Rope starting

[MASTER Brian]

How safe is this really? For some reason it looks kind of dangerous. Luckily, I haven't had to resort to it, but I figure in time, my time will come.

Is there anything to look out for or special things to do? I'm guessing, just turn the key to the "ON" position, install the rope and pull...

 

[noelm]

Re: Rope starting

yep, thats all there is to it (not) if you have to you can start a big outboard with a rope, but hey, you really need to HAVE to, one of the worst problems is for the other people in the boat, they do not like getting whipped around the head/face with the end on the rope, or elbowed in the belly when you give it all you've got to pull start that V6 on the back, then of course there is that other "joy" when it starts first fireing stroke and the rope gets caught and flings around like a whipper Snipper (weedwacker) aahhh those were the days.

 

[noelm]

Re: Rope starting

OH and I forgot the blisters from pulling the thing for yonks and it does not start, they can be a long lasting memory as well.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Rope starting

If the motor's warmed up and in good condition, it just takes a few degrees of flywheel rotation to generate the spark. Wouldn't be a bad idea to experiment with it sometime, just in case the need should ever arise...

I have rope started my 70...but with that beast of yours, might want to practice waving both arms over your head in a frantic fashion...

8)

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Rope starting

Being too cheap to buy a new battery I had to rope start my inline 6 115 on many occassions. It didnt have choke, it had the primer system. On a cold start it would always fire and keep running on the third pull. I glad it had 6 relatively small pistons to move. I had tried to rope start my Evinrude 140. Those 4 pistons, even though they added up to the same displacement, were much harder to pull through. Your 150 if it is a crossflow has the same bore and stroke my 140 had only with 2 more pistons to pull through. Hope your built like the Governer of California.

 

[JB]

Re: Rope starting

When it is that or the paddle it seems like a good idea.

JTex makes a good suggestion. Learn how to do it on the muffs at home, so if it comes to that you know you can.

I am a fairly scrawny old poop, but I learned to start my crossflow 150 with a rope. Made me feel safer, though I never HAD to do it on the water.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Rope starting

I always keep jumper leads in my boats just for in-case, although I never use it on my boat, I always end up helping someone else out that is in trouble, since I start using truck batteries I have never had problems (touch wood) .....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rope starting

learn to do it, especially if you boat during the week, when there are fewer people to help. you never know when an electric device is going to quit. solenoid, starter, ignition switch, keep a small tool box in the boat, and learn some of the trouble shooting sets, that you can do on the water, like jumping the solenoid. if you have a lanyard kill switch always check it first.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: Rope starting

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like a chore, I hope it never needs to be done. I have 3 batteries on board, so hopefully of the 3, I always have at least one that is capable of starting the boat!!

I'm more concerned about the starter, solenoid, etc...

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Rope starting

Tashasdaddy, I don't like being the south end of a northbound mule, but if the ignition switch goes out you won't be able to start it at all.

I guess you mean if its making contact just not setting off the solinoid.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Rope starting

waterinthe, if the ignition switch isn't making contact in the off position,the motor will run but it won't shut off. If it isn't making contact in the on position, you won't get power to your switched accessories but the engine will run. At least on OMC motors.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rope starting

you can always unplug the master plug and the will start. you just have to choke or prime manually, and flood it to shut it down. had to start a 115 johnny, on an outgoing tide, at the jetties, with a ship coming in. a little scary,

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: Rope starting

So, how do you flood it, to shut it down? Also, how would you choke it manually? Mine has the auto choke. Do I just flip the red lever up on the choke solenoid(?).

 

[Johnson110]

Re: Rope starting

What i want to is why they do not put a recoil on the big v4 for emergency, to hell with the rope!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Rope starting

What i want to is why they do not put a recoil on the big v4 for emergency, to hell with the rope!

Because its cheaper...just like the "what happened to the starting handles on cars thing" !!! Money, money, money !!!!