Mariner 60 Slow Starting

TimMcC · 18 April 2006, 13:41

Hi
I have a Mariner 60 hp 2 stroke ( year 96 ) which is slow at starting from cold . It takes about 40 to 60 seconds of turning before it starts . Once started ( even for a couple of seconds ) it will restart at the first turn of the key and run perfect all day long . I think I am doing everything correct in starting from cold . I can start a Yamaha 85 hp second or third turn of the key on a different rib from cold every time .
The outboard was serviced two years ago but only has about 20 hours done since so I suspect that everything should be ok .

Any ideas ?.

Thanks

Pete7 · 18 April 2006, 13:52

First thought would be to check the chokes are working by taking the air box off the front of the carbs and pressing the key in.

Pete

TimMcC · 18 April 2006, 14:49

Thanks for that . I had some work done on the Quicksilver Controller a while back so maybe the choke wasn't connected back correctily although it was never that quick to start from cold from the beginning . Do you usually hold the choke in while trying to start it or just push it in a couple of times , release it and then try to start ?.

Tim

Tim M · 18 April 2006, 15:34

Hold it in while you turn....

An even easier way than how Pete describes is just to listen; you should here a click (from the engine that is) when you press the key in.

TimMcC · 18 April 2006, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Hold it in while you turn....

An even easier way than how Pete describes is just to listen; you should here a click (from the engine that is) when you press the key in.

I will check out for the "click" this evening . I have a feeling that its not there
so that could be the source of my problem .

Regards

Tim

Alex-341 · 18 April 2006, 16:49

Do as the others have said, but to add to that its not just the number of hours the engine has done its also how long thats why it will say just as an example 100hrs or 1 year

Nos4r2 · 18 April 2006, 18:20

Check your primer bulb is ok as well-it'll take a long time to start from cold if the engine has to fill the lines 1st.

TimMcC · 21 April 2006, 09:28

Hi All

Thanks for all your suggestions . I checked for the click and its there .
I havn't gone as far as taking off the air filter to see if the choke is functioning but I will have a look over the weekend . It could be the
primer bulb as the engine makes no attempt to start for the first minute
but once it fires it starts and runs fine afterwards . I have an in-line filter between the outboard and the primer bulb , could this cause a problem ?.
Anyone any idea what the sparkplug gap is set to on the Mariner 60's ?. No harm in changing them while I am at it .

Regards

Tim

Tim M · 21 April 2006, 12:29

Given that it hasn't been serviced for a while why not change the plugs.....

andy9466 · 21 April 2006, 15:56

hi tim

the plug gaps should be 0.040in (1.0mm)

hope this helps

andy

TimMcC · 24 April 2006, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy9466

hi tim

the plug gaps should be 0.040in (1.0mm)

hope this helps

andy

Thanks

I was away all weekend so didn't get a chance to work on it . Will report back as soon as I have them changed .

Tim

wavelength · 24 April 2006, 10:53

if you have a manual pull out choke lever thingie on the front of the engine try pulling that out to start instead of relying on the remote electric choke switch. The mariner 40 we had on a fishing boat would start from cold first time on that but would take for ever if we used the solenoid switch instead (voltage drop alowing the chokes to drop back perhaps when cranking perhaps?) . once started it was fine on the elec switch for the rest of the day even if it had been switched off for a few hours at sea in winter.

djbk · 11 July 2006, 20:09

maybe have a look at the starter motor? could be on its way out
djbk

TimMcC · 12 July 2006, 09:15

Hi

I changed the plugs and that gave a great improvement . Starts from cold on the 2nd or 3rd turn of the key now .
Thanks for all the help .

Tim

Andy JC · 12 July 2006, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMcC

The outboard was serviced two years ago but only has about 20 hours done since so I suspect that everything should be ok .
Thanks

The plugs should really be fine after 20 hours use, even if they are 2 years old - plugs don't deteriorate when not used to my knowledge.

It is possible that you just had one or even two duff plugs, it's not unheard of. Possibly they just needed re-gapping.

Glad to hear it's sorted though

Nos4r2 · 12 July 2006, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMcC

Hi

I changed the plugs and that gave a great improvement . Starts from cold on the 2nd or 3rd turn of the key now .
Thanks for all the help .

Tim

As a matter of interest were they NGKs?

TimMcC · 12 July 2006, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

As a matter of interest were they NGKs?

Hi

Yes they were NGK's . Plan on getting out this weekend . Hasn't been started for over a month ( must get a job that will give me more leisure time ) so if it starts up first or second time I will take it the problem is sorted .

Regards

Tim

Nos4r2 · 13 July 2006, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMcC

Hi

Yes they were NGK's .

Thought as much-NGK's quality control seems to go in fits and starts.

I've known them to last for 20k+ miles in a bike and then buy a new set where 1 in 2 start to break down in 10 miles. Go figure

TimMcC · 13 July 2006, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Thought as much-NGK's quality control seems to go in fits and starts.

I've known them to last for 20k+ miles in a bike and then buy a new set where 1 in 2 start to break down in 10 miles. Go figure

Hi

Originally I was given “Champion” equivalent plugs but I returned them
as they were physically about 4mm longer then the NKG’s that were originally
in the outboard and I didn’t want to chance it for fear of doing damage . From what I can remember the Champions were about half the price ! .

Regards

Tim