New motor is very hard to start.

[CuriousChris]

Hello
I just bought a 6HP Mercury 4 stroke to use on my sailboat. It is for safety mainly so it is important to me that I should have no trouble starting it. I'm not that experienced with outboards (we had a 3 hp Johnson when I was little, a very long time ago sonny, but it always seem to start.)
It has only been used 4 times.
I'm having trouble getting it started.
I follow the instructions to the letter and have not been all that successful. Today it took half an hour of cranking, not good if it had been an emergency.

I have a couple of questions:
Are new motors tricky to start until they have been broken in? I'm hoping it will become easier.
It doesn't seem to idle all that well. Sort of speeds up and slows down.

I'm using 86 octane gas with methanol added, I'm told, along with gas additive to deal with the alcohol. Should I be using a different fuel?

Help. I tried looking at the past posts, but the search is a bit daunting in its results.

Thanks
Christine

 

[daveswaves]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

Hi Chris, the little motors are not my forte, however, there are a few things you can check. Half an hour of cranking is not acceptable. If the engine is new I would contact the dealer. Make sure the vent screw on the fuel tank cap is open. Make sure your gas line is completely attached both at the tank and the engine, they must twist lock into place. Kudos for checking your engine before you need it.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

I'm also thinking about the vent on the gas tank.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

If it's a new 4 stroke it should start 1st pull.
2 pulls at most.

 

[mercmafia]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

It sounds to me that the carb is clogged from the ethonal fuel. On those smaller motors it is very easy to do that with the fuel you are using. I would clean them out and if you continue to use the same fuel, use an additive

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

I very seriously doubt your carbs are clogged on that motor and ethanol wouldnt be the cause if they were.Vent cap on tank,check all fittings and if still no go,take to the dealer.theres a warranty,use it.

 

[CuriousChris]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

Thank you for your suggestions.
The vent on the tank is very certainly open, so that's not likely to be the problem.

Would less than an hour with clean conditions be enough to clog the carburator?

There is gas additive in the fuel already. The gas came from a busy gas station so its not likely to be old or stale.

There is a little plastic filter I could check.

Are new motors cranky so to speak? Or should they work instantly?

I will try again tomorrow, I was a bit discouraged, and if its still giving me trouble I'll go to the dealer.

I went to Canadian Tire and bought a bottle of STP water remover and Gumout gas treatment. I already added stabilizer.

I'll try these, the quantity specified is small and I don't figure it will do any damage.

Is there any advantage to using higher octane gas? Our local gas station offers high octane fuel with no alcohol?

Wish me luck
Christine

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: New motor is very hard to start.

Christine, that motor should fire right up. I wonder if you may be having problems with the electronic ignition. In any case it is a warranty issue that the dealer should correct. Was it as hard to start when you first got it or did it just start acting up? I agree with marc, one to two pulls and it should purr. Its no different than a new lawnmower or other small engine. They are made to run and run easily. I think your better off just taking it in before it wastes more of your time and puts you in a bind when you really need it.