Proper starting procedure

[chuckdeb]

Please forgive this question but I am kind of new to outboards. What is the proper procedure for starting my 1990 Mariner outboard. My ingition says on it "push key to choke". When should I use the choke? When should I be pushing the key. Can someone go over the basics of what the choke does? I thought it let the maximum amount of fuel into the carb...or is it max amount of air?<br />I am currently having a problem starting my motor and sometimes I feel like I'm flooding it. What the hell am I doing wrong. I have always had a problem with the first start of the day. Is it me or is there a problem? Please help.<br /><br />cdeb

 

[12Footer]

Re: Proper starting procedure

WELCOME to the wonderful wet world of the other 75% of the planet

<br />First, let me explain what the choke is. When u turn the engine over,it makes a vac-key-yume which draws fuel and air into the engine.<br />When you choke it, a flap closes off the front of the carberator,allowing only pure fuel to entire the engine.<br />This is helpful when starting a cold engine,as it brings the fuel in. But you can overdo it by allowing it to draw too much fuel in....Thus ,flooding it. This is usually accompanied by a strong odor of gas.<br />Starting an outboard is allways the same basic procedure;<br />1; Check all connections to the motor and fuel tank.<br />2: squeeze the primer ball repetedly until it gets hard. This can take as many as 25squeezes,or as few as one.<br /><br />3: Make sure the motor's foot is all the way submerged,so that the water intake can take up water as soon as the engine turns over (to have a wet impeller is to have a happy impeller).<br />4; Turn the ignition key to "START",while pushin in the key. Only allow the key to be pushed-in for 2 or 3 turns of the motor.<br />Any more,and you run the risk of flooding it.<br /><br />The engine should cough a bit,then start. If it does not start withing 5 seconds,you have<br />a problem you should NOT have.<br />And if so, don't be bashfull.This forum is all about the many problems we confront with marine power.

 

[chuckdeb]

Re: Proper starting procedure

12footer, Thanks so much, that was a great explaination. I really appreciate it. This forum is awesome. For the short time I've been here you guys have been very helpful. I am going to try to start my engine again tonight. I have always had problems with first starts of the day but never this bad. My boat has been sitting since last October and this is the first time I've tried to start it this year. I wrote in an ealrier post...it seems like I'm gettig fuel and spark. Last night I actually got it to fire for a few quick seconds then I hooked up water to it and tried it again...no luck. I think I was trying to hard and possible flooded it. I am getting frustrated. I need to get out there and do some fishing. It is peek season for stripers right now. Wish me luck. Thanks again, you guys are great. It's good to know there a place I can come to for help.<br /><br /><br />Thanks <br />cdeb

 

[12Footer]

Re: Proper starting procedure

Good luck on the stripez AND the engine, Cdeb

 

[savage]

Re: Proper starting procedure

12footer is half right on his explaination. Most Mercury/Mariners use a enricher system.The system uses a electric solenoid valve ,which when energized by pushing the choke button in,allows fuel to flow by gravity from the carb to the engine via a small hose. The longer you hold the button in the more raw fuel is fed into the engine.Check your manual to see which system you have.

 

[chuckdeb]

Re: Proper starting procedure

Thanks savage for your input. I don't have a manual for my engine. But I noticed up on barnes and noble that they have a chilton manual for Mercury/Mariner outboards from 1990 to 1999 models. Have you guys heard of this book? Is it worth getting? It looks pretty good from what I can tell.<br /><br />So here is the good news. I got my engine started last night. It took some work though. It seems that my choke was not working properly. My father-in-law had to cover the carborators with his hands to prevent air from going into it and then it fired up. I ran it for a while and really tried to blow some of the **** out of it. Then when I would shut it down and start it up again, it started right up. Maybe I should get a can of carb cleaner or gumout type stuff and spray the heck out of it. What do you guys think about this? Is there something I can do to make my choke work better? Is the carb cleaner a good idea? Will that be good enough? Any input, as always, is much appreciated.<br /><br /><br />Thanks <br />cdeb

 

[krosemond]

Re: Proper starting procedure

Cdeb, I am not familiar with your engine, but I had a similar problem. When you pull off the Carb cover and push the key in on my old Johnson, you can see that a selenoid engages and closes the choke flaps. I had a corroded terminal on the selenoid and it was not engaging the choke. When I flipped the manual choke lever, it started right up.<br />I seem to have the same slow first start when the engine has been tilted for a while. I just assumed that all the gas was draining out of the carbs.<br /><br />One more thing. Is the same gas from last October still in there with no fresh gas? Could be spoiled.

 

[chuckdeb]

Re: Proper starting procedure

Hey krosemond,<br /> Thanks for your reply. I can hear a selenoid click when I push the key to choke but for some reason it was not closing the choke flaps. I will have to take a closer look. Also have to look for the manual choke lever I didn't notice it before. As far as the gas, there was old gas in there but I added some new gas. I always store my engine in the down position and I was still having trouble with first starts. What do you think about the carb cleaner? Should I spray the heck out of it?<br /><br />Thanks<br />cdeb

 

[krosemond]

Re: Proper starting procedure

There seems to be a split decision on this board about carb cleaners and decarb products that you spray into the carbs. My engine was never decarbed until this year (It is a 79)with noticeable increases in performance. I wouldn't overdo it, but I am of the opinion that it can't hurt, and it MIGHT help. Another thought: Is your battery nice and strong? My engine fires up a lot faster when the battery is turning the engine over fast. I have just learned to accept that the first start is a slow one, and the rest of the day I am fine. It always improves as the season goes along. <br /><br />Good luck.