4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

[spcaer]

I had a friend of mine give me a Zodiac inflatable boat and it came with a 4hp Johnson Outboard. He had it serviced (tuned - new spark plugs, etc) before sending it my way and according to him was running flawlessly just a week ago. I have a feeling that the issue here is definitely operator error, so I am wondering if someone can give me some assistance to tell me waht I am doing wrong. Please see the images to see what the outboard looks like.

I am guessing the pull on the far left of the engine is the choke and it should be pulled out before I give the pull string a tug. That isn't doing the trick for me though. I have also verified that the gasoline line is primed and it should be being pulled into the engine.

Help!

Thanks!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

Try choking it only halfway and vary the position of the throttle until you find a setting that the motor likes. I have an older four and a couple of sixes and I find that those things usually get the fires burning.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

Welcome to iboats. Have you got is started at all yet? Have you primed the fuel bulb? Ensure that the safety harness clip is seated properly?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

in neutral if it has it, then turn throttle till it stops.

 

[spcaer]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

Thanks for the replies. I have tried all the above with still no luck. I am thinking the engine may be flooded at this point so I haave opened the choke and tilted the engine forward to help dry it out. I've also removed both spark plugs and made sure they were dry. I personally have not had it started, but the engine was running last week for my buddy that gave it to me; he said it started on the 6th pull before changing the plugs and when he handed it over to me it was starting on the 1st pull after the plug change. I've known this guy for 20 years so I have no doubt he had it running; he is just out of the country for the holiday and I am trying to figure this out without him; simply because there are fish in the Florida Keys waiting to jump in my boat on my day off tomorrow.

Thanks again guys!

 

[PW2]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

Those things should be really simple to start. If they don't, there is always a reason.

Go thru one thing after another. Unclip and reclip the kill switch to make sure it is on properly. (The thing on the end of that coiled red plastic line)

Check fuel connector both at the tank and at the motor.

Can't tell from the photos if that has a gearshift or not. If not make sure the throttle is at least half open. If it has a gear shift, make sure it is in neutral, and open throttle on handle as far as it will go.

Alternate choke between full, half, and none.

Is it making any signs of starting at all?

If it has fuel, and it has spark, and it has run recently, it will start.

 

[spcaer]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

Alrighty, I just tried all the above again this morning with no luck. When I push the choke all the way in, it looks like a little oil is coming out of the flap that opens on the engine. This leads me to believe that there isn't an issue with the gasoline/oil mixture from getting to the engine. I was sure to put in the correct 50/1 ratio when filling up as well. It honestly just sounds like it isn't doing anything other than just spinning the top piece on the engine (forgive my lack or techinical termiology). I have taken the lid of the engine off and when pulling on the string, the small gear does not automatically lift and engage the top piece on the engine that spins; so I have been manualy pushing it up and then pulling the string. Does that point anyone in the direction of another issue that might be?

Thanks again!

 

[BillP]

Re: 4HP Johnson Short Shaft Starting Problems

Its hard to tell from the pics but it looks like you have the ignition clip on the kill button instead of the button that turns it on. Unless the motor is different from others the clip belongs under the white button near the base of the handle...not under the red button by the handgrip.

...Or is there a clip under each button? If so, remove the clip from the red kill button and leave the other installed.

If that isn't the problem pull plugs and check for spark. If it has spark take a thimble full of gas and pour into each cyl, install plugs and see if it fires, pops or puffs a little smoke when you crank it. If so you have a fuel delivery problem.

I can't tell from the pic if the motor has a fuel cap on the cowling. Does the motor have both internal and external tank? If so do you have the fuel valve set for external (you are showing external tank feed in the pic).

And you ARE pumping the bulb on the fuel line first, right?

bp