1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

"frank1492" wrote in message
...
The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

You sound pretty positive. I am currently pumping the
throttle 30 times before starting and I can hear gas squirting.
Should I try pumping it more?
(Thank you!)
BTW in a marine application, how often do you recommend
replacing the plug wires?





On Sun, 5 Aug 2007 23:33:59 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"frank1492" wrote in message
.. .
The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

On Aug 5, 6:31 pm, frank1492 wrote:
The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

I would rebuild the carb(s?) before doing plug wires. You can check
the plug wires by spraying a little water on them while it is running,
but in my opinion, I would rebuild the carb(s) first.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

On Aug 6, 2:33 am, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"frank1492" wrote in message

...

The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

Maybe you're flooding it. 20 times is lot. Without a choke normally
a couple strokes is enough to start most engines.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

"frank1492" wrote in message
...
You sound pretty positive. I am currently pumping the
throttle 30 times before starting and I can hear gas squirting.
Should I try pumping it more?
(Thank you!)
BTW in a marine application, how often do you recommend
replacing the plug wires?





On Sun, 5 Aug 2007 23:33:59 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"frank1492" wrote in message
. ..
The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.



If it starts and then dies and pumping the throttle adds gas. Just look at
the choke when it is cold. Most on boats are electrical controlled. A heat
strip opens them after a short time. but the choke body gets rusty, and is
about $15 for a new electric choke stove.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

When I bought this boat (used) the previous owner told me to pump the
throttle 30 times. I have had the boat since about 1997 and have never
had problems with this procedure. Even now, I can always get the
engine started, though it takes a little finessing.
As for the electric choke, how can I tell if this engine (Chevy V6
1988 4.3L, conventional ignition) has one and where to look for it if
it does?
As for the spark plug wires, I agree that's not a likely cause of
the problem, but the engine sometimes starts to miss occasionally at
the end of the season, moisture may be an issue and I think I may
want to replace the wires anyway.
As for the carb rebuild, I think that was done not more than once
during the time I've owned the boat. But if there were carb problems,
owing to dirt/sludge etc. why would the engine idle so perfectly and
run at high speed so perfectly once the initial starting problem is
over? It seems to be purely a cold engine issue.
Sorry if my doubts aren't savvy- you guys know a lot more than I
do.
Thanks very much to all of you for helping me get to the bottom of
this! Will look for your next posts.
Frank








On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:52:43 -0700, jamesgangnc
wrote:

On Aug 6, 2:33 am, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"frank1492" wrote in message

...

The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

Maybe you're flooding it. 20 times is lot. Without a choke normally
a couple strokes is enough to start most engines.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

"frank1492" wrote in message
...
When I bought this boat (used) the previous owner told me to pump the
throttle 30 times. I have had the boat since about 1997 and have never
had problems with this procedure. Even now, I can always get the
engine started, though it takes a little finessing.
As for the electric choke, how can I tell if this engine (Chevy V6
1988 4.3L, conventional ignition) has one and where to look for it if
it does?
As for the spark plug wires, I agree that's not a likely cause of
the problem, but the engine sometimes starts to miss occasionally at
the end of the season, moisture may be an issue and I think I may
want to replace the wires anyway.
As for the carb rebuild, I think that was done not more than once
during the time I've owned the boat. But if there were carb problems,
owing to dirt/sludge etc. why would the engine idle so perfectly and
run at high speed so perfectly once the initial starting problem is
over? It seems to be purely a cold engine issue.
Sorry if my doubts aren't savvy- you guys know a lot more than I
do.
Thanks very much to all of you for helping me get to the bottom of
this! Will look for your next posts.
Frank








On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:52:43 -0700, jamesgangnc
wrote:

On Aug 6, 2:33 am, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"frank1492" wrote in message

...

The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

Maybe you're flooding it. 20 times is lot. Without a choke normally
a couple strokes is enough to start most engines.


Electric choke is a round puck on the side of the carb with 2 wires going to
it. Just look down the throttle bores and see if the choke butterfly is
closed when the engine is cold.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

Thanks CB. I know the puck, but I don't remember seeing
wires. Will look when I am next at the mooring and report back.
Frank





On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 21:18:42 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"frank1492" wrote in message
.. .
When I bought this boat (used) the previous owner told me to pump the
throttle 30 times. I have had the boat since about 1997 and have never
had problems with this procedure. Even now, I can always get the
engine started, though it takes a little finessing.
As for the electric choke, how can I tell if this engine (Chevy V6
1988 4.3L, conventional ignition) has one and where to look for it if
it does?
As for the spark plug wires, I agree that's not a likely cause of
the problem, but the engine sometimes starts to miss occasionally at
the end of the season, moisture may be an issue and I think I may
want to replace the wires anyway.
As for the carb rebuild, I think that was done not more than once
during the time I've owned the boat. But if there were carb problems,
owing to dirt/sludge etc. why would the engine idle so perfectly and
run at high speed so perfectly once the initial starting problem is
over? It seems to be purely a cold engine issue.
Sorry if my doubts aren't savvy- you guys know a lot more than I
do.
Thanks very much to all of you for helping me get to the bottom of
this! Will look for your next posts.
Frank








On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:52:43 -0700, jamesgangnc
wrote:

On Aug 6, 2:33 am, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"frank1492" wrote in message

...

The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

Maybe you're flooding it. 20 times is lot. Without a choke normally
a couple strokes is enough to start most engines.


Electric choke is a round puck on the side of the carb with 2 wires going to
it. Just look down the throttle bores and see if the choke butterfly is
closed when the engine is cold.

1988 OMC Cobra Stern Drive Engine (6 cyl, 4.3 L) Starts, Dies, is Hard to Restart.
 

After a new set of spark plugs it appears there are no more starting
problems so I haven't looked further. The auto choke appears to be
working properly, and the butterfly is closed when the engine is cold.
(Note: This is not an electric type.)
Thanks again for help. If the problem recurs I will repost.
Frank





On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:02:41 GMT, frank1492
wrote:

Thanks CB. I know the puck, but I don't remember seeing
wires. Will look when I am next at the mooring and report back.
Frank





On Mon, 6 Aug 2007 21:18:42 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"frank1492" wrote in message
. ..
When I bought this boat (used) the previous owner told me to pump the
throttle 30 times. I have had the boat since about 1997 and have never
had problems with this procedure. Even now, I can always get the
engine started, though it takes a little finessing.
As for the electric choke, how can I tell if this engine (Chevy V6
1988 4.3L, conventional ignition) has one and where to look for it if
it does?
As for the spark plug wires, I agree that's not a likely cause of
the problem, but the engine sometimes starts to miss occasionally at
the end of the season, moisture may be an issue and I think I may
want to replace the wires anyway.
As for the carb rebuild, I think that was done not more than once
during the time I've owned the boat. But if there were carb problems,
owing to dirt/sludge etc. why would the engine idle so perfectly and
run at high speed so perfectly once the initial starting problem is
over? It seems to be purely a cold engine issue.
Sorry if my doubts aren't savvy- you guys know a lot more than I
do.
Thanks very much to all of you for helping me get to the bottom of
this! Will look for your next posts.
Frank








On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:52:43 -0700, jamesgangnc
wrote:

On Aug 6, 2:33 am, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"frank1492" wrote in message

...

The engine dies a few seconds after it catches. It can always be
restarted, though with some difficulty.
Any ideas? I just changed the plugs. The wires haven't been
changed in awhile. New water separator. New fuel filter (ceramic)
a couple of years back.
Once the engine starts the second time (need to run at fairly
high RPM for awhile) the engine runs fine. When shut down hot, it will
always restart right away.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Frank

Choke is not working.

Maybe you're flooding it. 20 times is lot. Without a choke normally
a couple strokes is enough to start most engines.


Electric choke is a round puck on the side of the carb with 2 wires going to
it. Just look down the throttle bores and see if the choke butterfly is
closed when the engine is cold.