mercury starting

[nicopoulos]

Mercury 60hp 2-stroke 2002 recently installed. Taking about a minute to start. What is a reasonable number of attempts or time frame to cold start this motor.<br /><br />I might be flooding the motor.

 

[KIGuy52]

Re: mercury starting

Mine's been a bear to start lately too. (25 HP pull start). I replaced the primer diaphragm (mine has no choke), but it still takes 15-20 pulls to get it going first thing in the morning. After it starts that first time, it only takes one pull the rest of the day. I'll be watching this post for some answers.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: mercury starting

My 40hp starts in about three turns of the flywheel when cold and about 1/2 turn once warm.<br /><br />Not likely you are flooding the motor. These beasts love lots of gas when starting from cold. Are you applying the choke properly ? Remote or tiller operation ?<br /><br />KIguy52, you don't have a choke ??? Are you sure ? Can't imagine starting a 2 stroke without a choke.

 

[mulliganmagic]

Re: mercury starting

My 70 hp 1977 starts with one to three turns of the key cold and one turn of the key when warm. That's usually not even pumping the primer bulb either. Also, I'm not the one that grinds and grinds on it with one turn of the key either. I usually only do a few seconds at a time. Another tip that I got was to go ahead and turn the motor over and engage the choke while the motor is turning and then release it as soon as you can. So in other words you're applying the choke for as little time as possible while the motor is turning. It seems to work well for me.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: mercury starting

Nobody has mentioned the fast idle lever. It should be raised on a cold start. Cold two-strokes simply need lots of fuel and lots of choke on that first start. That won't happen unless the carb(s) are full of fuel (as in squeeze the primer bulb until its firm). Push in on the key while cranking. It will pop off and you may need to "bump" the choke a time or two if the engine tends to die off. Once it begins to stabilize, lower the fast idle lever.

 

[Coolmaker]

Re: mercury starting

"Nobody has mentioned the fast idle lever. It should be raised on a cold start. Cold two-strokes simply need lots of fuel and lots of choke on that first start. That won't happen unless the carb(s) are full of fuel (as in squeeze the primer bulb until its firm). Push in on the key while cranking. It will pop off and you may need to "bump" the choke a time or two if the engine tends to die off. Once it begins to stabilize, lower the fast idle lever."<br /><br />Most people do not realize that one needs to HOLD the key in to make it start. They think that it is okay to just "bump" it in to start it. It is not a choke, but an enrichner valve. That says it all.....

 

[nicopoulos]

Re: mercury starting

I have taken the boat back to the dealer so as their marine mechanic can have a look at the start up problem I have been experiencing.<br /><br />It appears the fuel tank was a non-venting type and pressure build up was causing some problem with the starting process. I have also used the technique outlined by "Mulliganmagic" and "Coolmaker/Upinsmoke" and the motor starts within three attempts.<br /><br />Thanks to all who responded.

 

[andy6374]

Re: mercury starting

I have an 88' V6 200HP merc, so we are talking gas city. But I don't even have to push in the choke to get it started. I just fully fill the carb bowls and put the throttle into a medium idle (1500-2000RPMS) and crank it. Fires right up and then maybe after a couple seconds (3-4 s) when it sounds right I lower back to a regular idle, and then she idles fine. I do have to choke the crap out of it if my carbs haven't been cleaned in awhile. If your carbs are clean, you should have no problem starting. Only if it is really cold (40 F) in the morning do I have to use the enricher valve.<br />-andy

 

[KIGuy52]

Re: mercury starting

Originally posted by RodC:<br /><br /><br />KIguy52, you don't have a choke ??? Are you sure ? Can't imagine starting a 2 stroke without a choke.

Nope, no choke. It has a primer instead. You pull out a knob and it squirts a shot of gas into the carb and opens a small valve (I think). Same knob also adjusts the idle speed. Actually, it works really good when it works right. You can't flood this motor. I probobly screwed it up when I replaced the diaphragm. I'll fix it this winter.

 

[KIGuy52]

Re: mercury starting

Originally posted by KIGuy52:<br /> I replaced the primer diaphragm, but it still takes 15-20 pulls to get it going first thing in the morning.

I didn't mean to say "still". It started easy before I replaced the diaphragm, but fuel leaked out. Guess I shoulda left it da hell alone.

 

[ehenry]

Re: mercury starting

Kiguy52, If you leave that pulled out when you try to crank the engine it acts as a choke. I have the same 25 as you. Give it a try.

 

[KIGuy52]

Re: mercury starting

Thanks efhenry. I leave it pulled out when starting, but it doesn't work right since I fixed it. I didn't install the whole primer rebuild kit, just the diaphragm. I'll replace the rest of the stuff when I pull it out of the water this winter. Until then, a small squirt of fuel down the carb with a turkey baster and it fires right up. After that it starts fine the rest of the day.