Hard Start 70ETLH - 1987

I am a newbie here -- so be nice. I have a real problem with cold starts. I pump the ball until hard, choke and crank -- nothing. I replaced the hose and bulb with new one, cleaned the fuel filter, took apart the carbs and cleaned all jets, took apart the fuel pump. I am going to rebuild carbs and fuel pump but not sure that's the problem. I checked compression and have 120 in each cylinder. plugs are new and all get spark. When I spray ether it fires up immediately -- so I feel it is a fuel problem. Any advice? and also -- where is the best place to find rebuild kits, etc.?

[Operaman]

Starts on ether. Does it continue to run?

yes -- it continues to run eventually -- usually a couple of ether squirts. and one more symptom...when it's in the water and I push the throttle forward it dies sometimes -- other times it works fine.

[boats.net]

Carb kit is part number 6H3-W0093-02-00 Carb Kit (for 3 carbs)
Rebuilding carbs will probably resolve it.

I had a 1988 70 that was tough to start as well. It had a choke and was pre-prime start (the direct temp based fuel prime system that replaced choking). My carbs were perfectly clean and the engine ran well once started and warmed up. I found that pushing the throttle with the neutral button punched in about 3 times to full and back to 1/3 up, then holding the choke and cranking for about 7-10 seconds would start it. Once it warmed up (not sneezing) I returned the throttle to idle and it was fine. Once warm it would start immediatly without the choke.

I now have a 2003 90 with Primestart. Push the throttle then back to idle and then crank for 5 seconds and it starts at high idle on its own. It reduces to regular idle in about 15 seconds. Not bad.

The carbed Mercury 90 I used this summer starts cold on the key turn. Go figure.

[99yam40]

These 2 stroke motor fuel systems do not have any accelerator pumps in them like the old automotive carbs had, so pumping the throttle does nothing for getting fuel to the motor.
Starting fluid (ether) is not something you should put into a 2 stroke motor there is no lubrication for the motor when it fires.

If you are pumping the bulb until firm and you are still not getting enough fuel into the carb bowls for the choke to work its magic, you may not be turning the motor over fast enough for it to start properly or you are not getting the fuel into the bowls to start out with.
As long as you have fuel in the bowls and you have suction from turning the motor fast enough and the choke butterflies are closed it should siphon the fuel out of the carb bowls into the motor and if you have spark it will fire unless you are getting too much fuel and flooding it out or your fuel is old and stale and will not ignite properly.