2000 Johnson 15 hp won't run

[Krwordshop]

My Johnson 15 will only fire up for a second or two and only when I spray a little starting fluid into the intake. Then it dies and won't start again without the starting fluid. Here are a couple of points:

* fuel tank, fuel line, bulb and connections are all brand new
* fresh gas and oil
* I'm squeezing the tank bulb until it's hard, but after the motor fires/dies, the bulb is soft again (is this normal?)
* seems to be getting fuel to the carb (briefly) because when it fires, I get the typical blue smoke

This motor was bought in 2001 and doesn't have all that many hours on it. The inside under the cover is still extremely clean. I ran it last summer and it ran fine, but this year it won't. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[bankerjohn]

Re: 2000 Johnson 15 hp won't run

First of all, you shouldn't use starting fluid (no lubrication for the cylinders) ... put some pre-mix in a spray bottle and use that!

Is this the first time this year that you've tried to start the motor? If so, could be your carb is in need of a re-build.

Have you checked the filter screen in the fuel pump?

Have you pulled the plugs to see if they're wet or dry after a failed start attempt?

 

[quackaddict1]

Re: 2000 Johnson 15 hp won't run

If the bulb goes soft you have an air leak somewhere in the fuel lines. I would suspect the fuel pump with this motor. Find it, then disconnect the line that runs from the pump to the carb, turn over the motor to see if you get fuel, if its electric start it should be a steady flow, any interruptions and you have a bad pump. The kits are cheap and the work is easy.

Go back and check all the connections on the lines, if it were me, I would replace the crimp style clamps that most lines come with with the screw type, I had a line that would leak air right from the factory.

When was the last time the carb had been gone through?

 

[Krwordshop]

Re: 2000 Johnson 15 hp won't run

I'll check the line coming from the fuel pump. Believe it or not, it's connected with a black cable tie, but seems to be tight. Could be the snap connectors from the tank. They seem a little wiggly, but there's no fuel leaking from them when I pump the bulb up.

Here's a really dumb question. Should I be using gasoline higher than 87 octane? It's run fine before, but I honestly can't remember what I put in it.

 

[bankerjohn]

Re: 2000 Johnson 15 hp won't run

87 should be fine ... some folks run 89, but I think 87 is what's recommended by OMC.

 

[quackaddict1]

Re: 2000 Johnson 15 hp won't run

I'll check the line coming from the fuel pump. Believe it or not, it's connected with a black cable tie, but seems to be tight. Could be the snap connectors from the tank. They seem a little wiggly, but there's no fuel leaking from them when I pump the bulb up.

Here's a really dumb question. Should I be using gasoline higher than 87 octane? It's run fine before, but I honestly can't remember what I put in it.

The cable ties should be fine, I would suspect the connectors on the tank before those, I was refrencing the connections on the line to the motor, not the ones in it.

I personally run 93 nonoxygenated, because it contains no ethanol, that stuff can be the source of a ton of headaches. But I have seen lots of motors run fine on 87.