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hard cold starting

D

doctor disaster

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after it's warmed up it starts like a champ.Motor is Evinrude TE40ELESR 1990. I go through the start-up as instructed in the manual.Check fuel bulb,firm ,no air,turn key and press in for "prime",throttle about half way(tried more and less same result).Motor turns over and cranks fine,good battery.After about 20 or so tries it starts.I can then re-start shortly after with no problem.Last time it acted the same only after it started,it would stall when put in gear.Took about 10 tries.I don't want to keep beating up my starter,this shoud start much easier.The Prime/boost seems to work fine because when it does start and the idle slows,I can push the key in and hear it rev up.Some things I know,Fuel filter has not changed(the Mechanic at a local shop said it didn't have one)well it does.Thats an EZ so I just may do it anyway.Also last time I filled the gas tank I noticed the cap seal showed signs of age(cracks).I would think this would affect its running too but that's why I'm asking here.I think this is an easy fix.I just need to know where to start.I have noticed when it starts it's smokey,but figure that's just loaded oil burning off.When running no smoke.I put new plugs in this year.The oil injection works fine.An annoyance,that may be signaling a potential problem?Thanks for the help.
 
Post the results of a compression test.---Slow cranking on a motor like yours means weak spark.-----I would pull the starter apart for inspection and testing. -Quite simple to do.
 
Somebody has either adjusted the slow speed mixture screw too lean.
Also adjusted the idle screw too slow.

those 2 REALLY affect a very cold start.

When a engine has those 2 screws set correctly.............Pushing the key in should cause a DEFINATE SLOW DOWN of the idle speed. The mixture has already been adjusted to a SLIGHTLY rich mixture.........Any more fuel SUDDENLY should / will cause a slow down.

Get a mechanic who adjust the 2 screws while the boat is in foward gear & idling.
 
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Right from the owners manual.STARTING-COLD MOTOR starting a cold motor normally requires use of the prime.Only operate the engine primer when the engine is being cranked or is running.1)Turn ignition key clockwise to the ON position.The warning horn in the OMC remote control will sound one short tone when turned to this position.2)Push in ignition key switch to activate primer.3)Hold in ignition key switch and turn key to start position.Release key as soon as engine starts.......A COLD ENGINE CAN BE PRIMED WHILE IT IS RUNNING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUEL FOR WARM-UP.AFTER ENGINE STARTS,PUSH IN IGNITION KEY SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL ENGINE WARMS.
 
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Then check to see if the primer is working properly as designed.-----------Does spark jump a gap of 7/16" when cranking with all the plugs installed ?----Proper testing is the path forward.----Are you andvancing " throttle only lever " when doing the cold start ??
 
Sounds like fuel starvation when excessive cranking on cold start-up. If you need to hit the choke after firing to keep motor running it seems like your maybe running a little lean on the settings.
 
Thanks Buck.The strange part is It didn't give this trouble last year.I have never adjusted the settings.Yesterday,first crank it sputtered,sounded like it would start.Then,it will just crank,sounds just like no gas.The motor finally started,but it takes too long.I'm still puzzeled why it does this at first,but when warm starts right up with no problem.When running,it sounds good with no excess smoke.Would a pinched fuel line create this problem?Also wonder about the fuel line connector at the motor it always has some oil around it.
 
Taking a long time to start with putt putts is almost always too lean of a mixture. Thenn after enough putt putts the heat from them warms the engine enough to start instantly.

There is ABSOLUTLY a correct way to adjust the carburator if it is slowly building up a thin layer of dried up fuel deposits.

The idle metering tubes are fantastically tiny in diameter. They will give you the problem you are having.

cure is use of a GENTILE fuel system cleaner like SEAFOAM engine & gas tank cleaner. I use LESS than 1/2 of the reccommended amount specified for each gallon.

WHY so stupid of a idea ?............You DO NOT want to loosen all that varnish as soon as you can.........If you do. It can & will fill the carburator idle jets & tubes with crud that can not be removed by the average DIY person. It then needs some of the plugs drilled out to clean the circuits. We then can not get those end plugs for the carburator.............Result a ruined carb.

Or you can just turn out the idle mixture a fractionof a turn to correct the difficult hard starting WHEN COLD.

Or just ask a local marine mechanic to adjust the carb FIRST THING IN THE MORNING ..............If you want to do it ? do it with the engine in the river water. Danger of overheating the engine is eliminated completly.............It may take you a couple of cold mornings to get enough time to feel really satisfied with the adjustments. ...........As the SEAFOAM clears out the fine layer of crud slowly, you will find you barely need to pull the cord 12" to start when very cold.

If you are NOT confident .........Memorize the angle of the idle screw / knob. Then DO NOT turn it out outward more than 1/2 a turn to see it help.

If you loose the setting...........Pay someone to do it when cold.

ONLY WITH A COLD ENGINE !!!!!!!!!!!

Remove the sparkplugs. look at the color of the center white insulator when they are new..........That insulator TELLS YOU .........EVERYTHING........ABOUT THAT CYLINDER.

It should ALWAYS be a very very light TAN COLOR. Almost whitish. .................Do the plug work wheith a cold engine. Hot Aluminum CAN stretch or strip out the threads.

Check several places for the CORRECT SPARK PLUG !!!..............NEVER believe what is on the engine is the correct ones. If you put in new plugs & the engine runs worse ? Assuming you tightned them enough & put the plug wire on correctly ?? Retun the plugs as DEFECTIVE & install your good running old ones............Buy from another place............
 
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