Tips for easy starting

[mistawes]

Basically, I wanna know everyone'stips for making engines easy to start. I've got a 6 hp Johnson seahorse, and I'm having problems starting it. I have no problem personally, but my my dad hasn't a hope. We were talking about this and we basically don't care about performance, we just wanna make it easy to start. Has anybody got any tips to do this? It doesn't matter if the engine will run half speed, but we wanna know.<br /><br />P.S. If it's gonna cut back seriously on performance, just say so.<br /><br />Thanks, Wes

 

[alcan]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Hi Wes<br />There are no secrets, no voodoo,no magic to starting engines. They all start easy. Who would design an engine to be hard to start? I find the first problem with hard to start engines is the operator does not follow proper starting procedure. The second problem is there is something wrong with the motor. In your case using the proper procedure and the motor being tuned correctly (no broken) you should have simple easy starting and full performance. To cut performance would add to starting dificulties. There is much info available as to how 2-stroke engines work. If you take time to study up on this it will help your understanding of the starting procedures. The procedure for your motor is something like this, determine the condition of the engine. Is it cold and unprimed? Is it warm (not sure of prime) or is it hot and primed (you just shut it down)? For a cold unprimed condition, open tank vent, squeeze primer bulb on fuel hose until firm. This will prime the carb bowl. Set the throtle control to the start position. This will set the spark time to the best place for easy starting. Set choke to full on position. Pull starter rope until engine pops or starts,usually two to three pulls. Once you get the pop remove choke to half and the engine will start on the next pull.

 

[ob]

Re: Tips for easy starting

My suggestion since you personally have no trouble starting the engine is that you train your dad to do what you do . That's the best I can come up with.You just have to get a feel for two stroke engines.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Tips for easy starting

NEWSFLASH: If a motor doesn't start within 4 pulls, or within about 10-seconds of turning the key, SOMETHING IS WRONG!! It always amazes me when I see someone at the ramp who will wear down a battery trying to start their motor, or pull their arm off yanking the pull cord. When prodded, they all say "it always starts like that." <br /><br />Whether it be something with the motor or the operator, it is time to back up and re-check all of the fittings, settings, adjustments, etc. If a motor has good spark, good compression, a clean and properly adjusted fuel system and good fuel, IT WILL START EASILY.. Every one of my motors will start within 4 pulls from ice cold, even my old Mercs. I take the time to winterize them properly and run StaBil into the fuel systems. I change the plugs when needed and I save the old gas for the lawnmower.<br /><br />If your motor is tired (you didn't say how old your 6hp was) then it may be hard to start due to low compression or poor crankcase seals. If it has sat for awhile then the carb may be gummed up. Most motors have starting instructions decal somewhere on them. Read it and follow them.<br /><br />- Scott

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tips for easy starting

I agree 100% with Chinewalker. Its amazing how many people don't know they have a choke (push on the key) or know what the fast idle lever is for or even that they have one. There is no mystery here. A tuned, properly fueled, and properly operated engine (carbed or EFI) should start quickly. It also really annoys me when someone drops a boat at the ramp and the battery is dead. They invariably want a jump from someone else and then repeat the process when you see their dead boat somewhere on the lake later in the day.

 

[mistawes]

Re: Tips for easy starting

I agree with you Chinewalker, there's really only one way to deal with engines, and that's by being picky with them. Changing what needs to be changed and taking proper care of them. It's a circa 68 model, longshaft. I'm in Ireland so some of those products might be hard/impossible to get. I'm planning on winterising it, but I'm unsure of the correct procedure. Does anybody know where to find a 'checklist' for doing it? I've got one for the diesel in my life, but I ain't seen one for outboards.<br /><br />Ob, the problem with showing him what I do is, he's too old to be yanking my engine to get it started, so less pulling is always safer. All I do is give it full choke, pump primer hard and make sure I can't hear any air escaping from the engine (I think it's just the connection, sounds like it) then I turn it to full, since I took the throttle spring out because I'm using it with remotes, it rolls back, so goes to start. Then I take up the slack on the starting mechanism and start to yank. It takes approx 20 pulls for it to start, but it's consistant. After one day, 20 pulls, after a week, 20 pulls. my dad thought it was a good idea to make the plug gap smaller, so that it's a smaller gap to cross, made sense, but it makes better sense since we don't have a problem with spark, to make it bigger. Anybody know the correct gap? It's now 22 thousand's of an inch, was around 32.

 

[Grant S]

Re: Tips for easy starting

20 pulls is far too many. I had an old evinrude 6hp (are they the same?) that would cough on the third pull and start on the fourth. My drill was:Open vent;Squeeze bulb until hard; throttle set to starting position; choke out;pull; choke half in once fired for a few seconds and then full in; let warm up and then away. The plugs were the surface discharge type with no protruding electrode, cant remember the number. I ran it on 50:1 mix.<br /><br />Have a look at your fuel pump, it may be the reason you have to pull so many times. I had problems also with the pressed clip that was on the fuel line not catching the barb properly and sucking air.<br />A carb clean , and when done, turn the adjusting screw right in (gently) and then back out about 1.25 turns. Adjust again once running.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[alcan]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Wes, quit horsing around with a motor that needs repair or a tune-up. Get a manual and make things right. The point gap for that motor is .020 the spark gap is .030. If your fuel connector leaks, replace it or the o-ring in it. Use the correct recomended plugs. You will need to do a compression test first. This will tell you if you have anything to tune-up.

 

[ob]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Your second description clears things up a bit.Just got thrown off by you initially saying that you personally had no trouble starting the engine.Same rings true for my good operating engine.I Start it with no problems because I am familiar with the proper procedure.But I wouldn't let my brother touch it with a ten foot pole.Anyway ,,enough of that.Otherwise I'm with alcan.Get yourself a manual and give that puppy a once over.I also agree that a compression test is an excellent place to start.Good luck ,and let us know what you find.

 

[mistawes]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Well, I owe you guys an update. When I first read the starting procedures, I went out, set throttle to 'start' full choke and gave it a pull. It started first time! Which it never does! So I thought maybe it's just because it was running an hour ago, so I decided to leave it for a few days. Today, I went out, did the exact same, and it started first time again! So once I got it started, I ran it for two seconds and stopped it. I wanted to eep it old and hard to start, so I tried my trademark way, full throttle and full choke, I got no go. So you guys were right! Thanks for the help everyone! and I'm debating whether I should get a manual or not because I'm well overdue an upgrade, so I think I'll hold off unless they're both in the same category. I'll check it out.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Wes,<br /><br />I'm part Irish.<br /><br />Do you really come from DUBLING?? Never heard of it. Or maybe you mean the place with the Liffy water?<br /><br />Ciao

 

[Mark42]

Re: Tips for easy starting

One mistake I was making was to pump up the primer bulb while the motor was tilted up. This causes gas to leak out and (i think) flood motor. Now i lower motor, then pump primer bulb and it fires right up. Set high idle and let it warm up.

 

[mistawes]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Still, yeh, I'm full irish. I'm actually from Dublin, it's just a typo, I'm gonna go change that now. I did it already, but it didn't save for some reason..

 

[mistawes]

Re: Tips for easy starting

Changed now! and I thought I'd fix the name while I'm at it..