mercury starting problem

I have a 115hp -1994- merc it doesn't start as fast as I would like it to.Warm or cold it takes to long to start.I have had it 10 years and all I do is change the plugs every couple of years.Besides that it runs great.Any suggestions?

thanks boat doctor I will have all that looked at this spring.I do change the lower unit fluid every fall when I fog the engine.Thanks again

In response to both posts under this one... The term you used for "choke mode" must be when you have your control in ~throttle only~. Sure let it rev up, as long as you don't go over 3000 RPMs, it's OK. But control the speed with the key switch choking the motor. What this does is gets the intake reeds and bypass wet with fuel, so the motor can run as engineered. Let it warm up at 2000 RPMs. If you guys aren't starting your carb motors like this, you are wearing out your starter and battery. If the motor doesn't start well when warm, it's certainly not the choke's fault. Warm motors don't need choke. In fact, choking a warm motor will cause it not to start due to flooding. Without looking at it, I'd say you have an idle timing issue. This gets caused by cable stretch or wear due to age and use. Throttle cables and shift cables are adjustable for that reason - wear. In the original post, you stated all you ever do is change plugs. Well, it's time for some service work. Bring it to a reputable service shop and tell them all the problems you're having. You're over due for: Carb sync and link Timing check Water pump replacement Fuel filter replacement Decarbonizing treatment Then have the technician watch you cold start your motor and warm start it. You might be missing something. And I hope you've been changing the lower unit oil every fall. Also getting your trailer bearings repacked with new seals every 2-3 years, regardless of mileage. Good luck Doug

Clarification needed on instructions given----you say "push the throttle all the way forward" and than push key in and start. Do you mean to push the handle into "choke mode [sideways> and than push forward. or am I doing this wrong and should only use choke button with throttle forward not in choke mode? I get it started doing step 1 above, but if im not careful, the motor rev can be a little attention getting. Thanks

Thanks boatdoctor i will try that this spring but it even does it in the summer on a hot day.I have been with guys when their engine starts with one touch of the key.Mine wont do that after is sets for a little while,its like I have to always choke it. Do you think its the choke I should have checked out?/

My 1999 115 Mercury was tough to start when we first got it as well. We knew about the choke on the ignition, but it didn't seem to make a difference. It turned out that the choke wasn't doing it's job and needed to be replaced. Once that was replaced it started like a champ.

If your motor has carburetors trim down so it sits level.

When I first got my boat, which is my first boat, I didn't know about the "push for choke" in the ignition. I would sit at the dock and crank the engine forever until it eventually started. While reading the owner's manual one night I came across the "Starting the engine" section that mentioned the choke. Man, that changed *everything*! I felt like an idiot.

98% of the time, when a customer tells me of a starting problem(then motor runs fine otherwise) it ends up being the operators starting procedure. The other 2% can either be the throttle cable slop or the primer/choke isn't working. I've lost count of how many times I show a boat owner how the throttle only works, and they say "I never knew it did that" Could you run me through your starting procedure? It should go something like this: Cold Start 1) Squeeze primer bulb until firm 2) Advance throttle only portion of control box as far as it will push forward 3) Turn key to run position 4) Push in key to activate primer 5) Continue to hold key pushed in, then turn key to start 6) Once motor catches, allow motor to rev up to 2000 RPMs and control the speed with the choke/primer. Don not lower the throttle until the choking makes the motor runs too slow. 7)Then pull back throttle until motor is running a consistent 2000 RPMs 8- After a minute of 2000 RPMs, reduce throttle to neutral position.