2000 40 2C, 2S - takes FOREVER to fire

[guy48065]

​ Getting the 'toon ready for the season & everything looks fine after winter storage. Except now the motor cranks & cranks but won't fire.

The fuel priming bulb is firm. There's fuel visible in the filter. I hear the "choke" click when I press in the key--but I suspect the choke solenoid might be bad.

I finally put a shot of ether in one cylinder and it started immediately & purred just fine. Next day I tried again... Same thing--crank crank crank crank forever. Finally started after 15 minutes of trying.

How do I troubleshoot this problem?

In the picture, is the small tube on the top of the carbs the "enrichment" lines?

 

[Rustywrench]

Yes that is the primer line. With help from a friend you can check its operation. Pull off the line. Pump up your primer bulb. Have your friend turn on the key & push it in. Fuel should squirt out the hose. That would prove the primer works. If you crank the engine with the key pushed in it should continue to pulse fuel out of that line. Care should be taken as the motor could start on the bottom cylinder, so be prepared. Maybe a small cup to catch the fuel from the top hose. Don't need a fire hazard! I'm not much on starting fluids as they don't have any lube in them. Especially at first of season.

 

[guy48065]

Does the primer work solely off the pressure in the primer bulb or does it get pressure from the fuel pump? Does the solenoid stay open as long as the key is pushed in--so fuel will dribble into the carb constantly? I recall reading somewhere that holding the key in for a few seconds before cranking will result in faster cold starts--so if that's true then the fuel pump isn't in play at all until the engine fires up?

 

[racerone]

The primer is a valve , it is NOT a pump.-----It gets fuel at pressure from the bulb.----It gets fuel from the fuel pump when the engine is cranking.-----Pushing the key in and holding it in during cranking is what you need to do.-----Pushing the key in when not cranking is a waste of time in my opinion.----And are you advancing throttle for cold starts ?

 

[guy48065]

The primer is a valve , it is NOT a pump.----

Nobody said that.

But since you bring up pumps... Is the VDO oil & fuel pump vacuum-powered for both functions? Is there enough vac when cranking for the pump(s) to work, or does everything rely on the bulb pressure to push fluids?
The wires are all for the warning system?

And yes I'm using the throttle lever on top of the remote till it's warmed up.

 

[racerone]

Fuel pumps on outboard motors work with a positive pressure pulse.---And a slight vacuum pulse.----The air motor on the VRO works with a positive pressure pulse and a slight vacuum pulse.----The VRO is a combination fuel pump / oil mixing unit and works of a pressure pulse and a slight vacuum pulse.