Thread: Requires open throttle to start

yeah, I know a guy but he always seems to want $200 or more. Nevertheless, he does get the job done. Sometimes I think owning a boat is the most financially irresponsible thing I have ever done.

B.O.A.T. Break out another thousand!!!

If your boat has been sitting before you bought it, the carbs need to be taken apart and cleaned. When I bought mine it had been down for a few months (years) and the low speed circuits were all gummed up. Carb kits are about $10 or less, well worth it and pretty easy.

Originally Posted by pauldo

yeah, I know a guy but he always seems to want $200 or more. Nevertheless, he does get the job done. Sometimes I think owning a boat is the most financially irresponsible thing I have ever done.

If the problem is in the carbs, he'll probably get another $200. If it's a compression issue, you'll wish it was $200.

Originally Posted by stevefishes

If your boat has been sitting before you bought it, the carbs need to be taken apart and cleaned. When I bought mine it had been down for a few months (years) and the low speed circuits were all gummed up. Carb kits are about $10 or less, well worth it and pretty easy.

Can't rule that out. But the fact that it's a starting issue and not a running issue has me thinking either a lack of compression or badly retarded timing caused by improper carb linkage adjustment.

Problem solved. Decided I'd address the cheap stuff before making a trip to the boat shop. First problem, I think my fuel line was way too long and the valve in the primer bulb may have been working against me. Second problem, the zip ties I used to secure the fuel line were not holding tightly. The third and most significant problem was that the grey Mercury line looked to be clogged solid with bits of its plastic liner. Even the connector at the engine side of the fuel line was plugged pretty bad. Replaced all the grey line with regular black 5/16 line from Advance Auto, bumped the primer a few times, and the motor started immediately. Never had to touch the throttle. Also, I noticed that the primer bulb got much more firm than before. Cost me every bit of $4. Me and my fuel pump are smiling from ear to ear at this very moment. Thanks for all the help guys.

That amber colored plastic stuff use to be the liner of the gray line. They are bad about doing that. Glad you found that.

I replaced my fuel lines last year as a precaution since I don't use ethanol gas. One thing I would ask about the line you used is does it state it is ethanol compatible? Mine had it on the line, but seems like I read on here that the new marine lines for ethanol gas were blue. Just don't won't you to run into the same problem down the road if the replacement line is not ethanol rated. Glad that is all it was though and hope it runs good from now on.

Originally Posted by SeaRay

I replaced my fuel lines last year as a precaution since I don't use ethanol gas. One thing I would ask about the line you used is does it state it is ethanol compatible? Mine had it on the line, but seems like I read on here that the new marine lines for ethanol gas were blue. Just don't won't you to run into the same problem down the road if the replacement line is not ethanol rated. Glad that is all it was though and hope it runs good from now on.

That's not true about the blue fuel line. It just makes it pretty. I doubt you could buy fuel line that wasn't ethanol safe. Unless someone has some very old stock.