Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

[Bassgirl]

HI all,
We just bought an 89 boat with an 89 Johnson VRO 4 90 HP. We could not get it started to it back to the shop and the guy got it started an ran it for 30 minutes. They had forgotten to put a clamp on the fuel line that they changed.

He showed us how to start it using the choke on the motor itself if we ever had trouble starting it again.

Lsst night we took it out and that is the only way we could get it to start. Once it started it ran great. We shut it off 3 times had to start it that way each time, but once started it ran like a charm. Good power and smooth.
Once back to the ramp we let it idle while going to get the trailer, put it in reverse and it dies. Then it would not start even using the engine choke. ANd the cranking battery is almost dead. It is a new battery.

I am thinking it is the spark plugs?

It has new gas in it. With carb treatment also.Suggested by the boat dealership.

Any info/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

BG

 

[jonesg]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

when it dies like that theres certain things you need to do so we know the symptoms.

Ok so , when it dies and won't start , 2 simple things to check..

pull the sparkplugs and look to see if they are wet with fuel (flooded).
Smell the plugs for gas.

Then remove sparkplugs , leave them plugged in to coils, touching the cylinder block , crank the starter over and watch for blue spark.

Alternatively, if you own a timing light , put that on the sparkplug wires to see if the ignition is sparking.

You do need some very basic tools to play, timing lights are $25 but usefull.

Meantime, charge the battery.

At a guess, it sounds like its loading up with fuel at prolonged idle, it shouldn't, then when the throttle is opened it extinguishes the spark.
You're not leaning on the ignition key by accident by any chance?
I did that and flooded mine.

 

[Bassgirl]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

I don't know about leaning on the ignition key. I will mention it to hubby, he was the one driving it.


We will try the other stuff too.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

If you have to manually pull the choke, it sounds like at the least the battery needs good charging, because for some reason the key isn't activating the electric choke. Could be low battery power or something in the wiring is bad. As for why it will only start like that, it most likely needs a carb rebuild done to the carbs, especially is they suggested using a carb treatment. That isn't going to clean them for you, it will maintain clean carbs, but won't break up build up or anything if they are already dirty.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

I am not postive, but pretty sure chokes were replaced by primers by '89, which I assume is what you are manually switching on the engine.

Is it a red lever on a cylinder that you turn 90 degrees to start and then turn back once started or are you manually pulling choke linkage up to cover carb openings with choke plates?

In any case make sure you are pumping your primer bulb on your fuel line up nice and hard before attempting a cold start. Also have you been using the cold start/high idle lever when starting, cold starting especially?

After pumping the bulb up, raise the fast idle lever up 1/2 way, turn the key to on, not start, just on, then if you do have a primer rather than a choke, push it in and hold for 5-8 seconds, you should hear a slight click in the engine, then turn the key to start and it should crank over relatively quick. Once it starts use the fast idle lever to keep a slightly high idle for a minute until you can bring it down to idle, try not to let it rev up to over like 2500 RPM when you start it, don't let it rip up to like 5000 RPM.

That is the basic starting procedure, if you do have a primer rather than choke plates, you can "bump" the key in after it starts also to keep it idling if it sounds like it is faltering.

As far as the stalling, it does sound like it's loading up at idle and fouling plugs, which as was mentioned could mean you need a carb rebuild, the idle circuit could be running too rich. And also as was mentioned a carb "cleaner" in your fuel won't do it.

I'd also reccomend getting some decarb or engine tuner and doing a treatment of that, it will clean the inside of the engine up a bit and could loosen up ring packs if they are sticking slightly.

Good luck.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

watch a carb rebuild video, very simple but you need rebuild kits for each carb. They're not expensive and its good practice to keep the carbs spotless, carb cleaner just won't do the trick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5cxBMDezuU&feature=PlayList&p=927682907A9BA566&index=2

 

[Bassgirl]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

Thank you all so much for the info. It is the red lever on the engine that you were talking about.

One good thing is when we do get it started it does not sputter or idle rough. And it runs without any misses and good power. It is just getting it to start using the key rather than having to pull the engine cover off and using the red lever/choke.

We will put all this info to good use.

I do have some mehcanical skills with autos just not boats. So I will give the video a look at and hopefully it will make sense to me.

Again,
Thank you all very much.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Starting problems but mnotor runs fine?

Pushing the key in, while it's turned to the "on" position, does the same thing as turning that red lever, it just does it electrically with a solenoid, if you aren't hearing a click when you push the key in then you may need a new primer solenoid.

You can also check to see if it's working by bumping the key in and out while the engine is running, if it falters or stalls then you know the primer is giving it extra fuel and working from the ignition switch.