Starting 97 Johnson Cold

[MoSportsmen]

I got a new to me 97 90hp johnson last summer. It has been hard to start cold. I have run the battery down completely a couple time trying to get it started. It fires off and runs great with just a touch of the key once it is started the first time for the day. Seems as if my cold start "choke" is functioning. My mechanic says it is the way I am doing it that is wrong. I am still testing different procedures to get it done.

Yesterday I tried to follow the mechanics recomendations and ran the battery to almost noting once again. I always cold started in high idle with my old Merc so that is what I am trying with this motor. But I am now realizing I might be flooding it. The mechanic told me to press the "choke" multiple times and that is what I tried yesterday.

Anyone have a similur motor and a cold start procedure that works for them.

Tom

[gotmuddy]

your motor has a starting enrichment system I believe, perhaps it isnt functioning correctly? It sounds like you need the carbs cleaned. My 25hp merc sat for a year without use and now I have to spray it with a tiny bit of ether to start it the first time for the day. After that it starts easy.

[MoSportsmen]

The mechanic told me he can hear the starting enrichment cylanoid click......so he thought that was working. I bought a service manual for the motor and did find a test procedure for the cold start enrichment system....haven't taken the time to do that yet though. A carb cleaning does sound like a good idea though. I was suprised at how often decarbing the pistons was recomended in the manual. I got that little job on the to do list also.

Tom

[fishinwrench]

The best procedure (providing that the linkage is properly synced and no other issues are looming) is to pump the primer bulb up tight, turn the key to the ON position and without cranking it push the key in and hold it in for about 8-10 seconds, then crank to start. Once started you can feed it a little raw fuel by giving it a squirt by pushing the key momentarily until she smoothes out and the idle stabilizes.

Your 97 V4 has circuitry (called "QuickStart") built into the power pack that advances ignition timing during a cold start, so leave the throttle /fast idle alone. If it is still giving you a hard time then there are other issues.

[Gilly]

.....and then it hit me.....fish ing wrench. As many times as I've read your enlightened boatanical responses....good Lord I'm getting denser as I get older.

[MoSportsmen]

Sounds like a good plan. Makes sense, haven't had much luck putting it up in high idle. Thanks, I will print that up and take it with me for the next cold start till it gets to second nature. The guy I bought it from had a procedure that he showed me........then I looked down at the key switch which says "push to Choke" ... he said, "what's that" so I did not have too much faith in what he showed me as a great cold start procedure.

Next question.....kill switch clip. I got one......boat runs without it being connecetd....I can make it work. I put it on behind the key, if I pull it off it kills the motor. It is a bit tough to get on without killing the switch though. Am I doing something wrong? Is the switch suposed to work with out the clip in place? If I don't have to use it I tend not to and I know that is not a good practice, hard habbit to break though. This kill switch configuration just doesn't seem right to me.

Tom

[fishinwrench]

The emergency kill circuit is designed to short out the ignition when it is pulled and the engine is running. After 1995 Johnson/Evinrude added a diode in the key switch that WOULD permit the engine to be started without the lanyard so that an onboard passenger could still start the engine in the event that the helmsman was thrown, or fell overboard with the lanyard attached to him..... otherwise passengers would/could be stranded afloat with no means to recover the overboard captain.

Smart hu?

[MoSportsmen]

Well, that makes sense too. Good for lazy, wild, risk takers like me too. Got to start using that kill lanyard. Been running a Mercury all my life, don't have anything against the white motors just got to get used to em. Used to these ultra modern things too. My last motor was a '78 had to have an aftermarket kill switch installed when the bass club required it.

So is the kill clip usually a little touchy to put in place? I guess I probably just need more practice. Kinday like getting this ultra modern white motor started.

Tom

[fishinwrench]

With the key in, and in the off position the clip should snap right on pushing from the bottom up. No tricks.

Im gonna go out on a limb and say that you more than likely have other issues that are causing the hard cold start. Those motors are extremely user friendly when everything is as it should be.

[MoSportsmen]

You may be right. The guy I bought it from lost interest in it three years before he sold it. The motor had been in the lake for three years straight with ,I'm guessing, no maintenance. So far I have changed plugs, lower unit oil, and tried to tighten fuel and oil line connections. I ended up getting the motor for free after I sold off the pontoon boat and trailer, my old motor and my old CMC power trim so I am not hurt any. Running like a stuck ape through most of the rpm range. Got a 17 pitch Viper prop running at 5800 WOT with just me in the boat, shoots out of the hole like a rocket. Does seem to run pretty rough right around 1200 rpm. I am still working the bugs out but I don't think I have too far to go. Next I will check the gap on the plugs or replace them again, and decarb the pistons.

The kill clip I have been trying to put on after the boat is running, maybe that is my problem.

Thanks for all your help, I will let you know how your cold start procedure works next time I get out.

Tom