Evinrude 15 HP Manual Start Won't Engage

[xenasomerset]

My 1998 Evinrude 15 has run flawlessly until now. Now, when I pull the starter cord, it doesn't catch. I could get it to catch by putting it in Forward while putting tension on the cord, then backing the shift to Neutral and then pulling. Alas, that technique no longer works. You can't get the cord to catch at all now, no matter what you do. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Evinrude 15 HP Manual Start Won't Engage

Sounds like you need to remove the starter cord cowl and see what's going on in there.

 

[gss036]

Re: Evinrude 15 HP Manual Start Won't Engage

There is a long coil type spring under the starter rope house, can be a trick to replace. I have done an old 4 hp Johnson, in fact still have a new extra spring taking up space on the wall and nobody to give it to.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Evinrude 15 HP Manual Start Won't Engage

get some wd40 under there, tap on the top. some time the little tines get gooped up and will not engage.

 

[xenasomerset]

Re: Evinrude 15 HP Manual Start Won't Engage

Thanks for all the input. Yesterday I removed the starter cord cowl and found the culprit: there is a blue plastic "lever" under the inside top of the cowl. It appears that it is supposed to flow outward when the cord is pulled, engaging the engine. It wasn't doing that so I hit it with PowerBlaster and then it worked like a charm! If it stops working again I'll disassemble and clean it. Thanks again! Stephanie

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Evinrude 15 HP Manual Start Won't Engage

thats what i thought. some times you can rap on it and jar it loose.