Hi all
My 1982 Mercruiser 228 has developed a tendency to be hard starting between useages. It starts absolutely fine all day once the initial start has made, but if the boat as not been used for a day of more I find that I have to keep it cranking for a good 15-20 seconds before it will fire. It will then begin to fire and kick into life a few seconds later. Once started it runs and idles sweetly. It almost seems like the automatic choke isnt functioning, but then wouldnt the engine run rough until it warmed up? Engine performance seems to be faultless once running.
The engine utilizes an electric fuel boost pump to fill the fuel line and carb bowl, and I can hear the pump come up to pressure after a few seconds of turning it on suggesting that the carb bowl is filling? I also fitted a new mechanical fuel pump approximately fifteen hours ago, but I I assume that if this was giving any grief then the engine would not run at all since I only use the electric pump as a primer.
I have not yet done any fault-finding, as I am hoping someone may be able to suggest the most logical order to do things?
Obvious things I'm thinking of include; ignition timing / plugs / points / coil / HT leads, carb accelerator pump, and engine compression, but which of these should I approach first? Some of these items I don't have the means to check myself, such as timing, so I don't want to have to pay for a mechanic to look at it if that is considered an unlikely cause.
The boat is new-to-me, having been stored for the past twelve years. In the first ten or so hours I did in the boat the engine seemed to start much easier, and its only in the last few hours that the cold starting issue has surfaced. I'm worried that I will end up burning out the starter motor and / or stuffing my new battery.
Any suggestions will be great fully received!
My 1982 Mercruiser 228 has developed a tendency to be hard starting between useages. It starts absolutely fine all day once the initial start has made, but if the boat as not been used for a day of more I find that I have to keep it cranking for a good 15-20 seconds before it will fire. It will then begin to fire and kick into life a few seconds later. Once started it runs and idles sweetly. It almost seems like the automatic choke isnt functioning, but then wouldnt the engine run rough until it warmed up? Engine performance seems to be faultless once running.
The engine utilizes an electric fuel boost pump to fill the fuel line and carb bowl, and I can hear the pump come up to pressure after a few seconds of turning it on suggesting that the carb bowl is filling? I also fitted a new mechanical fuel pump approximately fifteen hours ago, but I I assume that if this was giving any grief then the engine would not run at all since I only use the electric pump as a primer.
I have not yet done any fault-finding, as I am hoping someone may be able to suggest the most logical order to do things?
Obvious things I'm thinking of include; ignition timing / plugs / points / coil / HT leads, carb accelerator pump, and engine compression, but which of these should I approach first? Some of these items I don't have the means to check myself, such as timing, so I don't want to have to pay for a mechanic to look at it if that is considered an unlikely cause.
The boat is new-to-me, having been stored for the past twelve years. In the first ten or so hours I did in the boat the engine seemed to start much easier, and its only in the last few hours that the cold starting issue has surfaced. I'm worried that I will end up burning out the starter motor and / or stuffing my new battery.
Any suggestions will be great fully received!
