Hard Starting when cold/first start untill I open up the choke ?

[Baylinercapri1987]

Recently my OMC Cobra 2.3L Ford is hard to start on inital start up of the day. Once running it starts great all day no problem. When it does not start up for me I pull the flame arrestor off and hold the choke open while cranking the engine, soon after it starts right up. What can I do to fix this? Is it time for a carb rebuild?

Thanks

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Hard Starting when cold/first start untill I open up the choke ?

Hard to say if it's carb problem. It's more likely to be a compression problem. The starting when you hold the choke open is coincidental because it's flooded. I would check the compression before you start throwing the $$...

 

[CaptRon66]

Re: Hard Starting when cold/first start untill I open up the choke ?

Is the choke getting stuck closed ? An ajustment maybe?

 

[Zackman]

Re: Hard Starting when cold/first start untill I open up the choke ?

Never had that engine on a boat. But had a similar problem with that engine in a car. Tried every adjustment to the carb (including numerous rebuilds), finally replaced the carb and never had a problem after replacement.

 

[Don S]

Re: Hard Starting when cold/first start untill I open up the choke ?

The engine is flooding, that is why when you open the choke it eventually starts. I hope you are giving it some throttle when trying to start and not just cranking at idle position. It's a carb and may need about a 1/4 throttle to start when cold.
Could also be a simple adjustment to loosten the setting on the choke. IF the choke setting is the problem.
Could also be the engine needing a tuneup. When was it last tuned up. Points, condenser, cap, rotor, spark plugs, setting the dwell and setting the timing and checking the advance timing.
It all has to be right to start properly cold.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Hard Starting when cold/first start untill I open up the choke ?

I agree with Don, try leaning out the choke some. Also next time your try it when take the flame arester off before you manually open the choke try pushing the throttle all the way down and see if it opens the choke a little. If it does you likely do not have to pull the flame arester. Instead just move the throttle to full power postion. Be carefull because when it starts it will red line real fast if you do not pull it back to near idle position.

My unit to adjust the choke just losen the three screws that hold the choke setting. Advance the throttle far enough it comes off the idle cam and turn in the lean direction until the choke opens. Turn in the rich direction until you have it where your want it. Tighten the three screw back down.