Starting problems

[88bay]

I have a 1988 Force 125hp. I just put carbs off of a 115hp Force. Now when I start my boat for the first time of the day I have to use a little starting fluid. Once started it runs great and idles nice. Any ideas of where to start on fixing this problem?

 

[Matthew A.]

Re: Starting problems

Difficult to say. One word of advise..try to avoid using starting fluid to start the motor on two stroke engines. Reason being starting fluid does not contain any oil neccessary to prevent damage from occurring to the piston rings and cylinder walls as well as crank, piston and rod bearings. Should you find yourself in a jam and having to use some sort of starting aide some people use WD40. Another trick is to use a can of fogging oil just prior and during the exact moment one uses starting fluid.

 

[john from md]

Re: Starting problems

1. Have you adjusted the choke plates so that they are closed when you push in the choke?

2. Are you putting the throttle in the fast idle position before starting?

3. Are you pumping the ball prior to starting?

When is the last time you did a decarb?


John

 

[88bay]

Re: Starting problems

When I put the new carbs on I tore them apart and cleaned them first.
The chokes are close to closing but not quite.
Yes, I pumped my ball first and it gets tighter then it did prior to the new carbs.
I do put the throttle wide open when I start it.

 

[john from md]

Re: Starting problems

You need to decarb the engine. Excess carbon causes sticking rings and unusual flame paths. These will both cause hard starting.

Go to the FAQ in the beginning of the repair and maintenance forum. Scroll through it and find the section on decarbing. It is an easy process and pays big dividends.

John

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Starting problems

Since you state that the problem started after you put on the 115 carbs, we can probably suspect the carbs.

Different carbs have different choke butterflies with different amounts of air bleed. If you need to use starting fluid and that makes for a faster start, then we can deduce that not enough fuel is getting to the engine during choke. Your 125 may need a richer start mixture than the 115. If the plates are different, then that could be part of the problem.

1. Carbs should have choke butterflies closing all the way with a maximum clearance of the thickness of a piece of writing paper. Set them to this. Your definition of "close to closing" may be different than mine, but close is not good enough.

2. If you still have the 125 chokes, and if they are different, replace the 115 choke butterflies with the 125 butterflies. Since the front of the carbs and the venturis are the same, this is a simple bolt on task.

 

[88bay]

Re: Starting problems

Thanks for the tips everyone! I got the choke butterflies to close all the way now it pops off right away and purrs like a kitten!