TOPIC: What's the Magic Touch to start your Starflight?

With a lot of help from you guys (and a local shop) my '66 Starflite 100 has become a strong and reliable engine with enough oomph to push my old Fabuglas to the 30mph mark - plenty fast for me in an old boat.

But I haven't mastered the art of starting it. It always starts but never till the third or fourth crank of the key. I'm not one to crank it over for more than 5-10 seconds at a time. I pump up the bulb till it's firm, set the throttle to just over 1/2, hit the choke and crank it. It works, but never the first time.

What works for you?

Unless the motor is warm, I think that is about average for a Starflite.

I pump up the gas, push the choke, crank until it starts, let off the choke, if it starts to die I tap the choke again and again until it stays running.

These are not like modern fuel injected cars. They do need to crank a little longer, and there is always a learning curve with the choke needs of a motor. They are all slightly different. Old stuff has "personality"

I'm in the same "learning" boat. I've got an older Merc 1000 (69 I think). Itseems to run fairly strong, but I've actually killed the battery trying to start it. I can't help but wonder what I'm doing wrong. I know when I had an old MG or Ford truck from the 60's that there were tricks - y'know, pump the pedal twice, choke 3/4 out.....
I just don't know what the tricks are with an old outboard. I'd love to hear some advice.

Here's a crap video i made today of the '62 75hp Johnson's first start up of the year. Just installed a new water pump.

She sounds great Jim!

Thanks Mark. It runs strong. If these motors set for a few moments after running them,I usually have to use the start/fast idle lever to crank them. Mine have the single 2 barrel type carb. Don't know much about the newer type carbs.jim