Hard Starting?

1996 Johnson Fast strike 150. Every single time i put my boat in the water i have issues with it starting (idles very rough in the beginning and will stall out if i dont rev it) When i prime the motor i hear a slight sucking sound so im thinking maybe im sucking in air someplace? i replaced the primer ball and hose and siliconed the connection on top of the tank and still hear the sucking noise. Now when i do prime it the ball getts hard and i can feel the gas in the ball as im squeezing it. Also if i dont run the motor for maybe two hours and go to start it again it loses prime and the ball is soft again.... maybe crack in the fuel pump or the hose inside the tank? would rather not replace anymore stuff that doesnt need it. what do you think should be my next step?

Remove the nipple on the tank for the fuel hose and knock out the anti siphon valve. Make the adjustment for the timing arm that is posted on the top of the page and try that.

by knock out the anti-siphon valve you mean clean it? or remove and replace it?

i just checked the timing arm and it was already in the correct position....

Your choice take a punch and knock it out or replace it with a new straight through fitting from the plumbing department.

im gonna need a little more info.... im far from a mechanic

OK on your gas tank where the hose to the motor connects to it there should be a hose clamp. Remove the clamp. There will be a barbed fitting screwed into the fitting that goes into the gas tank. Remove the barbed fitting. Inside that fitting is a spring with a bb in it. It is called an anti-siphon valve. They get stuck and cause fuel flow problems. Place the barb fitting in a vice and from the barb side insert a punch or screwdriver or some other device that fits inside the hole and drive out the spring an ball bearing. If you do not feel comfortable doing that then take your fitting to a plumbing supply store and get the same fitting size with out the anti-siphon portion. Can't get more simpler than that.

I think i can manage that... thanks

What is the suckin sound im hearing? is the anti-siphon valve the cause of that? cuz i never heard that on my old boat and it started fine....

Unscrew pickup tube and pull out and inspect if there is a screen at the bottom. pull it off and discard it. if an alum. tube then carefully take it apart and remove cone mesh filter inserted and discard it. reassemble with gasoila or equivalent and connect hose barb and hose. By the way, The OMC 3/8hose barbs at a dealer has a larger i.d. than hardware store ones. i use these even at the spin-on for better fuel flow.