2.4 liter Carb..."hard to start"

[Vegas "V's"]

I own a 20' Vegas with a 1984 2.4 liter Mariner(carb). At the boat launch, my motor is a very hard starter...takes a few minutes. It has a "enrichner valve" insted of a choke. Could this valve be the problem? Why does Merc/ Mariner use this insted of a choke? After the initial start it's a animal...runs very stong in all the RPM ranges all day long...what's the deal:confused:

Any info would be great!:)

[Superdave]

Procedure....trim motor down so the powerhead is level....pump bulb up HARD....turn key on...push in to choke and count to 5....turn to start. Should hit first lick
:D

[vector mike]

The enricher system only works on the middle and bottom carbs. I read awhile back where T-Rex recomended tapping into the top carb also and running a line to it to help with cold starting. It sounds like a great idea. I am going to do that to mine because mine is a bitch starting cold too. :eek: If you trim your motor under in negative trim it does help the cold starting. I hold my enricher down the whole time I'm cold cranking tring to get enough fuel in it to start but I have an electric fuel pump too.

[j_martin]

I have found that the most important thing in starting this engine is to have it level. At one boat landing, I have to actually put the engine in the dirt, start it, then lift it out so I don't rototill before I put it in gear. It flat won't start tilted up, and pops off within 5 seconds when level.
Level means level, not tilted out, and not tucked under.

hope it helps
John

[tomoad]

pump bubble til hard, push key choke 5 times 5 second holds, start cranking while giving it a little gas if you have a hotfoot in the floor. my old 2.4 this worked every time

[WATERWINGS]

Check to see, (hear) if the enricher is actually working.

You should hear a "click" if it is working, and the key has to be "on" for it to work.

Also make sure that the fuel lines going to and from the enricher are hooked up and not split or off of the fittings.

[T-REX]

Also, tha enricher don't force gas into the carb throat UNLESS U have a electric fuel pump....so U kan turn the key on, and hold the key in for three dayz, and it will not put gas into the throats till the engine iz bein turned over, and sucks the gas into the carbs(tha manual pump also forces sum in the throat while spinn'in the mota)....No elect pump, No spin'a da mota, no fuel for cold start!!!....U kan pump tha bulb while hold'in tha key and it will enrich'in tha mota, but hell if'in ya had armz dat long, U could juss paddle, and save tha gas!!:eek:

[Hottrucks]

Hey T my skater has pumps (from the old efi) in the hull can I hook them up to the carbs or is there to much presure??? I think they where just there to supply fuel to the efi not to presure the efi system ??? sure would beat climbing over the rear seat to sqeeze my balls :) and it may help my cold starts???


Jeff

[Vegas "V's"]

Thanks for all your input and ideas! I do prime the bulb till it's hard. I turn the key "on"- hold the key in 3 to 5 seconeds and continue to hold the key in while engine is cranking. I havn't given it any throttle...thinking it would flood- I'll try that. Also, I don't trim engine level because of the depth of water at the ramp, I'll try that as well.

Questions...

1) Would a electric pump work better for me as well?

2) How do I get fuel to the top carb useing the valve? Does it matter what carbs you have to do this mod?

Thanks again:) :)

[Bruster]

Thanks for all your input and ideas! I do prime the bulb till it's hard. I turn the key "on"- hold the key in 3 to 5 seconeds and continue to hold the key in while engine is cranking. I havn't given it any throttle...thinking it would flood- I'll try that. Also, I don't trim engine level because of the depth of water at the ramp, I'll try that as well.

Questions...

1) Would a electric pump work better for me as well?

2) How do I get fuel to the top carb useing the valve? Does it matter what carbs you have to do this mod?

Thanks again:) :)

If you really need to do this mod (adding enrichiner line to the top carb) you have some other problems. I like and have used the electric fuel pump.:D

[150aintenuff]

2.4L carb Electric Fuel pump start prociedure...

set motor level, turn on all switches that controll pump, turn on key to start pump pumping, once pressure is up TAP enrichener 5 times, turn over, should fire and stumble, if you can turn off fuel pump, advance throttle slightly and refire. return on pump and go boat, if cannot trun off pump donot advance throttle, pres in key when cranking. takes me a total of 15 seconds to do all that cold and am running in about 30seconds max.. I have a separate switch and an ign cutoff relay that controlls the fuel pump though

the people with pumper carbs can pump the throttle and start better than using the enrichener

Electric in boat pump is only way to go... and carter builds a 5.75 PSI 70GPH marine pump that is perfect for any merc or omc carb motor regardless of hp..

[T-REX]

1) Would a electric pump work better for me as well?

2) How do I get fuel to the top carb useing the valve? Does it matter what carbs you have to do this mod?


1.....Yes...Electric pumps keep the fuel to the manual pump...the manual pump iz not a PULLER...so the higher your mota, tha further away the tank from the mota, the betta tha elect pump helps U(not to mention it eliminates the bulb)

2....Drill the top carb juss like the center/bottom...not rocket science. very simple


If you really need to do this mod (adding enrichiner line to the top carb) you have some other problems. I like and have used the electric fuel pump.

This iz tru...but hiz problem iz "IT'S HARD TO START"....adding fuel to the top 2 cyls juss gives an added shot of fuel to the cyls to aid in the bottom ones...hince the less the engine haz to turn over....when it'z cold, it's like starting your engine with the top 2 plug wires off!!...why not use all 6???....Juss kuz Mercury didn't do it, don't make it wrong...they cut a lot ov cornerz!!!!


Hey T my skater has pumps (from the old efi) in the hull can I hook them up to the carbs or is there to much presure???

Yes, but U have to use bypass regulaters!!!...I use a 300drag efi pump on my 2.0, with a Barry Grant Bypass regulator...CAUTION tho, A buddy bought a Barry Grant Bypass and tha guy told him it wouldn't go below 4#s...And hiz wouldn't go below 4-1/2#s....I run mine @ 3-1/2#s...4-1/2 may be ok for U, but on sum applications it's too much for Drag race'in...The needles hold till about 6-7#s(sum even more), but performance falls off wit high fuel pressure!!!

[150aintenuff]

i run 5.75 psi on mine, and only time i have a problem with needle seats is at idle so i just cycle the pump so it bleads off the pressure and doesnt load up the motor

[1BadAction]

oh man this brings back teh memories. "now boy, pump up this here ball till ya cant squeeze, then go over and push the key in, count to 10, then start her up. If'n ya dont catch it with the hot foot the first time shes gonna be a bitch to fire up again" LOL. good times.

[jphii]

1.....Yes...Electric pumps keep the fuel to the manual pump...the manual pump iz not a PULLER...so the higher your mota, tha further away the tank from the mota, the betta tha elect pump helps U(not to mention it eliminates the bulb)

2....Drill the top carb juss like the center/bottom...not rocket science. very simple



This iz tru...but hiz problem iz "IT'S HARD TO START"....adding fuel to the top 2 cyls juss gives an added shot of fuel to the cyls to aid in the bottom ones...hince the less the engine haz to turn over....when it'z cold, it's like starting your engine with the top 2 plug wires off!!...why not use all 6???....Juss kuz Mercury didn't do it, don't make it wrong...they cut a lot ov cornerz!!!!



Yes, but U have to use bypass regulaters!!!...I use a 300drag efi pump on my 2.0, with a Barry Grant Bypass regulator...CAUTION tho, A buddy bought a Barry Grant Bypass and tha guy told him it wouldn't go below 4#s...And hiz wouldn't go below 4-1/2#s....I run mine @ 3-1/2#s...4-1/2 may be ok for U, but on sum applications it's too much for Drag race'in...The needles hold till about 6-7#s(sum even more), but performance falls off wit high fuel pressure!!!


Hey Rex, what's wrong? I alomost could read that:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[1BadAction]

Hey Rex, what's wrong? I alomost could read that:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

you are just getting used to reading his writing. :D

[ProComp]

boat I just picked up has a 2.4 200 on it with a Holly Red with an inline regulator regulating the fuel down to 4 psi. It was also run through the mechanical pump which seemed odd to me so I am just going to bypass the mechanical. Any reason not too?

[vector mike]

Nope. Just be sure to plug the pulse hole.