Problem with starting my 2 cycle outboard, takes forever to start?embarrassing?

Question

My '92 Merc 50hp is giving me problems when starting it for the first time of the day, not just first time of the season. I choke it, prime it, put the ideal all the way up and it just turns and turns but dosen't crank over. Could I be priming it to much or not enough? It's embarrassing sitting at the dock when everyone eleses just starts right up and I'm still there cranking away lol. Any suggestions would help thanks.

Answer 1

all motors are differant  try this next time

pump the bulb till you feel it starting to get firm  not to much you could be flooding the engine  dont put the idle up yet  push the key in and turn the key when you here it trying to start then raise the idle up but dont choke it just turn the key  try it like this and see what happens   try differant vertions of starting it  you might be flooding it   or start it at home then when you get to the ramp it should start right up

Answer 2

Plugs and carbs, clean them.

Answer 3

I would make sure the you have good spark plugs. When I take my outboard out I will start the motor before I leave home checking water flow and batteries.  Sometimes older outboards can lose the fuel and takes a little extra time to pump it to the carb's.

Fresh fuel, a good fuel line, check fuel filter (if installed), spark plugs in good condition are the things i would check.

Answer 4

Have you checked for fouled plugs? Pull a plug out and examine...if black and oily in appearance you are likely to have a set of fouled plugs.Replace plugs with fresh ones to solve problem. If it is oil injected the injecter may be messed up and putting too much oil in the gas mixture. If you mix in tank make sure the right ratio is achieved. Does it smoke alot after the engine finally does hit? Every mechanic I have ever talked to has told me to prime then "pump" the throttle a few times before cranking. Every engine is different and seem to develop there own memory of starting in my own opinion. Hope I have helped.

Answer 5

Primary cause of hard cold start:  operator error.  

Open gas tank vent, pump primer bulb until it is firm, raise hi-idle lever full up, push the key in and hold it in while turning it  to "start".

If you can flood your engine with the primer bulb, then your carbs need rebuilding.  Pump the bulb until it is firm - that fills the carb bowls - they have a float valve that closes when full.  This is true of every carbureted 2-stroke outboard ever made.

"Pumping the throttle" is useless - these are not automotive carburetors - all it does is open and close the butterfly valves.

Your motor does not have conventional choke plates;  instead it has a primer solenoid, which opens a valve and allows fuel to drain into the cylinders to richen up the mixture for cold starts.  You should hear the solenoid "click" when you push the key in.

Bad compression leads to hard cold starts - you should have at least 100 PSI in all cylinders, and the lowest needs to be within 5% of the highest.

If you have good compression and spark on all cylinders, the primer solenoid actuates, and the fuel line holds pressure, then you need to remove your carburetors, dissasemble, soak overnight in carb cleaner, blow out passages with compressed air (or aerosol carb cleaner), reassemble with new kits (including new o-rings, gaskets, and float valves & seats), reinstall, link & sync, and adjust slow-speed mixture.