1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

[wbeaton]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

my 55 15hp was a 2 hander, my 58 35hp with the compression release is still a 2 hander.

That sounds odd to me. I don't have a single two hander and my collection includes three 15 hp, two 25 hp and a 30 hp all from the 1950's. Mind you the 30 hp is a bit of a bear. I can see how some smaller people might have to use two hands.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

I've tried a friends '57 Golden Javelin 35hp and I one handed it but I'm a big guy. 6'5", 235lbs. (and it still wasn't that easy) 2 hands would be awkward I think for balance.

 

[hammerhandle]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

Samo : you have a few of these 18,s , do they all pull about the same???.

My 63' johnson is a little stubborn itself and lf i recall correctly is there 2 different timing mark areas stamped on the pulley.?( not saying that is the problem, but you may have some insight on this.)

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

Yep, they're all pretty much the same... I've never looked at the pulley close on the 18 so dont know the marks... But I've had to rewind some of springs on my 5.5's and 10's and man that's no fun!

 

[River - Runner]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

I just bought a 1969 Johnson 20HP that has recoil start. It is very hard to pull.

For your information, this is my 1969 25 hp. It's all original. Using my fish weighing scale (Zebco De-Liar) with a cord attached to the pull handle, the scale reads 24 lbs. with a slow pull and 28 lbs. with a faster pull. The 20 hp should be similar. For me and as most would say it's a fairly easy one hand pull. I'll even rope start it in gear when in a hurry if the boat drifts into obstructions, but for a kid or small women it's not so easy. You have a great motor, hope it all works out.

Also, after I use my motor I'll slowly pull the rope a couple of times as to not start it. The motor will hold a little water, doing this drains it out.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

Back when those motors were new, the local Johnson dealer was also a Boston Whaler dealer. He was very successful in selling the 13' Whaler / Johnson 20 combination to families with kids. Those things were running all over the bay, driven by 12-14 yr olds.

But we are not really talking about one vs two hand pulling here are we? I thought we were talking about two-fisted-foot-on-the-transom-hauling-on-the-rope pull. Maybe I mis-understand the question.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

That was my understanding too. I think we just got off topic. Perhaps we need a little clarification.

 

[plessm]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

Back when those motors were new, the local Johnson dealer was also a Boston Whaler dealer. He was very successful in selling the 13' Whaler / Johnson 20 combination to families with kids. Those things were running all over the bay, driven by 12-14 yr olds.

But we are not really talking about one vs two hand pulling here are we? I thought we were talking about two-fisted-foot-on-the-transom-hauling-on-the-rope pull. Maybe I mis-understand the question.

I've got an update on my original post. As I said in my first post, I just bought this motor, I bolted it up to my boat and ran it in a barrel a couple times. Rope pull was pretty stout, needed leverage on the transom and two handed pull. I never really ran it very long in the barrel because it seemed to run really good.

Well yesterday, I went out to the lake for the first time with this motor. It was hard to pull as usual, but got it started, burned 2 or 3 gallons of fuel running around. I've got it on a 14 foot Lowe flat bottom aluminum boat. Man that sucker runs so good, planes out with my 230 lb brother-in-law and 50 decoys and lead weights, and I'm 200 lbs.

I think we worked the motor out, maybe the first time in a long, long time. When I shut it down, we placed our decoys, I went to start it back up, that sucker pulled with one hand, smooth as silk. I think it was gunked up pretty good with carbon and sitting for a few years.

We worked on our blind and came back a couple hours later, motor was totally cooled off. One hand, one pull and it started up, piece of cake.

Sorry for getting everyone stirred up on this rope pull deal, that was my fault for not getting it out and working it over.

Anyway, I paid $100 for this motor and so far it is the deal of the year for me.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

Glad to hear its working. Might have been a little rust on the internals from sitting or just a lack of lubrication. I always lube the cylinders well before running an outboard after its sat for a long period of time.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

False alarm but a happy ending. I want one also for $100

 

[Brucer]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

I have the exact same problem with my 69 20hp. It is a real bear to pull. Did you ever resolve the problem? I was thinking my crank is bent or something like that.

 

[restornator]

Re: 1969 Johnson 20HP hard to pull recoil starter

if you replace the gearcase seals, things will be a little tight until they are broken in.