Hard starting

[WanabeBoater]

Please help!!! I have a 5.7 merc w/alpha 1 drive and I am having a difficult time getting started. I had trouble at the ramp a few weeks ago and that was attributed to my abilities of starting the boat properly. After getting more information from this site, I can now start the engine properly. Now the real problem...The 1994 5.7 merc that I have will fire up on the 'muffs' but when I get it out into the lake it doesn't want to start. Even worse, when I do get it to start (from the ramp and after driving around for a while and then decide to shut it off for some swim time...the engine turns over (strongly) but will not start. I can smell fuel in the carb after pumping the throttle, which leaves me with only two other questions...compression and spark. But if it starts and is capable of running as long as it isn't shut off, then I should have all three..Compression,Spark,Fuel. I bought this boat this year on consignment, so there was little information on any needed tune-up. The plug wires do look kinda dry. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Hard starting

You shouldn't need to pump a warm engine to start it. That's fine for a cold engine, but will flood a warm engine. You should also check to be sure the choke is working correctly.<br />As far as tuneup goes, if you don't have info on it, then it's time to do one, along with any other oil, filter, drive oil, etc. that should have been done before you took it out the first time.<br /><br />Here is a thread that may help.<br /><br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=015945#000000

 

[WanabeBoater]

Re: Hard starting

Thanks Don for your advise...I figured as much, that it had to do with tuning it up. But why does a marine impeller not last as long a say..a water pump on an automobile?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hard starting

Rubber Vs. Metal..........