Hard starting 130 HP Johnson

[bugsy2006]

I have a 1996 130 HP Johnson with low hours that is a bear to start when cold. It has new plugs and the engine is like new very little use. It has been that way since new. The choke is working. I can hear it clicking in the engine. I have tried various starting procedures to get it to fire up quickly to no avail. The Quick start system is working. It increases the idle when it is running. When the engine is warm it starts right up and runs well. It goes at the turn of the key. I took it to a marina (Johnson dealer) he could not find anything wrong. He explained how the choke worked (which I already knew.) I have tried moving the throttle up and down excessive chokeing,Little choking etc. You just have to grind and grind to get it to go. Of course it is a ball of smoke and spitting when it fires. After normal warm up it runs fine..The fuel is treated and is kept fresh..

 

[jonesg]

Re: Hard starting 130 HP Johnson

Just in case you don't have the factory service manual, someone is selling them very cheap on ebay right now.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=300053

Have you tested for a healthy spark with a gap tester, it should jump almost 1/2 inch or 3/8ths. Buy a gap tester at autozone, costs less than $12.

It doesn't have a choke, theres a cold start solenoid, have you tested that?
Have you tried spraying premixed fuel in the throats whilst its cranky.
Is the red lever on the start solenoid aligned along the length of solenoid?

Have you looked at the cold start proceedure in the faq files.

Is compression decent. done a seafoam decarb lately?

Have you put a timing light on the plug wires while its being cranky?

Sounds like fuel but..