Yamaha Choke procedure?
 

On my 86 150's there is a toggle switch below the keys. If you hold it up it will choke it or you should be able to pull the choke out on the motor itself. Also on a top mount binnacle the black side cap on the throttle handle can be pushed in to high idle the motor without putting it in gear.

A 96 YAMAHA will be a PRIMESTART engine which doesn't use a choke. It has a small electric fuel pump that is controlled via the ECM that injects extra fuel when cold to aid in starting. They do take a little while to start when cold, but that is normal.

what Ferm said. Also if it is a primestart motor do not advance the throttle because it will cancel the effects of the primestart system. I thought you had a v6 excel. Did you get another motor?

Thanks for the help guys. Pete- the motor that came with the boat was pretty badly corroded and since I got the hull cheap enough i decided to get something newer. I figured the extra 25 hp over the original wouldn't hurt either. This boat has been a major project- completely scraped years of bottom paint, removed fuzzy mildewed crap from cabin and painted, re-wired, new bilge pumps, new fuel filler tube and vent hose today and lots of cosmetic work. I had been waiting for the marina where its stored to get it running but at the speed they move it wouldn't have hit the water until Sept. if i was lucky. I finally found another mechanic and he got it going for me today. I should be in the water in the next few days!

thats great! A little extra hp is always good. I will keep an eye out for you when we go to Tice's