How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

[wayne h]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

just remember to pull and keep pulling because if u rope is still on the flywheel with a half pull and it starts u are gonna know it.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

And tell the people behind you in the boat they had better duck! Getting slapped with a rope HURTS!

 

[rmstrand]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

Not to mention the back of your fist!<br /><br />Something else to consider and this will depend on the vintage of the motor, if you have EFI (electronic fuel injection) it will take about 9.5 volts to activate the solenoid in the fuel injectors otherwise you'ld pull your arm out of it's socket with not hope of starting your engine.<br /><br />Stands to reason that the same would be true for CD and computer controlled ignitions but I don't know the the turnover voltage.<br /><br />I have successfully started a Evinrude 115 with a dock line before. After that you'll start looking for a Perko battery switch and second battery though.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

This is all very interesting considering a 6.5hp Briggs/Straton pressure washer just whipped my a** when I tried to start it. Finally started but I was exhausted.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

There was a post a while back,I think it was "what is the biggest outboard that you have pull started" Charlie

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

Originally posted by BoatBuoy:<br /> a 6.5hp Briggs/Straton pressure washer just whipped my a** .

I used to have a buddy with one of those old kick start Harleys. Once in awhile it'd backfire and launch him over the handelbars like something in a cartoon.<br /><br /><br />My Merc. 150 has a pull rope in the cowling, I'd just thought it was their sense of humor including it in there. I'd never considered rope starting it except maybe if I had a semi-dead battery that wouldn't kick it over- after it'd engaged and gone, "Gerrrr". I figured with someone holding the key, and someone pulling the rope, between the two ya could get it started.

 

[Stumpknocker]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

I have the same peace of mind as the rope starter myself. Its called SEATOW.

 

[Franki]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

I had an old evinrude 40HP lark and it was always a pig to start, even with power.<br /><br />In a period of 2 years on the water, my right sholder and arm grew to near twice the size of the left.. from hours and hours of rope wrapping and yanking.<br /><br />I discovered a year after that, that the old girl started on the second pull if I though a cap of premix down the carb throat first, up until then, I figured if the bulb was hard and full, it wouldn't help. I was wrong. <br /><br />Thinking back over all the hours and hours I spend yanking on that think, I still find myself grimacing about it.<br /><br />I actually find my V4 Johnson 100 easier to rope start then the old 40, as the 40 seemed to have a higher compression ratio.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Franki

 

[swist]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

Although some of the old outboards were known for lasting forever due to their simplicity, many were equally famous for hard starting. They must know something now they didn't know in the 60's. I never have any trouble starting a properly maintained outboard, but I sure used to.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

my right sholder and arm grew to near twice the size of the left.. from hours and hours of rope wrapping and yanking.<br />

sure that was from the motor?!?<br /><br />this IS a family forum

 

[Franki]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

phatmanmike, <br /><br />It was the motor, but the solution to the mismatched arms wasn't <br /><br />rgds<br /><br />franki

 

[tbeaun]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

1

 

[sergioy]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

My battery went dead on me in the water the other day for my 1978 70 hp Evinrude. I considered pull starting it for about 2 seconds and then I remembered that I had the trolling motor battery still working. I switched the cables over and the motor started right up, WHEEWW. It saved my day big time.

 

[youngboater]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

My 2002 2-stroke 75 classic Mercury has a pull cord in the cowling along with a little card explaining how to pull start the motor. I've never had to try it though

 

[CATransplant]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

Water_surge,<br /><br />Yup. That's one of the best reasons to have a trolling motor on board, complete with its own battery.

 

[79 Silverline]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

I never tried rope starting my 90 HP I-6 Merc, though after it warms up, I have reason to believe that it couldn't be too bad - I couldn't flick the key fast enough to not start it once it's warmed up.<br /><br />I actually started a Evinrude 15HP by hand once, though, and I mean literally by hand. I was helping redo the carb on the motor and fought with it for 30 minutes until it'd start and idle reliably. The best part was that my friend was getting impatient and wanted to give up, when I finally got it to where I could start it easily. So just out of curiosity, I put my hand on the flywheel and twisted it - and it caught and started!<br /><br />That story about getting mad and kicking the engine - I could totally see that happening, I'd probably laugh so hard I'd fall overboard, though.

 

[jk1162]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

I HAD TO PULL START A 1989 225 YAMAHA. STARTED RIGHT UP AND DID NOT TAKE MUCH TO PULL. KEEP A ROPE FOR ADDED SAFTY. IT WAS WINDY AND I WAS HEADING TOWARD ROCKS. GLAD I HAD THE ROPE.

 

[Don Colbacchini]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

My 76 200 johnson ropestarts pretty easy if it's warm. very hard to pull through if it's cold. Myfriends newer Johnson doesn't have notches on the flywheel.

 

[byacey]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

Originally posted by GraphicByNature:<br /> I have a 1970 Johnson 115, and it IS possible to rope start. It did make me, however, wish I hadn't stopped working out. It'll make ya sweat!<br /><br />What made it tough was that it stalled in forward gear and would not kick out until it started. So with the added drag of the drive gears, it was a workout.

This is double danger, starting the motor, and then trying to catch the boat after you fall out the back when it takes off!!

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: How practical is a "starter rope" for a 115 HP Johnson?

a tip to help start bigger outboards. use a bigger handle for your rope. a bigger/longer handle will allow you to enlist the deckhand to assist you.