Hard to get my Johnson started - lend a hand

[FuddleyPJones]

Re: Hard to get my Johnson started - lend a hand

Rellsun-

I agree that batteries in parallel increases the amps not the volts thats the whole idea behind the question in bold...

If two new diesel batterys that are already in parrallel with each other can't turn over the engine, how the heck is just one on-board battery gonna do it???


The batteries on the F350 are already in parallel meaning the amps are already bumped AND both batteries are only a few months old... You would think that there would be plenty of power (amps) to turn over a V4 if it can turn over a high compression diesel V8...

The gauge of cables on the boat are not much different (if at all) from the gauge of the jumper cables and not much shorter either. Obviously something made the difference - either the cable length or the limited surface connection made with the teeth of the jumper cables. It does seem like a valid question to ask that if two batteries in parallel can't turn over a V4 with 6 AWG cables at 12 feet How is a single battery going to turn over a V4 with 6 AWG cables at at 6 feet???

I can see indymikes reasoning however there are already two fully charged batteries in the circuit - there is no need for a half-charged battery on the boat...two full batteries trumps 1.5 batteries...

Seeing is believing, I know, but it just seems illogical the two batteries in parallel can't turn over the smaller motor without two sets jumper cables...I can only assume that it is a "size of the straw" sort of thing...

I still don't know how power is making its way back to the TNT motor with no battery on the boat and the jumper cables going straight to the starter - but I'm not losing sleep over it.

I am eager to change the cable set-up on the boat and give her a go..but it will have to wait until the weekend...

By the way...I moved on the checking the impeller as suggested. I have the lower unit broken free of the mid-section but it only drops about 3/4 inch and hangs up on something. I figured it would just slide off a splined shaft or something. I perused the forum for lower unit removal and found information regarding a pin and turning the flywheel for alignment as well as putting the motor in reverse for extra drop for access to a bolt on the linkage that must be removed - I am I missing anything else before I try it again...?

Thanks for the input - I really value the information here.

There is wisdom in the council of many...

 

[Indymike]

Re: Hard to get my Johnson started - lend a hand

Good to hear you got it started. You really need to get away from those jumper cables though. You will end up cooking a perfectly good starter motor. And they are not cheap to replace.

By the way...I moved on the checking the impeller as suggested. I have the lower unit broken free of the mid-section but it only drops about 3/4 inch and hangs up on something. I figured it would just slide off a splined shaft or something. I perused the forum for lower unit removal and found information regarding a pin and turning the flywheel for alignment as well as putting the motor in reverse for extra drop for access to a bolt on the linkage that must be removed - I am I missing anything else before I try it again...?

You need to disconnect the shift rod. It's under the carbs.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Hard to get my Johnson started - lend a hand

Good to hear you got it started. You really need to get away from those jumper cables though. You will end up cooking a perfectly good starter motor. And they are not cheap to replace.

Also I would suggest not starting that motor without H2O hooked up, not even for a couple of seconds. You could damage that new water pump impeller. Think about a dry piece of rubber spinning against a piece of metal real fast and that is what you are doing.