Mercury V8 won't start when cold

[freddiemercury]

I have a Mercury 888 which is a v-8 Ford 302 small block CID 5 Litre in an 17 ' Aquarius Invader. I have changed the battery, new ignition coil, new plugs new plug wires and I still need to keep closing the carbeurator butterfly to get it to start. Then I remove the post I use to close the carb butterfly once it is started and running. Otherwise she runs smooth and fine.

My starting procedure is to pump the throttle twice to get gas into the carb and then set it to about 1/3 which is what another owner here told me he does and he says his gets started all the time.

I am looking at adjusting the carb ratio to be more rich to see if this will help.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercury V8 won't start when cold

The choke either needs adjusting or replacing......
Are the wires connected?
Since it only needs to be done after the boat has sat for a couple of days, I would live with it, but that's me......
Oh, don't mess with the fuel mixture adjustment, it has nothing to do with your issue.....
Welcome to iboats, btw........​

 

[Windykid]

Re: Mercury V8 won't start when cold

You could always install a manual choke cable.

 

[Coors]

Re: Mercury V8 won't start when cold

Where do you find 13 foot long choke cables?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercury V8 won't start when cold

Fixing it the right way would be much easier than adding a manual choke cable.....
What kind of carb is it?
Holley or Merc.?​