Need advise on Johnson 85EL77S issue

chrisreyn

Cadet
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
17
Howdy yall.. I just bought my first outboard and its giving me fits!
I recently bought a 93 Lake Raider pontoon with a 1977 Johnson 85EL77S (electric start, manual tilt.)
When I bought this thing last Monday, it was storming, so rather than take it out on the water, the previous owner hooked a "flush clamp" over the water intakes, dropped the fuel line into a one gallon gas can and it fired up first crank of the key.....
ran it thru F/R gears, ran the throttle up and down, seemed like it was fine.
I came back two days later, trailered it directly to the lake and sat on the ramp for almost 4 hours trying to get it to start( no-one else was there so I wasnt blocking the ramp ). Since then I have tried to start the dang thing every day for hours, but it seems to be flooding out as soon as the motor catches.. actually have gas dripping out the front of the carbs.
The remote has a "warm-up lever" and what i have been doing is pulling it up 3/4 way as suggested in the FAQ forum, pushing the key in to activate the choke and then turning the key to "run". I release teh key just as soon as the engine starts to catch, it dies, and never "catches" again..:(
I am ready to set it afire and call my insurance company!!
I was a USCG Boatswains-Mate, and ran a SAR station with multiple small boats, but this is the first experience I have with an outboard motors and I honestly know next to nothing about them....I was realy hoping to take it out this weekend..which would also help get THE BOSS off my back for having bought it in the first place... she wanted new floors.....LOL
any advise would sure be apreciated
THANKS
chris
PS: what cranking amp battery should this size motor need? I am suspecting the one that is on it is too small.. wont crank it more than 3-4 times before needing put on the charger..
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Need advise on Johnson 85EL77S issue

Your battery is an issue. You need something in the 650-850 CCA range.

Fix that first then report back.
 

chrisreyn

Cadet
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
17
Re: Need advise on Johnson 85EL77S issue

OK using the 1150 CCA battery out of my deisel and am still having the same issue..will crank strongly when using jumper cables from the running deisel truck to crank it with., but still wont fire
 

chrisreyn

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Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
17
Re: Need advise on Johnson 85EL77S issue

OK found that the choke plates were lodged closed! Opened them up and its running great!
 

emoney

Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
2,551
Re: Need advise on Johnson 85EL77S issue

You should check to see if your choke plates are stuck close.....oh...wait.....nevermind.
 

chrisreyn

Cadet
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
17
Re: Need advise on Johnson 85EL77S issue

on a side note.. I have now learned that "jump-starting" an outboard like it was a car is a good way to have to replace the rectifier....a $40 lesson... :(
 
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