1978 Kingfisher with mercury 1150 choke sticks closed

[crovowen]

I have bought my first boat and after a sping and summer of rebuilding (all new wiring, gauges, rebuilt tilt pump and cylinders, switches, bilge and livewell pumps and hoses, etc..) i have finished with an 'external rebuild' of the motor. basically tore down the entire engine to the basic engine (didn't tear down the block, since compression was good and previous owner whom i trusted said he had no mechanical problems with it) and replaced/rebuilt everthing i could (carbs, replaced dist trigger with CDI unit, timing belt, all wiring, fuel pump and hoses, starter) and reassembled, fueled up and with muffs got the engine started. it runs great , BUT... the choke sticks closed and I have tried oiling, loosening, adjusting and just short of putting a rope on it to pull it open when engine is warm. when i push the choke button on the throttle, it works perfectly, but won't re open without my intervention. does anyone know if there is a trick or something I am missing for this choke? it is a 1978 1150 ser 4857871 6cyl with three carbs, no 'econmiser' or whatever its called. only chokes the top two carbs- does the choke solenoid or linkage have an adjustable travel for the plunger? it does not bind, but when it shuts, it stays shut unless i pull the linkage to open it. there is an external spring on the linkage, and is installed exactliy like the seloc book shows, and it has plenty of force to open, but it is that last little bit that holds it shut- if i close it by hand, it flips open right away- any ideas?- Jimbo

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1978 Kingfisher with mercury 1150 choke sticks closed

Jimbo - Well, it sounds like you have installed it correctly. That spring on the top carb is supposed to open the choke. Try loosening the nut that holds the choke shutters. It doesn't matter that the have inward/outward movement, and that may allow them to operate smoothly. The black plastic linkage that holds them together is installed properly? It is not intuitave.


BTW - every model that I checked for 1978 115HP, had the backdraft carbs. It is likely you have them, or someone changed them out, which would be unusual. Not to worry, there is nothing wrong either way, just a data point for you.

 

[crovowen]

Re: 1978 Kingfisher with mercury 1150 choke sticks closed

Eureka! found the problem- there wese two little springs that were supposed to installed on the screws holding the choke covers on the carbs- allows the cover to kinda 'float'- didn't know they were spring loaded, and mine had none when dissassembled. and by adding new parts, tightened everything up. now to find something that will work, since the part numbers for the springs are obsolete. funny how "that little spring" could be such a headache. last question, would adding the third choke setup on the bottom carb help this beasts cold start issues? Thanks- Jimbo

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1978 Kingfisher with mercury 1150 choke sticks closed

Jimbo, I once added a choke shutter to the bottom carb of my IL6. I never thought it did anything to help her start faster. I ended up removing it.