2003 Johnson 40HP RL cold starting issues

[kimoajaj]

Hi guys !
I`m a 21 years old guy from Norway, hoping for you guys to help me solve this problem.

This is my first thread on this forum, awesome forum.

Here`s the case. One month ago I bought a 14" Bombard RIB with a 2003 Johnson 40hp engine. The engine doesn`t have electric start.
It`s equipped with a primer button.

The engine normally starts on 2nd or 3rd pull.
First I squeeze the pump on the gas hos until it`s firm, then I push the prime button twice and then return the prime button to start position. (red line on the button). (is it a kind of choke ?. I know what a primer is but I find it wierd that I should pull the primer button out until the red ring shows, after I have primed).

Last Sunday I went to a beach with some girlfriends, there was some wind and waves and ****. I left the boat on the beach, when we came back to it there was lots of water in the boat, nothing major but it was alot.
The boat is self draining, all I have to do it remove the drain plug at the rear and then take the boat for a little run.

I jumped in the boat and tried starting. The engine seemed kind of dead, didn`t fire at all.

Wtf I thought, that had never happened before. I have had some issues with the emergency stop button, sometimes it doesn`t pop out and I have to pull it out manually. I fiddled a little with the emergency stop and then pulled again. I dunno if it was related to the emergency stop button fiddling, but after a few pulls the engine started, but stopped shortly afterwords.

I didn`t bring a sparkplug socket/tool so I didn`t dare to prime it that many times incase it would get full of gas.

I also noticed that the water level was so high that all the cable harness (steering, emergency stop button wires, etc) was under water.
I raised the cables so that they came out of the water.
I pulled a few more times and eventually the engine started and run like it used to.

There was also some water in the seat storage room where I keep the fuel tank, but the hos was connected all the time so no water should have entered the fuel tank. (the squeeze pump on the hose was under water, could the pump/hose connections be leaky and then let water into the hose?).

Anyway, I know two strokes can act wierd sometimes, but I didn`t think that such a new engine would mess around with me.

Yesterday I went down to the harbour to check on the boat. I decided to take it for a spin.

The engine gave me a hard time yesterday too, it showed signs of life on the 2nd pull but it didn`t start.

I primed more and pulled but it seemed dead. After some more pulls it started, but stopped shortly afterwords. Then I had to pull until it started to run without stopping, if you know what I mean.

I`m not able to give the engine any throttle at startup, there is no free-lever on my gear/throttle lever lets me do that.

I spent all my vacation money on the boat/engine + a loan in the bank, so I get frustrated when the engine gives me a hard time.

But, it might have something to do with the sometimes failing emergency button. Let`s say that I follow the normal startup procedure, I prime twice and return the prime button to startup position. If the emergency button sticks which means no spark, I will pull gas into the cylinders, then when I fiddle with the emergency stop suddenly I get spark, the engine shows signs of life, but it doesnt manage to burn all the gas in the cylinders and stops. I pull until it manages to burn the gas away and eventually starts?.

But I guess a fuel starvation problem could also act like that... ?.


Gees anyone who actually bothers to read this thread should receive the Nobels peace price.

I think it`s important to tell as much details as possible.


I`ve ordered a new emergency stop switch and some new sparkplugs. I doubt the sparkplugs could have something to do with this, but I havent looked at them since I got the engine so I might as well replace them.
I also got some condence remover, will add some in the fuel.

When the engine is hot it seems to start easily.

The starting issues have occurd the two last times I have used the boat, I guess they could be random for some reason, but I tend to start wondering wether something is wrong or not and I keep thinking about it, can`t get it out of my head, so I hope to get it solved.

A picture of the boat

Engine

Me waterskiing behind it.



Wellwell I will be really greatful for any advice or comments on this issue.

Thanks.

Joakim,
Norway

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2003 Johnson 40HP RL cold starting issues

nice boat. if it were salt water, it could be messing with wiring connections.

 

[kimoajaj]

Re: 2003 Johnson 40HP RL cold starting issues

Hi tashasdaddy! Thanks for the reply.

Yes it was salt water!. But since the problem occured just after the water had been in the boat, I dont think corrotion is the problem. Ofcourse by now it could be, but it should take a little while for the connections to corrode.
That said, I don`t know if the water did have anything to do with the starting trouble, but I did lift the harness out of the water and then pulled and eventually got it fired. I don`t know if it would have started if I hadn`t lifted the harness out of the water, but maybe it would have.
I guess the wire from the engine is either the + or - wire to something, so it the shouldnt be a short circuit if the wires to the emergency button were soaked in water?.

I will check the connections and have a look at the emergency stop button, still havent received the new one.

Will keep you posted!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2003 Johnson 40HP RL cold starting issues

The prime button injects extra fuel into the manifold to aid in cold starts much like a choke did on older engines. Setting the primer button to the line means it leaves the primer a little bit open so that after the engine starts, it continues to receive a little extra fuel until the warm up process is complete. At that point you can shut off the primer fully. If you suspect the engine is flooded, do not use the primer at all. In fact until you get the starting issue resolved, carry a spark plug wrench with you. Should you flood the engine, remove the plugs, pull the engine over a few times to expel the excess fuel, dry the plugs and install them. The engine should start. Obviously if you suspect a spark problem, that needs to be investigated and fixed. In the meantime, if the engine fails to start, pull a plug wire and check for spark. That will verify whether the issue is fuel or spark related.