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89 150 Johnson Hard Starting

bill_w

bill_w

Advanced Contributor
I recently bought a totally rebuilt (overbored, etc) 150 Johnson. I have been slowly breaking it in, and have now run about 35-40 gallons of fuel through it. My proplem is that it is a b***ch to start cold. Once I do get it running, it's great, idles fine at about 850 rpm, runs great at low, mid, and high throttle. It also restarts over the weekend better, it seems to be the first start of the weekend that is the worst.

I think it is flooding out at start-up. I've been using the following starting procedures, for a cold start:

Squeeze fuel bulb
Set idle speed to about 1/2
Turn key, while pushing key to prime
When it 'kicks', let go of primer
Turn key again, hope it starts

Sometimes it does start, other times not. I have worn down the battery once, trying combinations of the above, full idle speed, low idle speed, no choke, full choke, etc. Anyone have any suggestions on how to start this motor, am I doing something wrong?

thanks,
Bill
 
Look into " slow cranking " issues.--------------Most of these motors have a starter in poor condition and it just will not crank properly for cold start.------------------------A V-6 in good condition will start right up each and every time !!!
 
Hi Racer. Its a brand new starter, seems to spin it over very well. All wiring and connections have been cleaned as part of the rebuild. Spins over great, just won't fire. Kicks a few times, then seems to flood out. I should have checked the plugs to see if they were wet.
 
While turning it over have you used a spark tester to make sure you are getting spark to all cylinders ? And also when your motor first kicks keep bumping the key a few times until the motor gets up .
 
The electric primer only works properly when there is fuel supplied to it under pressure.------It gets this pressure from the manual pump and from the motor fuel pump when it is cranking.-------Advance throttle only lever. Push and hold key in while cranking.------------One of these motors in " good condition " will fire almost instanly and should be easy to start.-----If not there is something not right with the motor.
 
I think I've found the problem. It was again hard to start, just cranks over. When I did get it running, and after it warmed up, I tried pushing the key in again to choke it. Nothing happened. I've got power to the primer, I can hear it "click", but it doesn't seem to be giving the engine extra fuel. Before I tried the manual valve, it started pouring rain, so I called it quits. At least I have something to start chasing down.

Bill
 
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