Starting a Optimax 225

[danny]

For those who own this engine or work with them:

How many times would it take to start a cold Mercury Optimax 225.

Mine usualy takes 3 tot 4 times before it will keep on running. Is this normal ?

Starting at apr. 22 degrees celsius.

The battery is big enough and brandnew.

[qcamel]

I have the same engine and always start first time.

If its cold I pump the fuel bulb a couple of times and press in the key to give choke, it starts right up.

If its warm then no fuel bulb or choke and again immediate ignition.

Ollie

[danny]

Originally Posted by qcamel

I have the same engine and always start first time.

If its cold I pump the fuel bulb a couple of times and press in the key to give choke, it starts right up.

If its warm then no fuel bulb or choke and again immediate ignition.

Ollie

Press in the key ? Oops didn´t know that.

[ashbypower]

Is an Opti fitted with a choke?? I Though the were Electronic fuel Injected therefore fully auto. Surley the key push is for carburetor (sp) engines.

Brian

[qcamel]

Not clever enough to know one way or the other but when Scorpion did the hand over with me they told me to use it in the starting procedure...

Ollie

[ashbypower]

Ollie, I'll check the manual and get back to you.

[Turbodiesel]

No, its not normal, it should go straight away. They do take a little more cranking than normal engines to get the air pressure up to get the injection system going. But once its running it should stay running.

[Jeff]

I stand to be corrected but I don't think the push-to-choke facility on the remote actually does anything on an opti - as Brian says ; blackbox electronics, no choke.
You must never lift the fast idle lever to start it either - only use (if necessary) once it is running. The engine is slower to start than more conventional 2 strokes - it has to make a full revolution to pressurise the injector rails etc before it will fire. They do start so easily though that it is easy to forget to squeeze up the primer bulb beforehand - most times it doesn't make a difference but after towing I do find it has gone soft !!!
Jeff

[Jono]

I find shouting " Start, you b*****d, START! " works for most makes of engine....

[Rogue Wave]

The opti should start on the Button within a second or two.

They really need a strong battery to start them as they require a lot more power than just turning the starter motor, so they can be spinning quite happily but not getting enough juice to light up the ignition system

[hard1]

Agreed, the Opti requires a couple of seconds cranking to get air compressor spinning up. They start hot or cold right on the button. No choke button or idle lever necessary whatever the weather. Also agreed they need good amps to power the black box. If you have to crank 3 or 4 times then something is wrong.

[Wayne Rogers]

Mine starts on the button hot or cold,I have duel battery set up so it has plenty of ooomf.

[danny]

Just bought a brandnew 140 amps battery so that couldn't be the problem.

[boab]

best engine ever, turn the key, two revolutions, starts every time, only draw back is smart gauges very hard to read in strong sunlight,

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by boab

best engine ever, turn the key, two revolutions, starts every time, only draw back is smart gauges very hard to read in strong sunlight,

Boab,
Have you tried adjusting the contrast or brightness in the set up mode ? I found the default (mid-point) too light

[boab]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Boab,
Have you tried adjusting the contrast or brightness in the set up mode ? I found the default (mid-point) too light

jeff , iv tried every range from light to dark still very hard to see, pity they never made them with red l.e.d.s.