I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

[ShoalSurvivor]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

I bought a new battery. The starter works fine. It wont turn over. I'm new to engines, so your help is greatly appreciated! I am getting closer to the water! I know it!

I tried with choke on and off. How long should I let it crank. How long should I wait between attempts?
Can I flood it? How can I tell? Is the throttle open when it's in engine fast idle, even if I'm not trying to start it? Do I need to put it back between attempts? Am I supposed to spray something into the intake? Can I tell if the choke is on? Can it turn it on manually?

Any other suggestions? Thanks!!!

 

[ShoalSurvivor]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

On the throttle control box, next to the kill switch and ignition post, is a plastic knob that turns a hex bolt inside the control box. Anyone know what that's for?

 

[ShoalSurvivor]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

On the throttle control box, next to the kill switch and ignition post, is a plastic knob that turns a hex bolt inside the control box. Anyone know what that's for?

Ok, My cousin said that this is the idle adjustment. So, once i get it started, I'll adjust it.

He also suggested that I should be able to hear the choke engage, and I cannot... so I'm going to try to manually choke it, today...
Another day, another dollar, another inch closer to the water....

 

[moparkid16]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

get a squirt bottle, (either a windex bottle or buy a regular one) one with the stream setting. pour in some of your gas mix. spray it into the intake. i had my cousin turn the key to crank it over, and i sprayed into the intake untill it started. had to keep spraying till it could run on its own. she fires up every time since then, without having to spray the 'starter fluid'. make sure you use your gas mix and not actual starter fluid. i could not hear my choke engage either and have not figured out if it works or not. but it starts, thats what i was worried about.

 

[moparkid16]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

make sure you have spark!! if you dont, it will not fire up.

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

Ok, My cousin said that this is the idle adjustment. So, once i get it started, I'll adjust it.

He also suggested that I should be able to hear the choke engage, and I cannot... so I'm going to try to manually choke it, today...
Another day, another dollar, another inch closer to the water....

the red button on the thumb side of your lever is the electric trim and tilt... press up to raise engine down to lower engine... the knob is NOT idle adjustment its the throttle lever friction for stiffer or looser throttle resistance... and my choke (or primer) is silent or almost silent... if its real quiet i can hear it click.. and boat stands for Bust Out Another Thousand lol try manual choke but also check to see that you A) have fire at the plugs and B) that fuel is reaching the carbs... if it sits up very long untreated the fuel will turn to gunk in the lines and carb bowls.... are you smelling fuel fumes while trying to start the engine?

 

[ShoalSurvivor]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

the red button on the thumb side of your lever is the electric trim and tilt... press up to raise engine down to lower engine... the knob is NOT idle adjustment its the throttle lever friction for stiffer or looser throttle resistance... and my choke (or primer) is silent or almost silent... if its real quiet i can hear it click.. and boat stands for Bust Out Another Thousand lol try manual choke but also check to see that you A) have fire at the plugs and B) that fuel is reaching the carbs... if it sits up very long untreated the fuel will turn to gunk in the lines and carb bowls.... are you smelling fuel fumes while trying to start the engine?

There is no electric trim or tilt. The friction knob makes more sense - thanks! I'm sure I messed that up when I was changing the ignition switch out, and it's stiffer now... so I'm glad to hear about that.

Also good to hear about silent choke. I'm about to go out and check for spark, then try to manually choke it if I can figure it out, and yes, I smell fumes when trying to start it. I hope that's good !

It was run 3-4 months ago.. I bought new fuel and mixed it... I hope to get it started and "clean all that old stuff out"...

Thank you!

 

[ShoalSurvivor]

Success!

Success!

I checked to make sure it was sparking. It was. Ouch!

Then, while my wife turned the ignition, I pulled up on that lever-thingy on the port-side of the engine, connected to the three roundish doohickies..... and I apparently tickled her fancy (the boat's that is), because she ROARED to life the instant I lifted that lever. A few minutes later, she fired up again without the choke, and on the first spin of the cylinder!!!

So, I'm guessing that lever-thingy is the choke, and for some reason it wasn't moving automatically with the key switch. I'll try starting it cold tomorrow and see.

By the way - today was my father-in-law's first birthday since he passed... coincidence? Just saying...

and now, off to buy some new carpeting so we can get this puppy in the water this weekend!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your help! any more suggestions are welcomed!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I just inheirited a classic, but have noobie questions...

If you do go to buy a new battery make sure it is a marine grade cranking battery. There are two types of marine grade batteries. Deep cycle is mainly used for trolling motors and such and marine grade cranking batteries are for the motor. Usually either will work for either application but the life of battery will be reduced if ran incorrectly.

A deep cycle will happily live its entire life as a starting battery without issue. In fact, you should still never fully discharge a deep cycle. The shallower the cycle, the longer it will live.