Easy Start

[Wansworth]

Second yacht I went to view the engine needed easy start to get it going,initially lots of smoke but settled down to less .It’s really another project boat Iam afraid.I think it’s going to be an. Outboard motor or nought.

 

[cherod]

( as everyone will tell you ) easy start is not a good idea , tho some large industrial engines have built in ( iirc ) ethor injection for starting

 

[Major_Clanger]

( as everyone will tell you ) easy start is not a good idea , tho some large industrial engines have built in ( iirc ) ethor injection for starting

Yarp..... Engines can become addicted to Easy Start. It works well initially and does the job, but with extended use it'll destroy the piston crown!

 

[LittleSister]

I think the initial smoke is not an issue, especially as it had presumably previously been turned over several times without starting. I suspect most older engines smoke a bit on first start up, but it should quickly clear. Even one that smokes a bit all the time might be reliable- it takes a long time to actually wear out am engine if its used as lull as most boat engines

That it needed Easy Start indicates something amiss, but not necessarily a major problem (though it could be). Likely poor compression, I suspect (e.g. worn rings, valves not seating well, decompressor (if it has one) out of adjustment and stopping the valve seating properly), but could be simply slow air leak into the fuel supply when not running. Do you know how long it had been since it had previously been started? How long did you try to start it before applying the Easy Start. What was the engine, and do you know how old? Was the owner's can of Easy Start nearly empty but not very old?

I think the 'engines get addicted to Easy Start' is nonsense. It's just that if there's a starting problem that in normal use requires Easy Start and it isn't addressed, it will continue to need Easy Start! I agree that regular use is inadvisable.

I wouldn't dismiss a boat outright for having an inboard myself - yes you need to be careful to get a decent one, but they are such a boon unless they are a dog - but you have to find something you are happy with, and are not going to worry about all the time.

You keep getting us all excited about your latest potential boat, then we never hear of it again. Please keep us updated with which boats you dismiss for which reasons, otherwise we are not getting our money's worth out of your quest!

 

[Wansworth]

I think the initial smoke is not an issue, especially as it had presumably previously been turned over several times without starting. I suspect most older engines smoke a bit on first start up, but it should quickly clear. Even one that smokes a bit all the time might be reliable- it takes a long time to actually wear out am engine if its used as lull as most boat engines

That it needed Easy Start indicates something amiss, but not necessarily a major problem (though it could be). Likely poor compression, I suspect (e.g. worn rings, valves not seating well, decompressor (if it has one) out of adjustment and stopping the valve seating properly), but could be simply slow air leak into the fuel supply when not running. Do you know how long it had been since it had previously been started? How long did you try to start it before applying the Easy Start. What was the engine, and do you know how old? Was the owner's can of Easy Start nearly empty but not very old?

I think the 'engines get addicted to Easy Start' is nonsense. It's just that if there's a starting problem that in normal use requires Easy Start and it isn't addressed, it will continue to need Easy Start! I agree that regular use is inadvisable.

I wouldn't dismiss a boat outright for having an inboard myself - yes you need to be careful to get a decent one, but they are such a boon unless they are a dog - but you have to find something you are happy with, and are not going to worry about all the time.

You keep getting us all excited about your latest potential boat, then we never hear of it again. Please keep us updated with which boats you dismiss for which reasons, otherwise we are not getting our money's worth out of your quest!

Iam sorry I didn’t know I had a following??. Willcogitate but my engineering skills makes this another no no…..This one was the Benetaue barouderAgentsparting words were make a sensible offer…….been on his books overa year?

 

[Stemar]

That it needed Easy Start indicates something amiss

Absolutely. If it hadn't run for years, it could be something as simple as surface rust on valve seats which will sort itself out, but why didn't the seller make sure it would go the day before, so as to show it at its best? If it needs easy start on a nice warm day in Spain, what's it going to need in winter?

I always reckon that I want to see the engine start from cold - room temp block and manifold. If it starts fine, which may include a bit of churning on a cold day if there are no heater plugs, it's passed the first test. Second test - how quickly does the oil pressure alarm go off? Third test - smoke. A puff when starting isn't a worry, a bit when cold is also OK especially with older engines, but once warm is a concern. Final test - how well does it drive the boat? I bought one that passed all the other tests, but just wasn't delivering the power. Spent some money sorting it, but ended up re-engining a couple of years later.

 

[cherod]

( no experience of such ) been led to believe even infrequent use of will glaze the bores