When an outboard is "hard to start" what is usually the cause and what is the solution

[909]

The outboard is a 1998 9.9 HP 2 stroke and I just picked it up.

Started fine, ran for about 10 mins. Shut it off . Then it was hard to start.

Checked the plugs, fine. Reseated the plug wires. Hard to start.

Had to basically turn the throttle to wide open , full choke , primed the bulb and finally after many pulls it reluctantly stared .

Ran again for an hour with no issues.

Pulled the line , ran it dry . Put the line back . Started fine with no issues and seemed to clear it up.

What was the cause of the outboard having a difficult time to start . Do you think the carb is dirty ? The low jet ? Is it because of old fuel or dirty fuel from the original owner ? Is the CDI starting to fail ? Maybe the plugs ? Or is this normal for an outboard that's been sitting in barn over winter that's not been maintained ?

 

[racerone]

When that 1998 motor does not start in 5 pulls there is something wrong.------#1 on the list today is it was flooded !.------CDI units do not " start to fail "-----They go phooofff like a light bulb.-----Do the usual trouble shooting for hard to start condition.-------leroysramblings ----May offer you some clues.

 

[racerone]

Perhaps google ----LEL and UEL----For gasoline to get a better understanding of " flooding " of any motor.

 

[909]

Thanks Racerone. It's possible I flooded the outboard.

 

[Crosbyman]

could have been just a dirty carb orifice now cleaned up a bit after a good run. Time will tell
in any event .. .to be safe ... a new to you engine should be looked over carb wise , then gear oil for contamination (water) ..... impeller change may be in order if the age is unknown .

the usual stuff see LEROY'S several articles on the 9.9 and 15 hp

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Outboard Motor Related/OMC outboard related articles.html

 

[909]

Thanks Crosby man.

The seller was in the middle of a move, after selling his cottage, and in the process of moving to his new farm. I didn't think he would take time to go out and get fresh gas when when I went up there to test it at 8am. So he probably had old fuel in it already, and added more old fuel to boot. It started when I opened up the throttle , so I'm guessing the low jet was dirty. Hopefully it cleared it up.

I will do all those things you suggested thanks !

 

[clemsonfor]

I would say the carb needs cleaning and rebuild.

 

[909]

Thanks, at the very least I'm going to disassemble the carb and drop it in a ultrasonic cleaner .