Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

[anthonyh821]

Well I broke my pull rope on my outboard last week. It is a 4hp Johnson and I was looking at it and there is a 5/8" bolt on the top of the motor that looks like if I had a powerfull enough drill I could start it. What do yall think?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Yeah,<br />I've heard of that too. My neighbor talks about doing that, using a drill and socket to spin start his 4-stroke lawnmower. Guess it could be done, on a 2 or 4 stroke but my concern would be what happens to that socket after the engine kicks over. If it stays on the nut, how do you get it off while the flywheel is turning? And if it kicks off the nut does it break your wrist in the process? Stick with the pull rope if you've got a notch for it...seems far safer.

 

[ajyanka]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

my grandfather used to start his lawn mower that way. He had a rubber cone on a mandrel that he chucked in his drill. the rubber cone fit a mating steel cone on the top of the flywheel. when the engine started he just lifted the drill off the flywheel.<br /><br />I wouldn't chuck the drill directly to the top of the fly wheel 'cause when the engine fires it might take your hand off! at least it could wind the drills cord around the engine! If you can come up with a way to remove the drill quicky I say go for it.<br /><br />AJY

 

[sproz]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Buy a long extension cable, a 4hp drill and throw the engine!!!

 

[anthonyh821]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

ajy do you know of anyway I could come up with a way to disconnect the drill once the motor is started. Can you explain a little more on what your grandfather did. The reason I am doing this is the coil spring came out of the pull rope assembly and now the rope won't retract. I just want to bypass the whole pull rope assembly and start it with the drill.

 

[JB]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Say, Anthony.<br /><br />Suppose you figure out a way to start your engine at home.<br /><br />Are you going to buy a 115VAC generator set to run your drill at the lake?<br /><br />Get a manual and fix your recoil starter or take it to someone who has a manual and have him do it.<br /><br />It isn't hard IF you use a manual.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

anthonyh821<br /><br />Used to start my lawnboy with a drill! never had a problem....<br /><br />In your case, a gas powered drill may be better <br /><br />Fixing the recoil would be easier!!

 

[EatMoreFish]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

I had an airboat without a starter. Just hand prop it but be fast Frankly I would fix it

 

[anthonyh821]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Well in order to fix it I would have to buy a new part with the spring coiled up in it because the spring popped out of mine when I took it off. I will get the part number off of it I guess and just buy a new one and put it on. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Check ebay or email obman@texoma.net for your replacement spring/part. Is the flywheel notched for pull rope? You know...the old manual wind, pull...repeat ad nauseum.

 

[anthonyh821]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Yes tim the flywheel is notched but that would be a major pain. It's old Johnson outboard that runs strong but it takes more than a couple of pulls to get it started and to keep having to wrap the rope around it would be a major PITA!!!

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Yeah, but it builds character and your arm. How do you think we did it before they invented springs...back when T-Rex roamed the earth? Beats rowing don't it?

 

[russthemuss]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

I reckon you'd shear the bolt off soon enough.Dont see many engines with a starter connected straight to the crank,you'd never get the torque.<br />(you could do it with a air drill, just carry a dive tank with ya)

 

[ajyanka]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=29616&prmenbr=6970 <br /><br />This is a link to a drill attachment like I talked about. I have no idea how easy it would be to adapt to your motor but it would at least give you an idea???<br /><br />AJY

 

[clanton]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

The last time I used an inpact wrench to start a briggs, it split the flywheel in half.

 

[RDaves]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

I think you are putting too much energy into southern enginerring, I mean please do really think you can start an engine at the ramp with an electric drill?<br />Just fix the recoil.

 

[ajyanka]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Give us a break Tex! <br /><br />He never said he was going to try this at the ramp. For all we know he's working on this thing in the tank. It's his project and he asked us if it was possible, I'm just saying that it is!<br /><br />In fact, I've used some high power cordless drills that would laugh at a 4hp outboard!<br /><br />BTW Cincinnati is NORTH of the Mason Dixon Line!

 

[Charger183]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Find anyone connected to Go-Karting. They use a hand held 12 volt starter on the 2-stroke racing engines. It will do exactly what you want. Best of luck. Larry...

 

[RDaves]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Yes this maybe true, A lot of airplanes with radial engines are started with gunpowder charges,and I don't think it applies either.<br />I agree if he needs it to start in the driveway then a socket and drill are fine to troubleshoot.<br />But, Don't think this is the aplication he is requesting.<br />A 12 volt starter for Go-Carts would cost more than fixing it correctly.

 

[anthonyh821]

Re: Anyone ever used a drill to start a small outboard?

Thanks for all the replies guys. I did call and I they want $149 for the starter assembly which I guess is everything that I need and I can just bolt it on in. But all I really need are the washers and the part that the spring goes into. The guy told me that part is $28.55 plus $17.00 for the spring itself if I buy just the part with the spring that I would have to wind the spring myself. I am not very mechanically inclined as you can probably tell but I do need to get this fixed. Does anyone have any recomendations on what I should do on a tight budget?