Any advice for a cold starting motor

[tkite16]

   I just bought my boat it is a 1986  Bass Tracker Fiberglass with a 90 hp Mercury.  So when i go out  i prime the bulb and it takes maybe 5-7 seconds of cranking before motor starts . Then when i put it in gear it dies immediatley . From that point on it fires right back up as soon as I turn the key but as soon as  I engage the throttle it dies.  This goes on for like 3 minutes then it goes in gear and runs great about 41 mph and starts right up and takes right off the rest of the day.    Anything I can do to speed up the warm -up time???

[jdw174]

Have you tried just plain old letting the engine warm up a bit before you put it in gear?

[burleytog]

Have you tried just plain old letting the engine warm up a bit before you put it in gear?

+1

That is what mine requires.

[Jig Man]

Just about every engine I have ever owned takes a little warm up.  I allow my Opti to get to 120° before I put it in gear.

[tkite16]

I just figured by the time i get off trailer and piddle around waiting for buddy to park truck  and get back down to dock its been a good 3-4  minutes of idle .  So just wait a few more in idle before taking off and I should be good then???  

[cart7t]

I just figured by the time i get off trailer and piddle around waiting for buddy to park truck  and get back down to dock its been a good 3-4  minutes of idle .  So just wait a few more in idle before taking off and I should be good then???  

Yep, every outboard I've ever owned had it's own little eccentricities, especially when it came to cold starting and operation.  Some needed more warm up then others.  

[surfer]

Put it in neutral and increase the throttle above idle some helps, but there is no real shortcut.

That can also help it fire faster sometimes.  

Like cart7 said "every outboard I've ever owned had it's own little eccentricities".  Memorizing the pattern of what works best (once you find it) is the only fastest way.

[Catt]