Choke question

powerslide

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
47
I have a 78 115 Johnson. My question is the choke suppose to stay open once the key is pushed and push again to turn off? Or do you have to hold it?
 

Lyle29464

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
1,261
Re: Choke question

pump bulb till it is hard. lift fast warm up lever 1/2 way. push key in and turn till engine starts let key back to "ON" push and release key as necessary till motor starts to bog down. Lower the fast idle at the same time. ( now your perfect)
 

mark1961

Ensign
Joined
Apr 30, 2007
Messages
940
Re: Choke question

I have a 78 115 Johnson. My question is the choke suppose to stay open once the key is pushed and push again to turn off? Or do you have to hold it?

Push the key in as you crank the motor to keep the choke activated (closed).....once the motor fires and you release the key it will return to run and spring out automatically to deactivate (open) the choke.....

Btw, this applies to a cold motor only.....should be no need to choke a warm motor.
 

toddschubert

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
504
Re: Choke question

Don't think of it as a choke. Its more of a prime pumping fuel directly into cranckcase bypassing carbs. With that in mind you get a better understanding of how to work it. Dump fuel to start and to keep it started when cold by pulsing it.
 

Lyle29464

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
1,261
Re: Choke question

Don't think of it as a choke. Its more of a prime pumping fuel directly into cranckcase bypassing carbs. With that in mind you get a better understanding of how to work it. Dump fuel to start and to keep it started when cold by pulsing it.

Are you sure?
 

powerslide

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
47
Re: Choke question

Appreciate the help fellas guy I bought it from told me you push it once to choke it then push it again to turn it off. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't messed up.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Choke question

One last (?) comment. There is a manual override lever on the lower carburetor, with three positions. Choke off position opens the chokes and the push-key feature won't do anything. Choke on position manually chokes it for emergency starting, such as a dead battery. Center position is normal operation, push-key function is operational.

BTW it DOES have a choke. Primers didn't appear till later. Personally, I prefer the choke. But primers are cheaper to make.

It is amazing how many people take delivery of a brand new multi-thousand $$ boat and never are taught how to start it. Unbelievable. Hey, I was looking at a new car the other day......NO KEY at all!!! Just a gizmo that tells the car that you are in the area. But probably everybody but me knows that.
 
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