Johnson 200HP 2 stroke - Easy start with muffs, Hard start in the water

[JonathanChartrand]

I picked up a pontoon boat a few weeks ago. When the previous owner demod it, he put the muffs on and he walked me through the procedure of holding the choke in for 8 seconds and then turning to start. The engine started instantly and everything seemed good. I took it to the lake for the first time a few days later and put it in the water. I went through the exact same starting procedure but the boat really struggled to start. It probably took 5 minutes of cranking on and off. I also believe the starter wasn't engaging fully perhaps. I could hear it start to crank for 1-2 seconds and then it would turn into a kind of higher-pitched whine like the starter was turning but wasn't engaged turning the engine. Eventually, it did start and after it started the first time, any time I started it for the rest of the day it literally started instantly with no choking or anything else needed. A few days later I hooked the boat up to the muffs and the water hose at home to see if I could duplicate the issue. It started up instantly, just as it had before with the muffs on it before. A few days later I took it back to the lake and once in the water again was very difficult to start. It took probably 10 - 15 minutes of futzing with it before it started the first time. Again it was doing the same thing where it sounded like the starter would engage just for a second or two and then disengage and but continue to spin. Eventually, it did start and once I got it started the first time it would start instantly anytime after that.
I'm obviously pretty new to all of this but would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

 

[racerone]

Stop.------Pushing the choke in for 8 seconds is wrong !!!!----Push the key in WHILE CRANKING it over.----When motor fires up be ready to push key in momentarily if motor falters untill motor warms a bit.----And if you are cranking that much the starter is easily damaged.-----Slow cranking ( damaged starter / old battery ) will make it even more troublesome to start.