Starting problems

[DTS1290]

Got a late 80's Johnson 175 GT that doesnt like to start sometimes. Engine has to be cranked most of the time a little bit to get it started but nothing out of the ordinary. However, we've noticed that when the last trip involved a lot of idle time or slow moving through canals to get back to the ramp the engine is a bear to start but usually after about 5 minutes of attempting to start, 5 minutes of letting the starter cool, it will start and after that it fires up like nothing the rest of the trip. Checked the plugs last time before it happened and they werent very bad but could it really be anything besides the spark?

 

[fireman57]

Re: Starting problems

If you have the primer that is tied to your key (depress and hold for 5 seconds) it should start right up. Your primer solenoid might be bad too if you have one on this engine. It is a little black round thing with a red lever on it. You may have to flip it 180 degrees and turn your key. It should start and probably die until you flip it back. Then it should start right up.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Starting problems

How long after you shut down are you trying to re-start when the problem occurs? Your post is a bit confusing time wise.

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: Starting problems

try new plugs. My evinrude ran perferct let it sit in the yard for several weeks then i put it in the water to fish and it would not crank after tring intermitantly for 15 min. of so so i pulled it out and when in the yard i pulled the plugs and sprayed them clean with carb cleaner put them back hard to crank but it started and ran fine cut the engine off and would restart with a bump of the key. I went back yesterday about 5 days later and would not start again so i sprayed the plugs and still not start so i replaced them with my spares and it cranked over with a bump of the key then i stoped it and restated 2 more times real quick just to see if it would crank again. The old plugs were ngk and they looked fine to me, but the new champions work fine from the start now.

yes i was choking the motor at the beginning of each time cold. I have wired a switch in the motor because the key was not working so i know it was getting choked fully. The boat is new to me but all the other times i took it out it started and ran fine. ????

Try them they are cheap and if they don't make a difference leave them in any way and keep the old ones as spares.

-nate

 

[DTS1290]

Re: Starting problems

The boat goes out nearly every weekend. If the trip from the previous weekend involves lots of operation at low rpm then it has trouble starting. Usually after 10 minutes of trouble it will finally turn over and then the rest of the day start very easily.

new question: what would be the easiest way to test whether or not the primer solenoid is operating or not? I know the relay clicks on it but nothing past that.

Thank you for all the answers so far!

 

[fireman57]

Re: Starting problems

Usually if it clicks it is working but test it manually by flipping it over. If the engine starts flip it back quickly before it dies. If you don't get it back in time don't use it again just hit your key and it should start.