Hard starting

S

steplift20

God
I have a 1988 150 mercury outboard. If I don’t start her in two weeks it’s hard to start.
She cranks and cranks and cranks and I’m waiting for her to pop. I push the key in giv3 her gas ⛽️ and she is hard to start. I’m wondering if the choke is working ? But if it was not working she wouldn’t start at all. Am I right? And once she starts she great. I hav3 the engine for almost 30 years so I know how she starts. Would she start with the choke not working?
 
U sure it has a butterfly choke or an enricher? My 84 150 was tricky to start. U raising the throttle advance bout half way?

With the enricher, I had to push the key in about 3 times while cranking cold and throttle advanced about half way

U ever checked compression or looked at the reeds?
 
No I never checked the compression she runs great but lately it’s hard to start If let her sit for two weeks
It’s an electric enriched I believe. I use to hear a click when I pushed in the key but I don’t hear it anymore
Could there be gunk holding it back from working? How can I check it and also when she starts it great you just touch the key and she starts.its the initial startup I would like to check it but how?
P.s. hope you had a great three day weekend .
I don’t wan5 to check the compression cause she runs great and I don’t want to know. If it’s low on one cylinder I would always be worried about that.
I was thinking about spraying the enrichment solenoid with carb cleaner to clean the contacts and the piston if it has one
What I guess I really want to know is will the motor start if the choke/enricher is not working
 
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If it's all in good shape,squeeze the primer bulb till tight,hold the key in while turning the engine over. You should have to raise the lever or advance the rpm. Once it hits,repair but without holding the key in. Once it's running,bump the key in from tine to time till it will idle on its on
 
Ok I will try that the next time I go down. When I start my boat I do it automatically I never pay attention but now I will it’s like when you do something over and over and over then you forget exactly what you’re doing. It’s automatic. It’s like I have an alarm system and I punch in the code ever day. Then one day I forgot the code
Real quick story. I use to have a 1985 ram charger that had a key pad cut off switch. I used it everyday. One day I get in my truck and could not remember the number. I had to call my wife if she knew the number. Crazy as it sounds. It did happen.
 
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