86 45hp when to choke

I recently got a classic 50 4 cyl and the control is a quicksilver. To choke, i know you push the key in, but what is the proper way to start as it is a little finickey. When cold, i give it 1/2 neutral throttle, pump bulb and start with choke in. If no start, i play with throttle and choke. Then if you run it then shut down for an hour or so, do you need to rechoke and go 1/2 throttle? Always afraid of flooding it.

Also, should the quicksilver throttle console make a noise? I see what looks like a speaker, but never hear anything.