What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

[Big-HE]

I am fairly new to boating. I have a 1973 85HP Johnson outboard. At the control box I have the ignition key, throttle, an arm that controls the idle in nuetral, a little toggle switch tha's marked choke(when I move it I can see something move on the outboard when the covers off...I also hera click.) On the outboard itself I have a pull tab with three positions: all the way in, half way out, and all the way out. I mess with them all and eventally luck up and get a start. What is the correct way. I bought the boat used.

 

[Hooty]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

While cranking the engine, toggle the toggle switch that sez "choke". Trying holding it (choking) until it starts. This is a trial and error thing as each engine starts a little different then the next. Holding the chock on too long can result in flooding the engine. This is bad. You've got to wait several minutes for the plugs to dry before it'll start. If you hold the choke on for more than ohhh three seconds, let off. I wouldn't crank the engine longer than ten seconds before stoping and letting the starter cool. Like I said, it's a lot of trial and error.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[Hooty]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

Another place to search for starting techniques is "Evinrude start" or "Johnson start".<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[jroberts24]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

Hi Big-He,<br /><br />That toggle swith is so you don't have to mess with that manual swith. The click you hear, well that is the electric solenoid that works the choke for you (means it is working). What should happen is: You hit toggle switch for choke, crank engine, it will pop, then turn the choke off if it doesn't go back automatically, it then should crank and run. This cycle may need to be repeated. If it doesn't crank after a few tries, it probably needs a good tune up. You shouldn't have to play with the choke that much.<br /><br />Good luck,<br /><br />jroberts

 

[alcan]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

Hi Big<br />I'll give this a shot. All motors seem to have there own little starting thing. There is a general, basic procedure. Squeeze primer bulb until firm. Gear lever in nutral. Lift warm-up lever or advance throtle to start position. Activate choke switch. Crank engine 3-4 secs. The engine should pop, if not start. You may have to repete choke and crank a couple of times. Your choke switch should close your choke, when the engine fires it should open automaticly. The manual levers on your carb are for manual over ride. You would use this in the event Your electric system failed (elect. choke not working or dead batt. and rope start). To start a cold engine like yours usually requires a fairly good drink of fuel. You have four big cylenders and a big crankcase. Remember with a 2-stroke the air/fuel/oil mixture has to travel through the crankcase before entering the combustion chambers. So we have to fill the crankcase with fuel/oil. It is already full of air. Hence the choke, it chokes off the air and allows the engine to draw in a super rich fuel load. Advancing the throtle lever to the start position opens the throtle just a little bit,but it also sets the ignition timing to the best place for a sure start. Now are you really confused?

 

[Big-HE]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

I sure AM!!!

 

[badasselectric]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

Start by wraping both hands firmly around the base of the powerhead,then apply an even firm pressure..... Sometimes you feel like it don't you. These guys are steering you right.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

Hey Big, one thing is not to mess with both choke switches at the same time.<br /><br />With cover off where you can see choke plate on carb, turn the choke switch to choke and see if the plate closes.<br /><br />If it trys to close, but not all the way, you might have to adjust it to close all the way.<br />In other words, it's not choking all the way, hence hard to start.<br /><br />All the above mentioned are good also.<br />Just my .02 worth.

 

[BassMan283]

Re: What is proper choking???Can't find in "search"

That's one little drama I don't miss - the First Start of the Day . Never did really get my old motor figured out. It would eventually start, hopefully before I raised blisters, and then be a one-pull start for the rest of the day.<br /><br />On my 4 stroke EFI, no choke, no throttle, just bump the starter and listen to the hum.