Is it possible to pull start?

[bds85466]

A 1972 125 hp Johnson motor? 4 cylinder. Or is this way too heavy?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

Yes...If you are on steriods.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

And try to stay clear of the flying rope when it fires up.

 

[Captain Paul]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

When I bought my current boat in '01, the dealer was showing me the outboard, a Yammi 150. He pulled off the cover, pointed out a few things and then handed me a nice orange handled pull rope in a ziplock bag, pointed to the flywheel and said " if she wont turn over cause of a dead battery, the first thing you do is take that there pull rope and throw it in the lake"

One of these days I may just try it for grins. I'll let you know how it turns out. That is if I'm not hospitalized.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

"take that there pull rope and throw it in the lake" LOL
I have rope-started my 3-cyl *warm* ... if its well-tuned and warmed up it might crank in about 30 or 40? of rotation - you might just be able to do it.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

That's a hydro-electric model isn't it? That means you're also trying to pull start it in gear. Good luck.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

There's a pull rope in the cowl of my 150HP Merc... I have two batteries!​

 

[JB]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

I am not a big guy. . . 6', 160lb. . .but I have rope started a 1966 Johnny 100 and a 1983 Johnny 150. It is more technique than raw strength.

So, yes. It is possible but you will need your whole body to do it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

we use to have a 69 115, same block. i've rope started it many times. but is was 20y/o then.

 

[baconbiscut]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

My dad was out fishing with a few friends when there battery died and they had a six cylinder johnson and they had to get back tom the dock before it got to late. So my dad got out the pull rope and everyone looked at him like he was crazy he then took out all the spark plugs except for one and my dad and his buddy both yanked on the cord and started it up my dad ran the engine for about five minutes and while the engine was whistling because five spark plugs were removed. So after it was warmed up he put a second spark plug in and it started up and he let it warm up. By the time they had 4 plugs some smart fella said lets put the rest in and then they couldn't turn it over because it had cooled down to much so they started over and put each spark plug in one at a time and they got it started and got home.

 

[licketdsplit756]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

my 115 hp johnson ever gives me a problem. i just go to the kicker lol if all else fails trolling motor. if that dont work. i always take my wife with me when in doubt. she is a hell of a paddeler

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

I have a pull rope under my cowl. One time the ramp was not busy so I decided to give it a try instead of the normal electric start. I yanked on the rope a few times and it barely moved. I was also tripping all over the seats in my boat as I pulled on the rope. About that time a few boats showed up to launch so I quickly put the rope away and started up the normal way. I do carry one of those portable jump starting batteries. Never had to use the jump starter on the water, but it works great for jump starting cars.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

I've never had trouble with a dead battery (though I know in my lifetime I will), my starter motor actually sheared it's fixturing bolts! I don't have a rope, I was just wondering if it would be in my best interests to get one (do normal ropes work? suggestions anyone?...). If it's a useless art for my motor, I'm not even going to investigate! Thanks for all the input/stories!

 

[stclairriverblaster]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

ive used a normal rope to pull start our merc 125 horse before... but i was standing on land. 6'6 350 lb.. and boy was it a chore

 

[mike176]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

I have started my 72 70hp rude by rope a few times just to see if i could do it. It always fired up real fast when i used the starter so it was not to bad with the rope. My last boat was an I/o and last week when the battery went dead i had to to paddel about a mile of open water sittin on the bow and that took allllllllllll day, there where no other boats on the lake so i could not ask anybody for a tow. When i got back to the ramp i was so fed up with the thing and its long list of ongoing problems i went right down to the dealer and traded it in on a new boat.

 

[rob711]

Re: Is it possible to pull start?

i started a 1984 90hp johnson with the rope...for fun....and it was warm...and i ended up on my back...kina funny really.