Starter Motor Disengages too soon

[Grizznbow]

I have a 1990 Johnson GT 200 V6. The starter cranks fine until a cylinder fires, then it drops away from the flywheel and spins. If the engine doesn't fire, the starter will crank away fine. This makes for initial hard starting until I get fuel/fire into enough of the 6 cylinders/carbs to get the engine going.<br /><br />I have to keep hitting the starter in bursts to crank the engine enough times until it turns over. Once warmed up, the engine starts on first touch of the key.<br /><br />I've rebuilt the starter with new brushes and cleaned and lubed the mechanisms, cleaned all connections

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

Grizznbow.....Welcome to the site. I don't think the problem is your starter motor, the bendix is supposed to snap off as soon as the engine begins to turn over, even one cylider firing turns the flywheel fast enough for this. I think you have a fuel problem at start up. When was the last time your carbs were cleaned and rebuilt. If the motor isn't strting smoothly, you have to address that problem before looking at the starter. Could possibly be your primer is not working correctly giving you a hard cold start. Good Luck.

 

[Grizznbow]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

THX for the reply. I was wondering about the primer! I thought the sensitivity of the starter would have been less sensitive like an auto starter that lets you crank a bit even if a cylinder fires. I tried holding the primer for 20 secs per the book but it seems to flood the engine making it even harder to start.<br /><br />I will look at the manual and see if there is a volume test to do. Also, the primer distributes gas to all cylinders via a 7 *** plastic valve...is there a sequence of hose conections to carbs that should be followed (ie) first ***/hose to #1 Carb or is there equal flow?<br /><br />The book is ambiguous on priming too. Do I cold start by holding in primer for 20 secs without cranking or do I prime and crank at the same time...<br /><br />Again, all new hoses, plugs and a couple of coil replacments. It seems all the carbs are not getting gas evenly thus fireing sequentially.<br /><br />How do I confirm prime to all carbs..pull the hose(s) and measure output from primer pump?<br /><br />What about clicking the primer pump to "manual" position..anybody every try that?

 

[K Hultgre]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

Did you replace the bendix assy when you overhauled the starter. I have seen a worn bendix make a starter disengage when resistance is removed (i.e. engine fires)

 

[Grizznbow]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

Nope, I cleaned it and fine sanded the "crud" from the connection points. If that is a consideration, I vote to to that. It seems more logical since it kicks out at the slightest fire.<br />I think I'll price one out and see if that helps.<br /><br />I'll post a reaction once I get a new one installed. <br /><br />(ps) the primers works fine. I start the engine, warm up, hit the primer and it drops 1000RPM per spec. Unless there is a sensitivity on what order the gas gets to the intake manifold of each carb by virtue of the hose sequence connection to the 7 *** valve, I think the starter efficiency is still the best fix.<br /><br />Again, THX for the help!

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

Grizz......I've never heard about holding a primer for 20 seconds and am not suprised that this floods your motor. As for the starting procedure you asked about, this is what I have always done and it works good for me: pump the bulb until it's hard, then hold the primer in for 5-8 seconds, then with key still pushed in turn to start. My motors turns over perfectly, with this procedure, everytime I start them cold, even after sitting for a couple of weeks. Also you never mentioned the last time those carbs were cleaned and rebuilt. Good Luck.

 

[Grizznbow]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

I took off work and went to a Johnson mechanic yesterday. The 20 sec is for the initial "breakin" prime of a new motor. The procedure you outlined is the right procedure for my motor. He said my bendix problem was NOT starter related. It was compression related. The starter gear engages until it hits a cylinder with low compression and it accelerates/super spins throwing the starter gear out of sync. He suggested a compression check and a tuner ingection and let it sit 24hrs with the injected cleaner in the motor then run the motor at high idle after the sit to blow the cleaners out. His logic being that he believes the rings are crudded in one cyliner and the injection cleaner will free them and get the compression back to spec.<br /><br />I ingected the cleaner last night at 4pm. This am 7:30 I changed the plugs to a new set and started the motor. (my neighbors loved that I'm sure). Even with the cleaners in the motor it started on the first spin no skip (per the procedure you mentioned). This motor has NEVER done that after sitting overnight since I got the thing so I'm optimistic!!!! I'm taking her out on the St Johns @ Weikiva Sunday!!<br /><br />Sorry to "spin" you up..pun intended. I was SURE the bendix/starter was the problem. I will post Sunday after the boat sets 3 days and see what gives!<br /><br />BY the way..I replaced all six carbs/gaskets/needles at a cost of $1000. The guy I bought the thing from screwed the whole boat up! Ran in salt w/o flushing...disconnected the alarm system on the thermostats because of overheating...etc. Real Project Boat...Except fot this problem..all is fixed. The compression "was" good..I'll have to recheck. Still the price was right, and it will turn 72 MPH at 5800 RPM's. Not bad for a 21ft ski/fish Stratus!<br /><br />THX for your help!!!!!

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

72 MPH!!!!! What the hell is your boat made out of, feathers? Man, what are you reading that with? I had a 19ft. mako CC with a 150 Ficht and that thing went about 55 and almost threw you out of the boat on hard acceleration. Sounds a litltle dangerous, unless that boat is made for that kind of speed. Good Luck.

 

[Grizznbow]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

The speedometer that is on the dash that came with the boat! When I fully trim the engine up to get max speed, only the back "pad" is touching the water, last 2 ft of the hull at transom. By the way...thats with just me and my gear in the boat. If I add my large son and his gear I get to 64-65MPH. You can ONLY do that speed when the water is like glass , no chop!! I cruise all day at 50-55 @ 4000RPM 3/4 trim thru light chop. Its a real steady boat! I fish Kissimmee and Okeechobee Florida and they are big waters that get large chop with any wind. I can kick it up and beat a afternoon T-storm to dock or trim down and ply thru 2-3ft chop if I get caught off guard. I bought this boat specifically for big water fishing. Its 13 years old but I have everything working and a new replacement is $32K..the heck with that. Its a Stratus 290SF w/the 200hp SS Prop w/jack plate. I don't run it above 4000RPM normally..only occasionally when a jet ski or other boat is messin with me. Some guys I know run a 225 on a 18-19ft'r and get to 80+MPH!!

 

[Grizznbow]

Re: Starter Motor Disengages too soon

Last Post. Problem solved! It was a cylinder misfire not the starter. Boat ran GREAT...NO FISH

 

[FishAtFive]

Grizznbow if you're still around, and remember what you did over ten years ago, I'd like to hear more about this treatment you did to the cylinder using fuel injector cleaner.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Grizznbow if you're still around, and remember what you did over ten years ago, I'd like to hear more about this treatment you did to the cylinder using fuel injector cleaner.

The moderator might chime in and mention re-igniting an old post is against the rules. Start a new thread, mention you read an old post and ask your question. 10 year old posts rarely answer back.

 

[cyclops222]

Original poster can always reopen his post.