Re: outboard won't start
Hello - we have a 70hsp Johnson motor, we ran the motor last year in our 98 smoker craft pontoon (20 ft.) THe motor went fine, we parked it over the winter (dry on a trailer and covered) We went to check the motor for the summer season and the battery is charged, the fuel pump is turning on when you turn the key all fuses are good and it is in nuetral. THe motor will not even attempt to turn over. Is there something that I am missing? I do not know much about outboard motors but am very mechanically inclined. I just simply have had no dealings with new seasonal start ups with out board motors.
What is the general recommendation of step to follow upon starting your outboard motor for the new summer season?
Thank you so much for any advice you can give!
Chasidy
If you will start a new thread in the Jonhson/Evinrude section you will be a lot more likely to get some help. The thread you just hijacked is in the Mercury forum. (Hijacking is when you jump into someone else's post with questions of your own. But don't worry, it happens all the time, I'm just letting you know so you can avoid it in the future.)
Welcome to iboats, you will almost certainly find the information you are after, this forum is an excellent resource!
As for GENERAL reccomendations, that aren't really brand specific:
1. Change your plugs at the beginning of the season. I don't test mine or anything. They are (relatively) inexpensive, so I just replace them at the start of the season each year.
2. Drain your lower unit fluid (check for water in the fluid as well as any metal shavings). Remove the lower unit and replace the impeller. Again, cheap insurance. The #2 cause of catastrophic failure in OB motors is overheating due to no/insufficient water circulation. #1 cause of failure is lack of oil. That being said:
3. If it wasn't done at the end of last season, get rid of any fuel that was in the boat and start with fresh fuel mixed at the proper ratio with new oil. I'm assuming your engine is a two stroke.
4. Also assuming a two stroke, next is to check all fuel lines, primer bulb, and fittings. These often fail due to weathering over the winter.
5. Next up, remove the cowling and check wiring visually for any issues, and remove anythig foreign that doesn't belong. IDK where you are, but here in the south, dirt dobbers love outboard motors, and will build nests all over in the cowling.
6. Check to water level in your battery, then charge your battery overnight on a trickle charger. If you don't have the capability of testing it, it is also a GREAT idea to run it to the nearest auto parts store and have it checked. (here, almost all of them will do it for free) From your brief description, my first step in your situation would be to have the battery checked. My bet is that it is no good or insufficiently charged. One thing you can do to help yourself in the future is to remove the battery at the end of the season and store it in a climate controlled area. The two things that shorten the life of lead acid batteries most are extreme heat and cold.
If all was good, fire it up, and she should run great.
Hope this helped you.
Best of luck!
