Starting hard

[Draker]

I have a chaparral with a mercruiser 470, it is really sluggish when starting, almost like battery is dead, but its a new battery. After a few trys it turns over quicker and starts, could it be the ignition coil or silonoid?

 

[makomark]

could be but I'd check the battery cables at both ends (4 total) for excessive voltage drop. could also be the engine is worn and approaching rebuild time...

 

[Master mechanic]

Your going to find that engine is always gonna be a byatch to start.

But maybe we can help you make it a little easier.

1- Your starter the old type or new type ? New type uses less juice, just a better starter.

2' Your idle circuit clean in the carb ?

3- Choke working correctly ? Should be closed when cold. Choke should open all the way when hot.

4- Fuel pressure? What is the pump giving you in psi ? 4-7 no less no more.

5- Spark ? Your engine has the crank mounted gen ? I consider that a gen not a alternator. There are upgrade kits to do away with the old style gen and install a modern alt. You have a good spark to the plugs ?

Dist., wires... was going to put this under spark then thought ignition, i left it in the middle. Points good, wires good, no play in the dist. shaft ? Wiggle the shaft if there's wiggle it got to go. Also you got to gap the points every year, and lightly sand em'.

6- Ignition ! We need good juice starting from the battery with good cables, no green ends under the rubber ! We need a good ground to the block on the neg side !

Disconnect the battery cables, follow the cable to each juncture and remove and clean shiny all connections, including the starter.
The main barrel plug held together with a spring clip , take it apart look in the holes, green is bad. Clean it up, I actually went straight with the wires and took the barrel plug completely out. It's what i did i'm not telling you to do it, it's WHAT I DID WITH MY BOAT.

How to run a carbed engine : Post #7
http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/showthread.php?t=380996