Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

[jackstar]

Fellow IBoaters,



I bought a used boat awhile ago that is equipped with a 40 hp, 4 cylinder, 2 stroke, 1995 Mercury elpto (oil injected). The boat and motor are in immaculate condition with only one problem...the motor starts really hard. Once it runs a bit it will go all day no problem.

Went to a local marina and they suggested that it was a choking problem where the choke plates on the carbs were not closing completely and therefore allowing too much air to start it cold. I hold the key in to prime it, set the shifter, etc. and sometimes it takes 10-15 turns before it will finally fire up. I got some Mercury fuel additive and am going to see if that helps at all. I wondered if it might be old or bad gas because the boat sat through the winter before I bought it (he said fuel stabilizer was in it though). Also, bad gas wouldn't explain it running like a top once it gets warmed up.

I also made the mistake of using starter fluid to start it once until someone told me never to use starter fluid cause it can damage motors without lubrication. They suggested I buy a spray bottle and pre-mix the gas/oil and use that to help start it.

Does any of this all sound familiar or correct to all of you? Does anyone have any other insight into this issue with this or a similar motor? I don't want to drop a bunch of money on a celenoid or something else to fix the problem if I don't have to. I am taking it back out today and will look to see if the choke plates are closing or not.

Thank you all in advance for any ideas you might have,



JS

 

[SC1650]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

Yours sounds identical to mine. I have a 93 40 Horse 4 cylinder. It is tough to start when cold. Like it just doesn't get enough fuel. Once it starts, like you said, it will run all day long and start right away after shutting it off for a few minutes. I was out fishing the other night and shut the engine off for a couple of hours. When I restarted it it only took about two turns of the engine and it started. My experience is that this is just the way the 40's start. I have owned my engine since it was new and it does the same thing every time I start it cold.

Steve

Fellow IBoaters,



I bought a used boat awhile ago that is equipped with a 40 hp, 4 cylinder, 2 stroke, 1995 Mercury elpto (oil injected). The boat and motor are in immaculate condition with only one problem...the motor starts really hard. Once it runs a bit it will go all day no problem.

Went to a local marina and they suggested that it was a choking problem where the choke plates on the carbs were not closing completely and therefore allowing too much air to start it cold. I hold the key in to prime it, set the shifter, etc. and sometimes it takes 10-15 turns before it will finally fire up. I got some Mercury fuel additive and am going to see if that helps at all. I wondered if it might be old or bad gas because the boat sat through the winter before I bought it (he said fuel stabilizer was in it though). Also, bad gas wouldn't explain it running like a top once it gets warmed up.

I also made the mistake of using starter fluid to start it once until someone told me never to use starter fluid cause it can damage motors without lubrication. They suggested I buy a spray bottle and pre-mix the gas/oil and use that to help start it.

Does any of this all sound familiar or correct to all of you? Does anyone have any other insight into this issue with this or a similar motor? I don't want to drop a bunch of money on a celenoid or something else to fix the problem if I don't have to. I am taking it back out today and will look to see if the choke plates are closing or not.

Thank you all in advance for any ideas you might have,



JS

 

[bke]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

I have a 2001 125 ELPTO that thing is a pig to start sometimes cold. I found squeezing the primer bulb a few time hepls the motor start easier. You shouldn't have to spray anything in the carbs to get it started.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

I had a 1992 4 cyl 40hp motor and from what I recall, there was not a traditional choke on that motor. Instead, it used an enricher valve that gives a squirt of fuel into the carb throats when "choked".

There was a manual way to operate it as well. Could be your motor uses the same function and it isn't working?

My motor started at the turn of the key every time. Don't think it spun more than 1-2 revolutions before firing. Best starting motor I ever owned.

 

[Superjetjim]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

I had a 1992 4 cyl 40hp motor and from what I recall, there was not a traditional choke on that motor. Instead, it used an enricher valve that gives a squirt of fuel into the carb throats when "choked".

There was a manual way to operate it as well. Could be your motor uses the same function and it isn't working?

My motor started at the turn of the key every time. Don't think it spun more than 1-2 revolutions before firing. Best starting motor I ever owned.

Moody is spot on, follow this for a quick cold start:

1) trim motor all the way down
2) pump the primer bulb until really hard
3) turn ignition on (but do not start)
4) push and hold key in for 5 x seconds then let go
5) pump bulb again till firm
6) push and hold key in for 5 x seconds
7) NOW turn the key pushing in to start and you'll find it starts easily..

Took me a while to sus this....

Let me know how you get on - bet this sorts it!

Jim

 

[jackstar]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

Thanks everyone. The tips worked like a charm and now it fires at the first turn. By the way, what does trimming it all the way down have to do with starting? I'm interested to know now. Thanks everyone.

JS

 

[SC1650]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

Thanks. That'll help me out also. I hate it when I had to sit there for a few minutes turning the engine over and trying to get it to fire up.

 

[Superjetjim]

Re: Help w/ hard starting Mercury elpto

Trimmimng down is so the carbs dont have to pull the fuel uphill to get it into the block..

Try the cold start method I mentioned above while trimmed down - you shouldn't have to turn the key more than 3 seconds or so from cold.

Cheers

Jim