UNABLE TO PULL START ENGINE

[september1950]

Let me say right at the very beginning that I am a complete novice when it comes to engines and repairing them.

I have a 2002 15HP Johnson outboard with a rope start. Everything was working just fine when I last used it but when I recently tried to start the engine by pulling the rope start the rope would not move.

It feels as if the engine is NOT in natural although the lever is in the natural setting.

Any advice about what could be the problem.

Many thanks,

Howard.

 

[Jason Edwards]

Re: UNABLE TO PULL START ENGINE

"It feels as if the engine is NOT in natural although the lever is in the natural setting."

Are you sure you don't mean neutral instead of natural?

 

[mikesea]

Re: UNABLE TO PULL START ENGINE

Some of the smaller engines have a safety feature that restricts you starting with too much trottle. Be sure to turn the throttle to slowest sppeed and see if the problem corrects.Can you turn the flywheel by hand,to verify the engine isn't locked up.It;s possible the lever appears to be in neutral but may not be. If you spin the prop does it rotate easy or feel like its connected to the engine.Be sure it is in neutral.If it is in gear and you cant shift into neutral. turn the flywheel by hand while pushing the shift lever into neutral.Also look at the rope starter,is there an obvious locking device that prevents you from pulling the rope. Hope one of these hints helps. if not let us know.

 

[september1950]

Re: UNABLE TO PULL START ENGINE

Thank you for the suggestions.

Where is the fly wheel and how to I turn it by hand?

You will have guessed by now that i have more chance of becoming a brain surgeon than I have of being an outboard motor mechanic.

Howard.

 

[F_R]

Re: UNABLE TO PULL START ENGINE

2002 is way too new a motor for an ol geezer like me, but the parts book does show a lockout lever which appears to be operated by a cable. The shift mechanism page is too complex for me to decipher. This must be a modern "improvement". Give me the old 1950-1970 motors that made sense.

 

[mikesea]

Re: UNABLE TO PULL START ENGINE

Howard,the flywheel is the large round object on the top of the engine,it spins when running.If you try to shift an engine while it is not running,it usually will not go into gear correctly.If you put pressure on the shift handle while rotating the flywheel in a clockwise fashion you my feel the engine click into neutral.Be careful that the engine doesn't start,it shouldnt ,or you can remove the wire off the spark plugs for safty.