[RalphG]

My 52 Merc flathead has always been a bit fussy about starting if you don't use the right techniques. If it has sat for a week it will need priming the carburetor or else grind away on the starter til the battery runs down. Manual choke conversion and it needs full choke on a cold start. Even on a hot start I find it helps to give a pump or two on the gas pedal for an easy start. Mine is the Holley "teapot" but I'm assuming yours being a 239 does not have the same carb.