Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1972 Evinrude hard starting. › Reply To: 1972 Evinrude hard starting.
Starts hard and hardly runs once started…. 65PSI does seem a bit low for this engine, but could just be the gage….Start with all the basics before ripping into this. Good spark? Fresh fuel/oil supply?? Are you sure there is no water in the fuel supply? Where is the low speed needle set? Initial setting is 1.5 turns out from gently seated. Is the choke linkage working properly, is the choke valve closing fully? Have you changed the plugs? Just cuz they are new doesn’t mean they are good.. Is the engine stiff/hard to turn over? Have you changed/inspected the gear lube? Most 6hps don’t use the pesky drive shaft shock, but the gearcase could be stiff anyway….
If everything checks out OK, and you can confirm the compression readings with another gage, then it might be time to pull the head, perhaps the gasket is blown between the two cylinders…
What is the history of this engine? Is it new to you? Has it ever worked properly since you owned it?