Cold Starting Motor

[james roach]

My motor(1987 200 hp johnson) runs great after the initial start up. First thing in the morning it is difficult to get started unless I take 2 of the plugs out and spray a little premix into the cylinders. If I do this it starts right up and after the plugs clean(10 seconds or so) it's fine for the rest of the day. My motor never goes longer than 2-3 weeks without being run. I follow the start up procedure recommended on this site but nothing seems to help. Does anyone have a clue where I should start looking.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

Check the operation of the choke (it is called something else). It shoots a bit of fuel directly into the moror. Checking and service should be covered in your shop manual. If you don't have one hit the reference section of your library.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

James....What you have is a primer solenoid. As solittle posted, it shoots fuel directly into the reed area. Ther is a red lever on the solenoid. This is the manual prime lever. Turn it clockwise (I think clockwise) until it stops. Try starting the engine without pushing in on the key. If it starts, the solenoid is faulty or when you push the key in, the voltage is not getting to the solenoid. Once the engine starts, turn the red lever back along the long axis of the solenoid.<br /><br />Keep us posted....thanks.

 

[james roach]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

The primer clicks when I push the key in but other than that I dont know if it's working.I have had this problem for the 2 years I have owned this motor. It is down right aggravating to get started the first time in the morning. If I crank it the night before it is somewhat easier in the morning. I have a seloc and a chilton manual for this motor.

 

[ED21]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

Do you prime while turning over the engine or just prime then try to start? It took me a few times to figure out the proper procedure.

 

[james roach]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

I prime before and during.

 

[ED21]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

That's all I have, except maybe a clog in the priming mechanism. But I don't know much about them.

 

[james roach]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

I dont know if this would help but this is premix motor.

 

[ED21]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

I just remembered in browsing through the service manual for my 40, there is a test for determining if the primer is supplying fuel. I think it involves a syringe filled w/ alcohol attached to the primer. I would guess their would be one for a 200 also.

 

[Melvin Hatcher]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

My engine, 1985 XP 150, starts up cold and continue to run, if I make sure the primer ball is pumped up tight before I turn the key to start. <br />Then turn the switch on, hold the key switch in for ten seconds, then turn to start and the engine starts and keep running.

 

[AUGIDAWG]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

To tell if your primer is working, warm up engine, raise rpm above an idle, press in on key, engine rpm should drop, or engine will die.

 

[ED21]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

That was so easy I forgot about checking the primer that way.

 

[james roach]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

I cant believe I didn't think of that. I have to use the primer to sometimes control the rpm while it is running on the hose. We can check the primer off the list.

 

[james roach]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

Here is an update. Turned the manual primer to the up position saturday and the motor fired right up (cold). However, the thing smoked like crazy and was flooding big time while only running on a few cylinders. While it was running I reached down and turned the primer switch back down and all was well. I think I solved my problem except for not turning it back before I fired it up.

 

[james roach]

Re: Cold Starting Motor

The primer clicks when upu push it in but will not start the motor when cold. Once it starts if you push it in it will kill the motor so obviously it is working. I have to start the motor by flipping the primer switch to the manual position. Do I need to replace the primer or am I missing something else? Thanks in advance.