Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke starts like a charm at sea level, but horrible kickback and hard to pull start at higher elevation

[Dennis The Menace]

I can pull start My Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke efortlessly when at my mechanic's shop at sea level, but it wants to rip my arm out of the shoulder socket when I try to start it at higher altitude in my barrel at home or out on the lake. Horrible kickback and takes many pulls to start. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. It's a 2016 model that has run for about 30 hours since I've bought it and it has been hard to pull start from day 1.

 

[Seastoke]

You need to work out , your mechanic is ripped

 

[James jameson]

Are you laying it down the right way. If wrong oil can enter the cylinder which could cause he issue

 

[Rappey]

Could it be that its on a proper mounting at the workshop so you only need to pull the cord.
At home one hand maybe holding the engine while the other pulling the cord = lot harder to pull , slower to pull resulting in kickbacks ?

 

[KevinV]

Both good suggestions above - I'll add a really obvious one: you're not starting it in gear are you?

 

[Dennis The Menace]

You need to work out , your mechanic is ripped

Thanks for the reply. I'm the one who started it at the mechanic's shop. it started like a charm. Almost no effort.

 

[Dennis The Menace]

Are you laying it down the right way. If wrong oil can enter the cylinder which could cause he issue

Always extra careful about that and it's stored vertically. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Dennis The Menace]

Could it be that its on a proper mounting at the workshop so you only need to pull the cord.
At home one hand maybe holding the engine while the other pulling the cord = lot harder to pull , slower to pull resulting in kickbacks ?

That's possible, but it's the same when the motor is on the back of the boat, out on the lake. I'll try something different at home. Thanks for your reply!

 

[spannerman]

At higher altitude the air is less dense so the mixture needs to be weaker, you can try adjusting the mixture screw and it won’t need so much choke either.
We have had many customers buy a their first 4 stroke and struggle to start them after owning a 2 stroke, what they don’t realise is a 4 stroke needs to rotate twice to go through one firing cycle which means a long pull on the stater cord, whereas a 2 stroke fires with every time the engine does a revolution.

 

[Nessy]

Have the same AB andI think the same as Jack Jason in #3.

I remember the same behaviour some years ago after fixing the Suzuki at the dinghi.

Cordilally! Stefan

 

[Dennis The Menace]

Both good suggestions above - I'll add a really obvious one: you're not starting it in gear are you?

No way. Always start it in neutral and always get same result. Thanks for your reply!

At higher altitude the air is less dense so the mixture needs to be weaker, you can try adjusting the mixture screw and it won’t need so much choke either.
We have had many customers buy a their first 4 stroke and struggle to start them after owning a 2 stroke, what they don’t realise is a 4 stroke needs to rotate twice to go through one firing cycle which means a long pull on the stater cord, whereas a 2 stroke fires with every time the engine does a revolution.

Thanks for the great feedback. I appreciate! Will try adjusting the mixture screw. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one having this problem.

 

[Dennis The Menace]

Have the same AB andI think the same as Jack Jason in #3.

I remember the same behaviour some years ago after fixing the Suzuki at the dinghi.

Cordilally! Stefan

Thanks, Stefan. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to answer!

 

[ylop]

How high an altitude?

 

[Dennis The Menace]

How high an altitude?

How high an altitude?

37 feet at mechanic's shop, 700 feet where I am.

 

[ylop]

37 feet at mechanic's shop, 700 feet where I am.

My gut feel is that isn’t enough to cause the problem. That feels like the sort of pressure difference you’d get with weather.

 

[Minerva]

37 feet at mechanic's shop, 700 feet where I am.

I live higher than that and my outboards start just the same as when slung on the back of a dinghy at sea level. No discernible difference