cold start issues :230a

[frank2014]

hi, first time posting here so if Im missing info please let me know!

boat: 1992 wellcraft ecxel 18sx
engine: 1992 volvo penta 230a

the boat is having a hard time to start up when it's cold. my procedure to start her up is to turn the key and give her a little bit of gas as it doesnt start if you dont touch the throttle. unfortunately, it doesnt start until I seem to crank it a few times, let her sit a few minutes then retry and then it will start. after I start it, it idles a little rough for 30 seconds to a minutes then it runs great. i can then restart it anytime while its hot without any problems and it runs great. I havent had a good ride in it all summer though yet because this issue is bugging me.

up to now, I checked for spark on all 4's and you can see the gas flowing in the carbs through the full speed jet. i have replaced the spark plugs, new distributor cap, rotor and added the electronic ignition. could this be water in the gas/tank?

any more leads would be much appreciated.

thanks!!

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: cold start issues :230a

I would start by adjusting the choke to see if that helps. It should be just about closed when cold. If this is unsuccessful, I would lean towards water in the gas.

 

[frank2014]

Re: cold start issues :230a

I would start by adjusting the choke to see if that helps. It should be just about closed when cold. If this is unsuccessful, I would lean towards water in the gas.

Thanks for the quick reply. I cant seem to find the exploded view/ location of the choke for my engine type in my manual. I did find a small enclosed black piece that has a tension spring directly on the carb that seems to work when under vacuum. Would that be it?

Type:230A/SP
Serial:2200025447

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: cold start issues :230a

Yes, that would be it. Unlike other carbs which restrict airflow by a butterfly valve, which I must admit I thought was the case earlier, yours is controlled by a temperature controlled valve and a membrane that opens an additional fuel/air channel in the carb. See the following link to your manual.

Boatinfo - Volvo Penta AQ131, AQ151 & AQ171 Engine Service Manual

If this were me, I would have someone pull this rod and attempt to start while the engine is cold and see if this helps on cold starts. If so, I would open this up and see if the membrane appears to be in good condition or not. Good luck.

EDIT: May also check the temp control device, No. 3 in the above link.

 

[Bondo]

Re: cold start issues :230a

hi, first time posting here so if Im missing info please let me know!

boat: 1992 wellcraft ecxel 18sx
engine: 1992 volvo penta 230a

the boat is having a hard time to start up when it's cold. my procedure to start her up is to turn the key and give her a little bit of gas as it doesnt start if you dont touch the throttle. unfortunately, it doesnt start until I seem to crank it a few times, let her sit a few minutes then retry and then it will start. after I start it, it idles a little rough for 30 seconds to a minutes then it runs great. i can then restart it anytime while its hot without any problems and it runs great. I havent had a good ride in it all summer though yet because this issue is bugging me.

up to now, I checked for spark on all 4's and you can see the gas flowing in the carbs through the full speed jet. i have replaced the spark plugs, new distributor cap, rotor and added the electronic ignition. could this be water in the gas/tank?

any more leads would be much appreciated.

thanks!!

Ayuh,.... With a Carbed motor, ya gotta advance the throttle, At least Once, to Wot, to set the choke to cold start,...

'n,.... With a Carbed motor, advancin' the throttle at All starts is pretty common,....

 

[frank2014]

Re: cold start issues :230a

Tonight Ill have some time to test out the choke system. So if I understand correctly, I have to advance the throttle at WOT, then set it back to the idle position to start it up?

Ill try to figure this out tonight and post back here.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: cold start issues :230a

No. You advance (pump) neutral throttle to set the chike and to allow the accelerator pump to squirt a shot of fuel into the engine. You do know how to work the neural throttle don't you?. You leave the throttle set advabced a bit while cranking. Leave the choke alone. You very likely have a "procedure" problem rather than a mechanical issue.

 

[frank2014]

Re: cold start issues :230a

No. You advance (pump) neutral throttle to set the chike and to allow the accelerator pump to squirt a shot of fuel into the engine. You do know how to work the neural throttle don't you?. You leave the throttle set advabced a bit while cranking. Leave the choke alone. You very likely have a "procedure" problem rather than a mechanical issue.

yep, i always start it in neutral.

my procedure to start her up was always ok up to recently thus why Im looking into what is causing harder cold starts but I will definitely try your suggestion when I get home. thanks!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: cold start issues :230a

yep, i always start it in neutral.

my procedure to start her up was always ok up to recently thus why Im looking into what is causing harder cold starts but I will definitely try your suggestion when I get home. thanks!

You are missing the "neutral throttle" thing. You MUST start the engine in neutral. If you advance the throttle lever, the outdrive would be in gear. To allow an engine to have the throttle advanced WITHOUT going into gear there is a "neutral throttle" release button you can push in which disengages the shift linkage from the throttle. You can then advance the throttle without having the drive in gear. If there is no button, grasp the throttle/shift lever and pull it outward toward the middle of the boat. That releases the shift linkage. To re-engage the throttle, pull back to the neutral. Learn how to use this feature and your engine will be much easier to start when cold. You check the choke by removing the flame arrestor and moving the throttle lever forward and back to neutral. On a stone cold engine the choke butterfly should just barely close. As the engine starts and warms up it should gradually open until it stands fully upright. DO NOT attempt to adjust the choke on a warm engine.

 

[frank2014]

Re: cold start issues :230a

You are missing the "neutral throttle" thing. You MUST start the engine in neutral. If you advance the throttle lever, the outdrive would be in gear. To allow an engine to have the throttle advanced WITHOUT going into gear there is a "neutral throttle" release button you can push in which disengages the shift linkage from the throttle. You can then advance the throttle without having the drive in gear. If there is no button, grasp the throttle/shift lever and pull it outward toward the middle of the boat. That releases the shift linkage. To re-engage the throttle, pull back to the neutral. Learn how to use this feature and your engine will be much easier to start when cold. You check the choke by removing the flame arrestor and moving the throttle lever forward and back to neutral. On a stone cold engine the choke butterfly should just barely close. As the engine starts and warms up it should gradually open until it stands fully upright. DO NOT attempt to adjust the choke on a warm engine.

As mentionned in my previous post, I always always start in neutral, if not id hit my dock! Haha. I did forget to mention it in my starting procedure in my first post though.

Update from yesterday night: i performed all your suggestions in regards to pushing it to WOT ( in neutral) before starting her and then feathering the throttle ( again, in neutral) while cranking and it started right up. I guess Ill have to change my startup procedure as the WOT part I wasent doing before.

Thanks again for your help all!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: cold start issues :230a

You start in neutral because you MUST. The engine will not crank if it is NOT in neutral. What I'm trying to get across to you is that there is a disconnect mechanism in the control box that allows to you move the throttle forward and leave it there or to pump the throttle and leave it there while you start the engine. The drive remains in neutral at this point because you disconnected it from the throttle. That is the :"neutral throttle or fast idle feature". Carbureted engines generally need to have an extra shot of fuel in addition to a functioning choke for proper cold starts. Look for the release button at the center of the throttle lever where where it pivots on the control box. If no button, then do as I suggested -- pull the handle toward the center of the boat to disengage the shift mechanism from the throttle. Every control box except dual lever boxes have this feature. Learn to use it.

 

[frank2014]

Re: cold start issues :230a

You start in neutral because you MUST. The engine will not crank if it is NOT in neutral. What I'm trying to get across to you is that there is a disconnect mechanism in the control box that allows to you move the throttle forward and leave it there or to pump the throttle and leave it there while you start the engine. The drive remains in neutral at this point because you disconnected it from the throttle. That is the :"neutral throttle or fast idle feature". Carbureted engines generally need to have an extra shot of fuel in addition to a functioning choke for proper cold starts. Look for the release button at the center of the throttle lever where where it pivots on the control box. If no button, then do as I suggested -- pull the handle toward the center of the boat to disengage the shift mechanism from the throttle. Every control box except dual lever boxes have this feature. Learn to use it.

Were trying to say the same thing here. When I talk about neutral, that means that i pull on the shifter to disengage the shift mechanism( i might be using automotive terms, and if so I apologize). I NEVER EVER tried to start it in gear and always have the throttle in neutral position( pulled out to disengage the shift mechanism) when proceeding to advancing with the throttle to start it up.

Thanks for taking the time to explain though.

Ill keep an eye out on how she goes in the next few days and report back. But having the throttle disengaged and advancing the throttle to WOT as suggested above before cranking her seemed to help.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: cold start issues :230a

And you don't start the engine with the throttle wide open unless it is flooded. you move it wide open once or twice but set it at 1/3 open while cranking.

 

[Don S]

Re: cold start issues :230a

First off, a 230 doesn't have a choke and they are cold natured and hard to start. You need to pump the throttle a couple times to start it, maybe more. Just depends on the condition of the engine and tuneup.
Those engines are really picky about dwell and timing adjustment, along with idle mixture adjustment.

I usually pump them a couple of times, then start cranking the engine and keep pumping till they start, then keep them revved up to around 1500 or so till they warm up.