mercury 150 starting problems

[phaz]

I have a 1986 mercury and it runs great in phoenix temps 50-110 degrees but twice I took it up north and temps were in the 20s and it will turn over great but will not fire. Did it this morning same thing temp. 23 deg. Came home temp was 70 deg. hooked up to hose and it fired right up. Any ideas?<br />thanks mike

 

[KCLOST]

Re: mercury 150 starting problems

phaz,<br /><br />First let's determine what kind of starting procedure you are using.... Let's face it colder weather can easily affect viscosity of stuff so you may just not be getting fuel where it needs to be to fire...<br /><br />Try this procedure...<br /><br />Sweeze fuel line bulb repeatedly until firm. Set throttle to fast idle position (obviously in neutral)<br />Turn key half a turn, then push key in & out 6 times, then push key in as you turn the motor over... Let us know...

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: mercury 150 starting problems

I have found my outboard to be quite temperature sensitive. When cold, my 50hp will respond fine to KCLOST's cold start procedure. If anchored for 1 hr or more on a normal ambient day, I really need to treat it as "Cold" and use the choke.If only anchored for 20 minutes, and I use the choke, it gets flooded and is hard to start.When it starts, there is a lot of fuel smoke. So I just squeeze, and use the fast idle lever. When hot.. just turn the key. There is nothing wrong with my motor, just need to establish whether it is cold, warm or hot. <br />Being mostly Aluminium, it would heat up and cool down very quickly on the water.<br />