Boat starting question

[mia9516]

Greetings! I hope someone can shed some light on this. I have a 4.3L MerCruiser in my 88 Cobalt. It is not fuel injected so I have to move the throttle forward and then back to center before cold starting, i.e., the first start of the day. I'm sure there is a name for this procedure but it escapes me at the moment. After the engine gets up to operating temperature and I turn the engine off, the only way to get it started again is to move the throttle forward, in neutral, and crank it over. Then it becomes a race to retard the throttles before the engine over revs itself. So, is this normal? I would really like to know. Appreciate any and all help. Cheers!~Milton

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Boat starting question

What's it like at idle? What RPM? Does it bog as you accelerate?

 

[mia9516]

Re: Boat starting question

What's it like at idle? What RPM? Does it bog as you accelerate?

It idles pretty smooth at around 1k RPM, maybe a little higher in the driveway. In the water, it tends to stall at idle, especially after a run. The acceleration is smooth all the way. There is no backfire from the carb or any "chugging" i guess you'd call it.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Boat starting question

Sounds like the idle is too lean and the idle screw (throttle stop) is set too high to compensate.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat starting question

It idles pretty smooth at around 1k RPM, maybe a little higher in the driveway.

Ayuh,... Your Procedure sounds Normal, but the idle is Way High,...
It should idle at 650/ 700rpms, in gear, in the water....

 

[Philster]

Re: Boat starting question

Tinkering with idle speeds is only helpful if you understand whether or not she is rich, lean or spot on.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Boat starting question

I'd agree - see it all the time on motorcycles. People adjust the throttle stop to get it to idle properly with out setting the idle mixture screw first. Can't help you with how to do it on the OP's motor, but it's definitely worth a look. See if you can find the procedure in a manual and go through it.

 

[karatejoe]

Re: Boat starting question

My 1986 Chaparral I/O starts the same way. However I have its idle set at 650 -700 rpms. After shutting it off and restarting I have to move the throttle up a little and after it starts back it down to idle again.
I have noticed I can leave it at idle position and bump the key once or twice and it fires up that way.
Turn your idle down. It will make docking a little easier.