Johnson 1999 Cold starting issue

[Kiwi Fisher]

Hello All really hoping someone can help. Have a 1999 130hp Looper that has become very hard to start. Putting it down to electrical the solenoid choke clicks and there is fuel. Have replaced sparkplugs. But on checking spark it appears that there is none. But after turning it over and over (not longer than 10 secs) for about 2 minutes and pressing in the key she will fire up and runs fine when warm she will fire every time. Has anyone had this issue and been able to fix it Could it be the stator, rectifier or the timing plate if so is there any way to check these without taking the flywheel off. I have had boats for a few years all with Yamahas this Johnson really has me stumped. Any help would be much appreciated.
All the best From New Zealand the lucky land with out Covid

 

[racerone]

Are you pushing the key in while cranking it over ?------Have you battery load tested.------Take starter apart for cleaning , ohm check on armature and possibly new brushes.

 

[Kiwi Fisher]

Hi Racerone. Try with key pushed in sometimes and key out have done about 100 hrs in it in the last year. Why I think it's electrical is the Rev counter started fluctuating and the charge never gets above 12.7 when running use to see it go to 13.8 and drop down. Found the earth on top of the electrical box above the rectifier was badly corroded (came off with a tug) and reconnected. As this is a water-cooled one what do you think the chances of a bad rectifier causing the cold starting? When warm she fires up straight away. The starter sounds no different and seems to spin the motor fast enough for it to be able to start.

 

[racerone]

Yes put a new rectifier on it.

 

[Kiwi Fisher]

Ok will let you know how it goes