any carb experts out there? ('92 ski w/pro-tech)

[asd]

My 92 ski runs really rough for the first couple minutes but then runs fine when it warms up. It used to "cold start" and run very smooth right from the start. Now I have to rev it up to 1200 rpm so it will stay running. As soon as the motor warms up it runs great, including restarts later in the day. Just seems to have trouble the first time you start it for the day.

Any ideas?

[brodie]

I would try some seafoam first. 1/2 a can down the carb while running, and the other half in the block.

[triplered]

This boat may be a candidate for a conversion from the Pro-Tec to a standard Mallory distributor. Unfortunately, the Pro-Tec seems to be a ticking time bomb.

Check fuel filters, naturally, but it could be a problem with your ignition. The coil packs on Pro-tec go bad -- replacement parts are hard to find (no longer available from PCM). PCM sells a conversion kit. Ugh!

[showskier]

Check the choke. I have a 90SN and was having the same issues. turned out that the choke was not working. fixed the choke, problem gone.

[asd]

How would I check to see if the choke was operating as it should?

[pj]

Not an expert. But, sounds like a choke problem to me too.
I would also like to second the Pro-Tec comment. Just swapped that out of my '91 for a mallory kit after the pro-tec blew up the motor and cost me a $2k rebuild.

[TRDon]

I am having the same problem with my 93 with a converted ignition. My first thought was the choke too. I did try to re-adjust the choke so it opened earlier but it seemed to make it worse. How can I check the choke and where should it be set at?

[boatech]

take the flame arrestor of cold start eng. should be slight gap in choke flap and come off slowly also look into carb and see if any gas is DRIPPING. if you see gas dripping the carb needs work. have to come off and tear it down.

[AirTool]

I might can help with the choke...can you tell me what kind of carb and if it is an electric choke?

Also, there are better ways to clean a carb than seafoam....and one should never put seafoam in the block.

[TRDon]

It is a holley carb and it is an electric choke

[AirTool]

Go to holley.com ...there are installation instructions for almost every carb. Most electric choke applications are the same.

here is an example http://www.holley.com/data/Products/...199R9934-3.pdf

Just as boattech mentioned, cold....there should be a slight gap between the choke plate and the carb...maybe 1/16" or smaller. As the engine warms, the plate will open.

Also, be sure that all the linkage is clean and there is no binding.

[skijones]

With an electric choke, you can check it by turning the key to the run position. This will gradually open the choke. Should take 3-5 minutes.