Q on starting 1979 55hp Johnson

[Robert A]

We've recently purchased a 15' Tempest w/ a 1979 55hp Johnson 55EL79C motor that I was able to try out before purchasing and haven't had a chance to run it since.

The owner started the boat, it started right away and it all seemed to run fine. I wish I had paid attention to what he was doing as he isn't available for instructions on starting it and we're going on vacation tomorrow.

I'm waiting for a manual to arrive but in the meantime, could someone please offer some sound starting instructions? I'm not sure about using the choke (where is the choke?) What is the extra lever for on the controls and when do you use it? (my childhood involved Mercury that had different controls and didn't have this extra lever). I'm concerned about missing the basics during the starting procedure that will just flood it or have it not start due to something missed.

An extra question. I checked out the plugs and they looked ood but the gap was set a 25thou and I reset them to 30thou based on advice from the forums here. Is this doing the right thing? Should I straight away put in new plugs even if they looked good?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Q on starting 1979 55hp Johnson

Yout 1979 ought to have the "standard" Johnrude control box, in which case you push the key inwards to activate the choke.

Here is my cold-start procedure for my 1980 75hp (essentially the same procedure as for your 55): Squeeze fuel bulb until resistance if felt. Throttle in neutral. Lift warm-up lever to the stop (that's the lever you asked about). Push key inwards and turn to start position. Once motor fires release the key, letting it come back out. May have to bump the key inwards to choke it a time or two until motor warms up. Bring warm-up lever back to prevent motor from over revving. DO NOT rev motor in neutral. Once motor is running smoothly the warm-up lever should be all the way down. And away you go!
Your plug gap is fine now - should be .030...
- Scott

 

[Robert A]

Re: Q on starting 1979 55hp Johnson

Hi Chinewalker, thanks very much for your help.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Q on starting 1979 55hp Johnson

on the spark plug question - I run mine until the center electrode starts wearing unevenly across the top - couple or three years usually, long as they look good otherwise & perform. your motor will do better with champion plugs - I used NGK once, they wore down fast I mean very fast - never again.