1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

ILLaViTaR

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Hey guys.

I just bought 72 100HP V/4 Evinrude Starflite (100293R) and I can't get the bloody thing to start!!
The guy I bought it off told me it needs a new starter motor (and is missing the old one) for it to run however before I commit on spendingm oney on this motor I want to see if it runs well.

Basically I've been told I can pull start it and have tried many times over the past 3 days with no luck at all.

I've been told the procedure is as follows: Connect battery, prime fuel bulb until firm (I took out the plugs and could smell fuel in the cylinder), turn key to on position, wrap piece of rope around the flywheel once and pull.

So far it hasn't even shown any remote signs of starting. Am I leaving anything out?

I was told not to overlap the rope incase it starts and gets caught in the flywheel however that's only around a foot of rope in length, only rotates the flywheel once. It feels like I need more length to crank it. Should I try and wrap more rope around?

Would be great if I can get the thing to start, it looks like a beast!!
 

wilde1j

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

You need the choke on to start.
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Hey mate the choke has a switch on the control box however it has to be held by someone in the on position to stay open, if I let go of the switch the choke just goes back ot the off position. Do I need someone else holding the choke button down as I'm pulling the rope? I'm not all that familiar with how a choke functions. EDIT: (What I'm seeing is the choke solenoid on the
 

Faztbullet

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

And a workout at the gym before testing!!!! Pull the plugs and install a spark tester,turn key on and pull flywheel and see if you have spark. If you have none you have wiring or senor or pulse pack problems . You can put $400 in this thing quick if pulse pack and sensor are bad.
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Considering earlier today I somehow accidentally put the battery terminals on in reverse and fried the rectifer (and hopefully nothing else) I'm hoping all that stuff is still working for my sake!!!!

Worst case scenario the plan would be to buy another motor for parts or simply buy another outboard and part this one, it's a shame though, the compression is very even and this one would be far more powerful than the one I'd have to replace it with.
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Ok well a worked on it a bit today, I found it's getting spark to all four cylinders (I just grounded the spark plugs to the head to check this) but it's still not starting.

Tried it with the choke in/along with every possible combination and no signs of firing up. I can smell fuel in the cylinder, seems everything is working but it still won't start!!!
 

Faztbullet

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

the compression is very even and this one would be far more powerful than the one I'd have to replace it with.
What are the compression numbers? What type/hp of other engine as this one will be lucky to push
90hp at prop.
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

What are the compression numbers? What type/hp of other engine as this one will be lucky to push
90hp at prop.

113-115psi. I'd probably put a 60hp on or ideally a 70 but they're a bit more pricey!!
 

F_R

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

The manual choke knob is on front of lower motor cover (pan). It has 3 positons:

Pushed in = choke off

Half way out (detent) = automatic. Has to be in this position to choke it from the remote control

Pulled all the way out = choke on. To manually start cold engine. Push it back to automatic position when it starts.
 

ezmobee

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

The manual choke knob is on front of lower motor cover (pan). It has 3 positons:

Pushed in = choke off

Half way out (detent) = automatic. Has to be in this position to choke it from the remote control

Pulled all the way out = choke on. To manually start cold engine. Push it back to automatic position when it starts.

I was going to post this also. I was concerned when I read you had the choke IN as that's the off position. Additionally, I had one of these type motors (a '73 85) and you really don't ever want it in the Off position.
 

wilde1j

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Make sure to eat a full box of Wheaties and a can of spinach before the next try. I remember what it was like starting a mid sixties 75HP Evinrude! Not for 98 lb weaklings!
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Ah I'm not sure whther it was on or off, by off I meant the position it sits in with the switch off/battery disconnnected.

Regarding the rope, how many times do I need to wrap it around the flywheel? Do I need a long crank or more of a short and fast crank? Current rope length is only around 30cm, and it feels like I need more length.
 

ezmobee

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Fast crank for sure.
 

F_R

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Ah I'm not sure whther it was on or off, by off I meant the position it sits in with the switch off/battery disconnnected.

Regarding the rope, how many times do I need to wrap it around the flywheel? Do I need a long crank or more of a short and fast crank? Current rope length is only around 30cm, and it feels like I need more length.

One wrap is enough. It fires four times per revolution. You're bound to get at least 3 in there.
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

STARTED IT UP!!!!!!

Thanks for all the help everyone!!! Basically I had to spray heaps of fuel in the cylinders and carby as I noticed the plugs were always dry. It started effortlessly after this and every time after, it seems to run extremely solid but not entirely..

It has a pretty bad miss, can only really notice it at low idle, but it's jolts the motor it's so violent. If I put the throttle lever in the lowest possible idle position, the miss causes the motor to die and the motor runs like a pig, in highest idle position you can't hear the miss. After 5min of warming up the roughness improved a little and the motor stopped dying in the lowest idle position (although not much improvement/it was borderline dying). Besides the miss it sounds very strong, and starts first pull effortlessly. I'm wrapped that it's finally going!! Electric shift works perfect too!!

Would anyone know what would be causing the miss? Maybe I just haven't ran it long enough? After all it hadn't been started for at least over 2yrs.
It needs a service so i'll be starting with the basics, but should I also test the leads/dizzy coil?? What do you think is the likely cause?

Cheers.
 

F_R

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Sounds like you are describing a "lean sneeze". That means not enough fuel or too much air. May be dirty carburetors. Might also just be they need adjustment.

But you need to make sure they are clean. A lean condition at high speed can destroy a piston.

EDIT: Reconsidering my reply, the carburetors on a 1972 are not adjustable, but have all fixed jets for both high and slow speed. Probably has crud in them.
 

ILLaViTaR

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Messages
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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Sounds like you are describing a "lean sneeze". That means not enough fuel or too much air. May be dirty carburetors. Might also just be they need adjustment.

But you need to make sure they are clean. A lean condition at high speed can destroy a piston.

EDIT: Reconsidering my reply, the carburetors on a 1972 are not adjustable, but have all fixed jets for both high and slow speed. Probably has crud in them.

I noticed the carbs have 4 "low mixing screws" in total, besides that like you said I see nothing adjustable. I took the big front plate (where you adjust the 4 low mixing screws) off the carbs and everything looked brand new. The choke and throttle butterflys were also visible, I'm not entirely familiar with carbs however. I didn't see any jets, I'm assuming the carbs themselves are the unit that the throttle butterfly sits in??
 

ILLaViTaR

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Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

Hmmm I tried starting it again today with no luck. Fuel was in the cylinder everything was accounted for but it just wouldn't fire?

Only difference is I left the battery connected overnight (which shouldn't drain it regardless). I checked the charger and the "ok" light was on meaning it was charged. Still no luck, thought maybe it was dry again but there's fuel in the cylinders/plugs are all wet. I also didn't spray fuel in the carbs/injectors but it only required that for the first startup yesterday, every other startup was effortless, (I didn't even need to hand crank it the full way). Tried an old car battery with no luck. Charging the battery and trying it again tomorrow but seeing as it's already charged enough I don't see how it could be that. Everything was accounted for (key on, choke open, fuel primed etc) which makes me think it could only be the battery despite what the charger says?

Any other possibilities? Seems like I'm gonig backwards haha.
 

Solittle

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Apr 28, 2002
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7,518
Re: 1972 100HP Evinrude Starflite. HOW DO I PULL START THIS THING!?!!

The "ok" light is useless for determining full charge. When hand cranking try pulling one of the plugs. It should start on three and will be much easier to crank.
 
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