Two Stroke Mercury 115 horse

[Bob]

My fishigg partner purchased a used boat with a 6 y.o. merc two stroke 115. He is used to a 10+ year old yammie that starts in a few seconds when warm.

His merc after being "reasonably" warm takes fooling with the throttle for about 15 seconds or more to start. The motor operates under two conditions when this occurs:

The first is no wake conditions when one idles for about 1-5 minutes then shuts down and fishes for 5-20 minutes.

The second condition is running at ~4000 rpm for 1/2 to 3 miles and then shutting down and fishing for 5-20 minutes.

His question, is this normal for the 115 to be so hard to start. He compares his motor to his old Yammie and to my same year old two stroke 75 mercury which when run under the same conditions "usually" starts in a few seconds. Or, has he just not learned to minpulate the choke throttle correctly. He has changed plugs.

Thanks for any advice!

[mrwalleye5]

I have a 1995 90 Merc since it was new. It can be shut down for up to an hour in near freezing temps before having to use the choke. In warmer temps it can be shut down for 2 to 3 hours without using the choke. But make the mistake of over choking and your dead in the water.

[Geeb]

I have a 96 115 and it has always been great starting. Once it is warmed up it can set for 2-3 hours and will start immediately with no choke.

[rich]

i have a 91 115 its a pup to start, if any one can tell me the proper starting steps i would greatly appreciate it. thanks if spellings wrong i had a brain fart

[EricCO]

I've got a 98 115 Merc and here's what I do to make starting it easier.

I tilt it all the way down. It starts much easier when tilted down. I usually have to give it a crank over, then another. Everytime it will start on the the second try.

Then once it fires I tilt it up to get the exhaust out of the water. I think the increased resistance of the exaust blowing through the water makes it die.

I have a whole heck of a lot of problems when there is moisture in the gas. This really rears it's ugly head in hot weather.

Try the starting method above and also put in some water remover and I bet it will act like a different engine.

Killing tree rats in the 303.

[Box]

>I tilt it all the way down. It starts much easier when
>tilted down. I usually have to give it a crank over, then
>another. Everytime it will start on the the second try.

This is a key thing we have found with both 90 and 150 hp motors. Just ask any bass fisherman who fishes with the motor tilted all the way out, then drop it into water to start, and they will tell you the same. If it sits up for any amount of time, gas will drain following gravity.

Another thing to check is if the gas line and bulb might have a tiny hairline crack/hole that lets air get into the line. You can tell if the bulb is soft after shutting it off for a short time.

One thing we had once, when motor was new, was the riggers left a "minor" kink in the fuel line - once that was straightened out, it started perfect every time.

Good luck,
-Box