Mercruiser 190. Very long crank until it starts up

[Carlbalzer]

I recently bought a 1984 Larson Admiral with a Mercruiser 190 in it. I have to turn the ignition on and crank the engine for over 10 seconds unroll it want a to fire, then it dies, then do I it again for 5 seconds then will start and die....then after getting it idling and warmed up, you can shut off and fire it right back up?

Any idea on the ridiculous long crank times? Each time everyone looks at me like my boat is broken lol

 

[Rick Stephens]

Air leak into the fuel lines will cause that. The fuel is all draining back into the tank and you have to get it all primed again. Could be a carb problem as well. Check clean everything in the fuel lines and rebuild the carb. Replace hard brittle fuel hoses - use marine fuel line only!

 

[Jcris]

I have a 4.3 l Vortec with a 2 barrel carb that did the same as you describe. A solution I found on these forums was to install a switch on the electric fuel pump. I cycle the fuel pump to fill the bowl and it starts fine. I realize this is a work around but it works every time

 

[Alumarine]

I'm assuming this motor has a carb.
If so, when it's cold are you pumping the throttle 2 or 3 times and then advancing the throttle a bit in the neutral position before trying to start it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard.

to add to Marc's post....

when in the water or on muffs and the engine is cold.....use the throttle only button, give the throttle 2 full pumps (this sets the choke and primes the intake with fuel), bring the throttle to about 1/3 forward.

crank motor. when it fires, pull throttle back to about 1500 RPM for about a minute or two, then return to neutral

if your fuel system is draining back and emptying your bowl. fix your fuel system

 

[Jcris]

what specifically will cause the fuel system to drain the bowl?
How long should the bowl hold fuel, days, weeks, months?

 

[Scott Danforth]

what specifically will cause the fuel system to drain the bowl?
How long should the bowl hold fuel, days, weeks, months?

bad anti-siphon valve would cause the column of fuel from the tank to the carb to drain back to tank, leaking accelerator circuit will drain the bowl into the manifold, etc.

fuel will evaporate out of the bowl naturally thru the vent tubes over a period of months. however you should be fine for a few weeks

 

[stonyloam]

Just a comment here, you sound like you might be a young guy that has always driven fuel injected cars and are used to your engine starting almost instantly. Well old carb engines, especially when cold often take a bit more cranking to get going. Like the guys said, it is important to set the choke and give it a couple of pumps to get some fuel into the engine and to give it a little throttle until it warms up, all things that the computer does for you in a injected engine. Old engines can have a "personality" and you have to figure out the best starting technique. There are a lot of days where I would have been very happy when my engine ONLY cranked for 10 sec before starting LOL!

 

[Jcris]

Thanks guy's