Hard starting 1985 Mercury 90 hp

[dj61512]

I thought this was just cold blooded....Over winter marina rebuilt carbs and set timing...Over the 4th we launched and it started terribly rough and ran poorly...Marina came and pulled it out and replaced pick up tube and adjusted carb..
Runs better but still starts badly...it just cranks and cranks before finally starting. I did notice that when we sat for even a short time fishing the primer bulb was no longer hard. Any ideas on what items to eliminate from suspicion?
I am going up in a couple of weeks and thought about trying an external gas can to see if the problem is with the gas line and tank.
Any help is appreciated.

 

[galamb]

Definately try the portable tank with "fresh" gas.

If that makes no difference, try keeping the key depressed for at least 5 seconds before you hit the starter.

The primer system (choke) on these can be really slow to respond. Depressing the key simply opens a solenoid and lets gas kinda leak down to the intakes. As it gets older you sometimes have to keep it depressed for over 10 seconds.

You also may want to take the hood off and make sure you hear a "click" when you depress the key. There is also a chance the solenoid is toast and you are trying to start cold with "no choke" at all..