Wayne.B wrote:

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:31:55 +0100, "Steve Lusardi"
wrote:


I think you should identify symtoms,
if you want meaningful help.


It's a 1981 Johnson & Towers marine conversion, supposedly rebuilt
within the last 1,000 hours or so by the previous owner.

My port side engine is taking longer to cold start than it used to,
sometimes needing 8 to 12 seconds of cranking. It used to start on
the first or second turn even when stone cold, and the starboard
engine still does. If it has been run within a day or two it still
starts very quickly. There is very little exhaust smoke at startup
even when cold, and what little there is goes away quickly. The
engine is running well and making full power as far as I can
determine.


Change the fuel filter, and if that doesn't help, look for a leak in
your supply lines.

--
"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them;
the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Proverbs 22:3

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:59:06 -0600, dazed and confuzzed
wrote:

look for a leak in
your supply lines.

Any advice on how to do that?

Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:59:06 -0600, dazed and confuzzed
wrote:


look for a leak in
your supply lines.


Any advice on how to do that?

visual first, are they wet?
Check all nuts for tightness.
Clamps for tightness,
hoses for leaks or cracks.

It could be as simple as a banjo bolt washer that has compressed....

As I cannot see your installation, I can only give generalities.

I've seen it be as simple as a fuel filter gasket with a small pit in
it. The seal worked under pressure, but left a bit of air into the
system when everything cooled off and the pressure dropped.

Do you have any high points in the system where air could collect?

Do you have a mechanical fuel supply pump or an electrical one?
Hoses or hard pipe from the tank(s)?


If you have a leak, it is currently a small one from your symptoms. If
it was major, you'd have real trouble starting at all.

--
"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them;
the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Proverbs 22:3

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 19:35:50 -0600, dazed and confuzzed
wrote:

Do you have any high points in the system where air could collect?


Don't think so but I'll take another look.

Do you have a mechanical fuel supply pump or an electrical one?

Mechanical

Hoses or hard pipe from the tank(s)?

Hoses

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 18:59:06 -0600, dazed and confuzzed
wrote:

look for a leak in
your supply lines.

Any advice on how to do that?



Thinking about it, why not just fire up the hard starting engine then, using
a small container of fuel and an acid brush or similar, lightly wet each
fitting on the fuel lines from your Racors forward to the last fitting you
can get to on the engine. Watch for *suction*. Sort of the opposite of a
pressure bubble test for leaks. I don't know if this would work, but it
might. Or, talk to someone who, unlike me, knows what he is talking about.
:-)

It seems logical though that if that engine is otherwise running fine, you
are getting your RPMs and you are not producing smoke more than the other
engine, that a compression problem due to rings or valves is not likely.

Eisboch

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006 20:50:45 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

It seems logical though that if that engine is otherwise running fine, you
are getting your RPMs and you are not producing smoke more than the other
engine, that a compression problem due to rings or valves is not likely.

That would be the better out come for sure.