up and running will start with no problems and said how to check with ohm meter luckily I have another motor with same part to swap and try you guys have put in a direction to getting this old girl running properly we put boat back in the water last night and I won’t get back to boat until Saturday if I have same issue I will turn red lever and see how it starts doing that if that helps I will take off primer and bench check it and I will definitely post my findings thank you to all for your comments