Suzuki DT25 '97 - coughs then floods when starting - correct starting procedure ?

[quietstorm]

Hi,

Maybe once in every 10 trips i find I have a prob with my 1997 model DT25 where i'll pull start a few times, it'll cough momentarily and then it seems to flood - majority of the time she'll start after a few pulls.

When i finally get it started, smoke billows out for a short while then she's smoke free and fine for the rest of the day and starts first pull.

My starting procedure is as follows:

Prime till bulb hard
Pull choke lever
Ensure throttle just above minimum mark
Pull till she starts
Push in choke lever once started
Enjoy trouble free boating.


When it gives me a problem this is the series of events
Prime till bulb hard
Pull choke lever
Ensure throttle just above minimum mark
Pull a few times
Engine coughs momentarily and doesn't turn over
Struggle to start for the next 15 mins (trying a combination of throttle open, choke closed etc)
Starts and blows a heap of smoke for less than a minute
Smoke clears and runs fine for rest of day.
Enjoy trouble free boating having overcome panic attack at launching ramp.


My questions:

1) is my starting procedure correct ?
2) is there something sinister going on ?
3) what can i do to start when flooded ?


I also have another question - should the starting procedure be the same for electric and manual start. The reason I ask is that i recently installed an electric starter and it seems to take longer to start and cranks a heap more before turning over with the electric start, also seems more prone to flooding so i only use the electric start when she's warm.

Any suggestions/thoughts/tips would be much appreciated. Really love the engine but scared that i'll be stranded some day so i'm tempted to sell it and get something newer.

Thanks,
Storm

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Suzuki DT25 '97 - coughs then floods when starting - correct starting procedure ?

Yes -- your starting procedure is wrong. When the engine coughs, push the choke off. Continuing to pull after that with the choke on is what causes it to flood. You might even try pushing the choke only half way in.

Cold starts with electric start are about the same but because the engine is spinning much faster on the starter, choke the engine for just one or two seconds. Push it off and then continue to crank. Eventually you will find a happy medium.

Lastly, when was the engine last tuned up? Fresh plugs, fresh fuel, clean carbs, and good hot spark are keys to an easy starting engine.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Suzuki DT25 '97 - coughs then floods when starting - correct starting procedure ?

nothing to worry about, your starting procedure is fine, but you must put the throttle at half mark not slightly above minimum, you must push the choke back the moment you here that it want to start ....... when it floods you need to keep the choke back adn just pulls untill it starts, you can just change your spark plugs for a change?