normal start procedure for 67 big twin

[starcraft67]

Hello y'all. New poster here. I've enjoyed reading your posts and learned a lot. I have quite a bit of experience with a Johnson 9.9 (1998) with remote control so know my way around a little outboard anyway. I just bought (for practically nothing) a 1967 Starcraft 15 ft. closed bow aluminum runabout with the original '67 40 horse Evinrude Big Twin (and the original trailer with the original bearings and spindles but that is another sad tale). It has the dual control lever setup. It is said the motor runs well, and I heard it cranked over and it sounded swell. My question is: what is the ordinary starting procedure for this setup? Over here you've got the two levers, and on the dashboard the ignition key. On the front of the control box is a little twist knob that says idle adjust or idle stop or something similar. On the body of the carb is a little lever to choke manually if need be.

So, after hooking up a good battery and priming with the fuel bulb, what's next? My guess was, after doing some reading -- shifter in neutral, throttle a little bit forward, turn key, pray. I'm used to the 9.9 Johnson's push-key-in-to choke and pull up fast idle lever, but I'm not quite sure what to do with this old Big Twin so I'm not just sitting there wearing down the battery because I don't know the starting procedure. Also, what is the normal position of the choke lever on the carb body?

I do appreciate the help of all you learned gentlemen and ladies.

Starcraft67 aka Joe
Marietta Ohio

 

[Chris1956]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

OK, Pump primer bulb, set shift lever to neutral (center), Push throttle lever forward to stop.(nearly 1/2 throttle) If first time starting engage choke, Crank motor, when it starts cut throttle back to fast idle. After motor is warm, decrease throttle lever to minimum speed, and push shift lever forward smoothly. Now immediately push up throttle lever a bit so it won't stall.

To shift back to neutral, cut throttle to minimum and pull shift lever smoothly to neutral, Now give it a bit of throttle to keep it running..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

read this: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=225510

 

[MikDee]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

OK, Pump primer bulb, set shift lever to neutral (center), Push throttle lever forward to stop.(nearly 1/2 throttle) If first time starting engage choke, Crank motor, when it starts cut throttle back to fast idle. After motor is warm, decrease throttle lever to minimum speed, and push shift lever forward smoothly. Now immediately push up throttle lever a bit so it won't stall.

To shift back to neutral, cut throttle to minimum and pull shift lever smoothly to neutral, Now give it a bit of throttle to keep it running..

Good Info, but I would just like to add one thing, Once it kicks, or starts, Choke off, and work the throttle lever (only if need be) till it settles down, & runs good on it's own, because these 2cycles flood easily.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

Star, One thing about those two lever controls. You will find it difficult to shift into neutral, if the throttle is not set to slow idle. If you have fast idle in gear, you will have a hard time to pull the shift lever into neutral. if you force it, you might damage something.

 

[starcraft67]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

Thanks for the info. I have ordered and just received the Clymer manual for these motors, so will be educating myself further, although the Clymer book doesn't go into things like ordinary starting. I have read as many posts on here and on some other sites about the big twin as I have been able to get to.

Is the choke on the control setup like I have on the key like in newer types? I know there's one on the carb body, but that is explicitly noted as a backup, I suppose for when you have to pull-start. I don't see anything else that says Choke or looks like the old pull-out-on-the-knob like on Pop's old Harvester truck.

Again, thanks for the great info. I am going to back down the Williamstown (WVa) ramp on the Ohio River across from Marietta tomorrow while everyone else is eating turkey and see if she'll start while on the trailer. I'll report back. I'm happy to tell you I also have a 16 ft pontoon boat on the Ohio still at its dock, so if I go out on the river with the Starcraft this weekend I'll have someone backing me up with that until I see how reliable this big twin is (also have an electric motor and extra battery -- and a paddle -- and a flaregun and a big spotlight and a lifejacket -- got to stay out of the way of the towboats! Remember, "if you can't motor out of the way, row, and if you can't row, get off and let the boat fend for itself.")

Starcraft67

 

[Chris1956]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

Starcraft, Some of the Big Twins had hot air and hot water activated automatic chokes. These frequently broke, and luckily they had manual backup choke levers. If you examine the choke mechanism you should be able to tell if it is automatic (hot water or hot air), or manual or has an electric solenoid, for use from the control box. If you do have a version of the automatic choke, sometimes they rust in the closed position. You will have to determine how to fix or disconnect the choke if this occurs.

On my '61 Evinrude 40HP, I used to use the manual choke once in the morning, and then I did not need it after that. My hot water activated auto choke broke sometime in the early sixties!

 

[starcraft67]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

Hello again.

Well the old Big Twin was backed down the ramp today. The local engine guy had clued me in that the boat probably had a solenoid operated choke worked by a toggle switch -- sure enough. With that and with what you guys told me, she fired right up. Ran like a turpentined cat. Easy 31 mph. Not surprising considering that Starcraft's '67 spec chart says that hull only weighs 440 lbs. The shifter will put the engine in reverse but not in forward -- you have to stretch back to where the linkage meets the side of the motor and shift into forward by hand. That seems likely to be just an adjustment problem with the cable.

It was a lot of fun to zoom around for awhile before putting the boat up for the day. I don't care if it was only 40 degrees, I'm a fisherman, I'm used to that. Going sauger fishing tomorrow on my friend's bass boat for a few hours.

That boat is so light I have to sit in the middle to keep it from listing, sitting there with my head peering over the top of the windshield. I feel like that actor, the big guy who played Jaws in the old 007 movies, I remember a movie he was in driving a Lincoln Mk III with his head sticking out of the sunroof.

Thanks for all your help and I look forward to reading your posts and contributing a few of my own too. If anyone needs local info on southeastern Ohio and northern West Virginia and the lakes and rivers in the area let me know.

Starcraft 67 aka Joe

 

[MikDee]

Re: normal start procedure for 67 big twin

LOL,,, "Jaws" was Richard Kiel I believe, definitely a big guy.