Okay, got a 50hp Yamaha motor.

What type of Gas should I be using? Have only ran about 5 gallons of fuel through it since I have had it.

The first time I take it out after sitting in the garage for a few days (3-5) it is hard to start. After I get it started the first time it starts fine the rest of the day. The gas I have put in so far has been just regular unleaded. Should I be using Premium gas? and should I be putting anything in the tank other than the oil?

Thanks

Regular is what that motor needs to run on.

I add an ounce of seafoam per gallon of gas, it keeps the carbs clean.

Sitting a few days won't make it hard to start. What's your cold start procedure? That motor have choke plates, or enrichment circuit?

Run either Seafoam, Yami Ring Free (1 oz to 10 gal) and/or Marine Stabil. Stabil will keep the water from separating from the gas, if you are unfortunately enough to be forced to use 10% ethanol fuel. Ethanol will pick up water in transportation and in just sitting around. Stabil will keep the fuel "fresher" for up to a year.

I run premium with amsoil hp injector mixed in and the proper ammount of marine sta-bil. I run a bottle of sea foam through ever few tanks.

I use premium because my motor is a 1977. I have been told it is better to run premium and my motor runs better than it does on the cheap stuff. I think the newer motor are made for regular gas.

I have the exact same problem with my 70 Yamaha. It came that way. I took it back twice while it was still in warranty. They claimed that they had fixed the problem, but they didn't. They only got it started. It's still hard to start the first time out. I called Yamaha. The customer support guy said that it sounded like a problem with the "Automatic fuel enhancment circuit." He explained how to fix it, but he lost me.

Now I just spray starter fluid in the air intake the first time. It works fine after that.

jtexas,

I don't know what choke plates or enrichment circuit's are so I am not sure what to tell you? I can try to take some pictures and post here if that helps you.

My cold start procedure is to try to start in the prep area before I back it in the lake as I know it doesn't start right away sometimes. I pump the ball on the fuel line going back to the engine 2 or 3 times before I try to start it. As soon as it starts I shut it off and then start to back it down in the water. After I get it started that first time, I don't have any problems starting it after that.

DFWSelot

You either have to take it to a mechanic who knows what he's doing, or keep doing what you're now doing. I spary mine with starter fluid.

Call Yamaha! They'l tell you the same thing.

use ethynol free gas and marine stabil

Getting harder to find.

I assure you it's not the gas. It's the motor. Others use the same gas and their motors start right up after setting up for awhile.

i just bought a boat with a yama 115 on it, and the first time i use it after sitting for even a day i open the choke and it takes two cranks to get it started. so sounds like we have the same deal. from what i have been told it isnt a big deal and im not to worried about it.

starter fluid will cause damage with continued use,,,it dries out the cylinder walls,,

Couple of things to note...

* E-10 gasoline is not going to hurt your motor. If water is leaking into your fuel tank, or if you buy marina gas that already has water in it, ethanol will make the problem worse, but otherwise don't worry about it. Add seafoam or stabil anyway, ethanol or no ethanol.

* You should never but never start your motor without supplying water to the lower unit...30 seconds of dry running is enough to seriously damage the water pump impeller.

* Your motor gets its lubricating oil from the fuel. Starter fluid has no lubricating qualities. If you wouldn't run your motor without oil, don't start it with starter fluid.


I never used a yamaha, but here's some info about cold starting 2-stroke carbed outboards in general:

* Instead of pumping the primer bulb 2 or 3 times, pump it until it is firm. Not as hard as a tennis ball, but harder a than raquet ball.

* Cold starts require a rich mixture (more fuel, less air). This is why the starting fluid works. You should have a choke button somewhere on the controls, or a push-to-choke keyswitch, which lets you accomplish the same thing as starter fluid, but without going to all that trouble.

* When you engage the choke, you should hear a "click" from somewhere on the powerhead -- that'll be the choke solenoid. It either closes a set of butterfly valves at the front of the carburetors (that would be the "choke plates"), or it opens valves that let fuel drain into the manifold to richen up the mixture ("enrichment circuit"). Choke plates were replaced by enrichment valves on most motor designs during the early 80's. You might have a motor with a manual choke control instead of electric choke.

* Engage the choke while you turn the key to "start". Release the choke as soon as the motor starts. If you have enrichment valves, it might work better to engage the choke for 5 or 7 seconds before cranking the engine. I don't know which will work best on your particular motor.

* If you have a "fast-idle" control (to operate the throttle without putting the motor in gear), use it for cold starting. Some controls, it's a lever that you raise.

If your electric choke isn't working, there's probably a manual choke lever somewhere on the motor.

I like to test-start the motor and warm it up to operating temp on the muffs before I leave the house. I do it the night before if I'm leaving early. I think it speeds up the warm-up process and gets me off the ramp quicker.

Hope this helps.

High octane fuel is less volatile -- it's made for engines designed with high compression ratios, to keep the gas from igniting before the spark plug fires. I don't know of any recreational outboards that were designed for higher than 87 octane (no doubt there are some, I just don't know about 'em). I've heard that some gas companies use better detergents in their premium fuels than in regular gas; if so, it might make a difference. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. But that's just my opinion based on stuff I've read -- I have no real evidence to support it.

J-texas is right.

Make sure to prime the engine with the bulb, I pump it till its pretty hard.

Know how to opperate the choke and use it, it will start much faster.

Premium is definately not required for your boat, and is supposed to build up more carbon in egines not designed to run on it.

Starting fluid is a no no.

matt