Lots of cranking!

[Jeep7797]

I'm very new to this site but this is my third year with my first jet boat. I have a model year 2000 ls2000. Since getting this boat, I have had a problem starting it when cold. My usual routine is to crank till it starts with the choke before I put it in the water then shut it off once it pops off. Once in the water it starts no problem but if I back it in without doing this I have to crank it even longer. It seems to fire after about 45 seconds to a minute out of the water after sitting for a week. Once I have ran it and sit at a sand bar for even hours it starts right up, just not when it sits all week. I had the port engine replaced last year and both still act the same. Almost like it needs to be primed or the ball pumped on an outboard. Is there a check valve somewhere in the fuel system that's slowly draining back throughout the week? Any help would be greatly appreciated as its annoying and slightly embarrassing watching me crank a while and not start! Thanks in advance.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

When Was the last time you changed the spark plugs?

 

[Jeep7797]

Should have been changed when I had the dealer swap the motor but then again, they lied about a bunch of other things too. I didn't think of that and was focused on a fuel issue. I'll try it this weekend.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Should have been changed when I had the dealer swap the motor but then again, they lied about a bunch of other things too. I didn't think of that and was focused on a fuel issue. I'll try it this weekend.

Right on…. You might try draining the float bowls if those carbs have float bowls.

 

[the MfM]

Rebuild the carbs and add electric fuel pumps with an air seperator and this is what you get….

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[Jeep7797]

That sounds like I have a winter project to do now! Any leads on fuel pumps to point me in the right direction?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

You have 2 stroke engines those are very difficult to start when cold because they need an extra rich fuel mixture, most people add a primer to the fuel system to supply extra fuel on cold starts other setups use a choke, Also check the fuel lines for any air being sucked in as this will also cause hard starting when cold. Even a bad fuel line selector switch to change from regular to reserve can cause the same issue and I always removed those switches and just take the fuel from the reserve fitting at the tank. Other causes could be a bad intake gasket or a bad crank seal as your fuel travels through the crank case before it gets in the cylinders and a bad seal etc will lean it out.

 

[Jeep7797]

I just find it strange that both are equally as hard to start cold. I could understand if it was just 1 but the port engine is a new rebuild from sbt so I would hope it wouldn't be a crank seal. The delete of the fuel selector(s) is a good idea too but the chance of both leaking air into the fuel system I feel is a far stretch too. If it was air getting into the system would you think when the engines are off I would smell fuel inside the hull too or am I overthinking it in that regard? I dont see any fuel laying in the hull anywhere either. These are all great suggestions too and I appreciate them!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Remember the fuel pump is operated by pulses of pressure and vacuum created by the crank case as the engine turns over I always removed those fuel pumps and replaced them with 3 psi electric pumps , turn on the ignition and the pump primes and the engines run a lot smoother at all speeds. I would check the fuel lines for air leaking in first and the reserve switch leaking also as those were the most common issues years ago when I had 2 stroke engines.

 

[Jeep7797]

I definitely will this weekend, thank you for the great advice!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

hopefully these links will work you won't believe the difference one of these low pressure fuel pumps will make on a 2 stroke engine.
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjq18Ojz8PzAhVSwMgKHfNfAyQYABANGgJxdQ&ae=2&sig=AOD64_29CnrDhde4Di7fdiYEXk6M1hMYdQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjX67ijz8PzAhVGk2oFHf3SB60Q9aACegQIARBK&adurl=

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjq18Ojz8PzAhVSwMgKHfNfAyQYABAIGgJxdQ&ae=2&sig=AOD64_10oLtTbfor2Jb--YhqPDpZ3a64WQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjX67ijz8PzAhVGk2oFHf3SB60Q9aACegQIARBC&adurl=

 

[Jeep7797]

That's exactly what I had found googling them. I figured as cheap as they are I'd just temp them in and try. If they work out I'll permanently install them. Hopefully will have a few more good weekends of boating left!