Strange Starting Problem on River Today

[thomsonr]

I bought a 1989 17' bowrider with 3.7 Merc 180hp i/o this spring to get started in boating.

We had a hot evening with humidex near 40C so I decided to go for a ride on river to cool off and check out a boat that had been grounded by mistake. See attachment.

All was going well until the return to the Marina. I had the boat planned out and was moving at a good speed when my young daughter decided to move from the bow to stern. She somehow reached around the dash while moving and turned off the key by mistake.

No problem I though, turned the key and the boat would not start. I cranked the boat quite a bit but still no start. I gave it a squirt of gas from the inline ball and still nothing after some extended cranking. I waited for 5 mins which seemed like an hour, tried again and it finally started.

Why so much problem starting on a warm engine? Normally I can dock anywhere, return and start the engine immediately. I expected to turn the key and have it start.

 

[Borchik]

Re: Strange Starting Problem on River Today

First off there is no reason to have a primer bulb on your fuel line, i would be curious as to why it is there, if all the components in the fuel system are working well there is no reason for it.

For the starting issue, i would guess the engine flooded. When the key is shut off it kills the ignition, but with an engine at higher rpms running it has vacuum that will draw fuel in and the fuel pump will keep going until the engine rpm's stop. wont take much to flood a warm motor.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Strange Starting Problem on River Today

........ I had the boat planned out and was moving at a good speed when my young daughter somehow reached around the dash while moving and turned off the key.

I waited for 5 mins which seemed like an hour, tried again and it finally started.

When your wake hit the stern you more than likely hydrolocked a couple of cylinders. Real good that you got it running quickly.
Check you oil for water contamination, now!!

If no signs of water in the oil, fire 'er up and enjoy.

 

[thomsonr]

Re: Strange Starting Problem on River Today

Hmmm....next time (hopefully won't happen again) I'll avoid use of the primer bulb. Then wait 5 mins or so and restart.

I've had other people ask why I have a primer bulb with this kind of boat.

 

[thomsonr]

Re: Strange Starting Problem on River Today

Borchik:

The person who services the boat asked the same question. Should I just not use it and try to start the boat without?

Any ideas why it might be there (to mask a problem?). Boat seems to generally run pretty good.

 

[Borchik]

Re: Strange Starting Problem on River Today

Well on the top of marine gas tanks for stern drive or inboard boats there is a fuel pickup with what is called an anti-siphon valve on top of it. that valve wont let fuel run back into the tank thus allowing you to start the engine without having to pump a primer bulb. the primer bulb also has a one way check valve. its possible someone removed the anti-siphon and put a primer bulb in its place because they had it. someone may have had starting issues in the past and they thought this would help. try to start the boat normally and see what happens, you will know rather quickly if you have to use it. if you do you likely have some sort of fuel system issue.


as to another suggestion i saw listed the engine couldnt have hydrolocked because it wouldnt have turned over, when an engine hydrolocks it literally locks the engine up.

 

[franktrav]

Re: Strange Starting Problem on River Today

perhaps the primer bulb was put there by the previous owner for cold starting . i would say maybe a quik fix for a bad accelerator pump .have somebody pump the throttle lever several times rapidly while you are looking down the carb. bores-if you dont see a stream of fuel squirting down the bores the accelerator pump is bad. make sure the motor is not running when you do this. a bad pump will also show signs of hessitation or a small flat spot when accelerating rapidly,until the secondaries can catch up