225 High Output

[Ghostshad]

I have a 225 Johnson with carburetors and at times it is hard to start when i put it in the water,any ideals at what positions to put the motor where it would start the best ? What i mean is all the way down,or the motor level ,it always starts but at times it makes you wonder is it going to start or not . And when it finally starts the problem is over, i do use my choke, & i pump my bulb as hard as i can get it & with both hands . Any ideals will help,i always have to wonder will it start or not . GodBless & Thanks a Million

[Ski213]

I would assume level but I don't know that it makes a whole lot of difference. What year outboard?  Way2slow is an expert on that particular motor and could give you some possible reasons it's hard starting. Couple thoughts would be to not go crazy with the bulb. Just till firm. I'm not sure if it's possible but I wonder if you're forcing too much fuel in when you're pumping that hard. Also on the choke/primer I think it shoots fuel for a specific period of time.  To get more fuel in you have to release it and press again rather than just hold it longer. 

[Ghostshad]

It may start easy a couple times & then hard, but when its hard it is hard to start. Thanks

[Kevin22]

Sounds like you need a carb cleaning and a new set of plugs.

[riverbasser]

29 minutes ago, Kevin22 said:

Sounds like you need a carb cleaning and a new set of plugs.

This. Also wouldn't hurt to check compression 

[Ghostshad]

All that's done been done & is OK but Thank's

[slonezp]

Fuel filter?

[Kevin22]

3 hours ago, Ghostshad said:

All that's done been done & is OK but Thank's

Then i would guess its operator error.

first, dont pump it as hard as possible with two hands, just pump until it gets stiff.

second. do you have a choke? Very few motors have a choke, most have fuel assist which shoots a small spray of fuel with each press of the "choke". (My merc has "choke" labeled on the controller but is really fuel assisted). You should keep pushing in and reasing the choke as the starter is engaging.

Third, is it turning over at all? Any sputtering, starter stopping, etc. or just all of a sudden it starts.

finally, idle lever at 50% correct? 

[WIGuide]

Any idea on what year it is? I know somewhere in the 1996-97 (could have been earlier) area OMC had the Quick start feature. This changed the timing to make the motors easier to start. One thing about those motors is they don't like to be fast idled to start. That said each motor can kind of have it's own preferred starting procedure. What I would try first is not pumping the bulb up too much, just until it stiffens a little, and then push the key in and hold it while you turn it over and hold it in until it starts. Something else to try would be to just tap it while turning it over. If your motor is a pre-quick start model, experimenting with the two above and also adjusting the fast idle. (depending on your controls it will either be a lever on top of the control box, or if you have flush mount there will be a button in the middle of the pivot point of the shift lever that you push in and advance the throttle to increase the fast idle level) Also, to answer your question about trim level, trimmed up should be the easiest way to get it to start as there's less back pressure from the water on the exhaust, although it shouldn't have that big of effect on it.

[Ghostshad]

Thanks to everyone for all the help. Its a 1999, and sometimes the starter kicks out right out as soon as you turn it over& over & over,it can't start because of that,At times it rolls over real good & it fires real good. Boat been in the shop and it runs real good up to 68 MPH its just hard to start at times. Its probably is me if i can figure out what i'm doing different .  GodBless & Thanks for all the help & fuel filter was a good ideal