1995 mercruiser 4.3LX Alpha one (carb), starting problems

[slh7d]

Just would like to know where to start looking first.

Happened the last couple times I have take the boat out.

1. boat starts, but then dies after a couple mins or when trying to give it gas. (usually pump the throttle once or twice in neutral when first starting it)
2. After that, the boat will not start. Engine just turns over and over.
3. I don't really smell a lot of gas in the engine compartment (so I don't think its flooded).

Once we did get it started, the boat started fine, turning it on and off during the day on the lake.

I am kind of thinking a fuel line issue. Do fuel filters go bad fast? Like one day everything is ok, next day, hard time starting?

Thanks for any advice

[ss3964spd]

Not likely that filters will exhibit that kind of symptom. The build up in a filter is cumulative and, once one is clogged, it doesn't un-clog on its own. In other words, it won't be clogged one day, then be fine the next, etc-etc. From your post above:

1. boat starts, but then dies after a couple mins or when trying to give it gas. (usually pump the throttle once or twice in neutral when first starting it)
2. After that, the boat will not start. Engine just turns over and over.
3. I don't really smell a lot of gas in the engine compartment (so I don't think its flooded).

Once we did get it started, the boat started fine, turning it on and off during the day on the lake

Are you saying after 1, 2, and 3 above you then DID get it to start that same day and it ran just fine?

Dan

[9Ball]

Could be the Float is stuck!

Todd

[slh7d]

Yes, we did eventually get it started, added some gas, because I thought the tank might be low (my fuel gauge is kind of wonky). It worked fine the whole day. Next day, same issue, it started right away, but died after I tried to give it some throttle. Then after that, seemed like it wasnt getting gas. Gave up on starting it because the battery was running low.

[slh7d]

FYI, it was a weak fuel pump. Starts great now!

[seapuppy]

thanks for the report out!!..glad it worked...


SP