89 Johnson V4 Starts at home but not on water

R

rleeroush

Recruit
Joined
Jul 9, 2002
Messages
1
I own a 1989 Johnson V4 90 hp engine that just won't start. When I am at home and have it hooked to the hose it will start after some coaching and cursing but when I get to the dock it kills the starting battery and won't start. It has run for 6 months without a problem then we had the ignition replaced at a service station and ever since it is hard to start. It was given a perfect bill of health and I don't won't to spend $60 p/hr to have them look at it. It cranks great and trys to kick, sputters once and then just barely grinds until the battery dies. Hope I have given enough info, please any help is appreciated.
 
C

clk425

Cadet
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Messages
8
Re: 89 Johnson V4 Starts at home but not on water

My motor did the exact same thing.I put it in the shop and they checked everything you can imagine.It wound up being the stator.Now everything runs great.They charged me $100/hr. The stator is a $450 part for my motor.
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: 89 Johnson V4 Starts at home but not on water

what are your idle rpms, they must be high, 1000 rpms, on muffs, to start in the water, muffs there is no back pressure on the exhaust. idle must be fine tuned in the water and in gear, 600-750 idle in gear. or it will die.
 
kenmyfam

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,398
Re: 89 Johnson V4 Starts at home but not on water

rleeroush said:
I own a 1989 Johnson V4 90 hp engine that just won't start. When I am at home and have it hooked to the hose it will start after some coaching and cursing but when I get to the dock it kills the starting battery and won't start. It has run for 6 months without a problem then we had the ignition replaced at a service station and ever since it is hard to start. It was given a perfect bill of health and I don't won't to spend $60 p/hr to have them look at it. It cranks great and trys to kick, sputters once and then just barely grinds until the battery dies. Hope I have given enough info, please any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Welcome to iboats.
Take it back to the service place and tell them it is not right since they "fixed it". Did you get a test run after the ignition repair ???
Could be a lot of things causing the issue but start with what was done directly before the problem started.
 
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