How do I start a 1988 Johnson Sailmaster 4 Hp outboard?

[HerbertW]

Hi. I bought a 1988 Johnson Sailmaster 4 hp with a primer pump I can’t locate anywhere the proper starting technique for it. I turn the fuel on, pump the fuel to get it to the engine, turn on fuel valve and pump the primer till tight. It’ll never start and the spark plugs are dry. If I give a shot of starting fluid in the air baffle it starts on one pull and runs excellent!
I think the primer tube is plugged in the carb because if I keep trying to pump it, it’ll overflow out the tiny tube to the carb from the pump and the primer gets very tight due to pressure.
Does this sound right?
Anybody have an owners manual or starting instructions for similar and maybe suggestions on the priming?
Thank you very much! Herb

 

[boobie]

Got a model # ?? According to the parts book the motor has a manual choke on it with the knob sticking out the front. Post the model # ??

 

[MTboatguy]

It does not sound like you are pulling the choke lever out, they all have a choke, and I don't care which outboard it is, you need that choke to get them going.

Been there done that..

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

Use the choke and don't use the starting fluid. Go juice has no oil and it isn't good to start a 2 stroke with no oil.

 

[HerbertW]

It’s a model J4RLCCS and doesn’t have a choke, just an external prime pump like a weedwacker. First for me too. I thought they’d all have a choke.

 

[boobie]

Try pumping the primer pump two to three times before starting and see what happens.

 

[HerbertW]

It does not sound like you are pulling the choke lever out, they all have a choke, and I don't care which outboard it is, you need that choke to get them going.

Been there done that..

I wished it had a choke. It’s not there, just a primer pump.

 

[HerbertW]

Here’s a picture of the primer pump.

 

[HerbertW]

[No message]

 

[tpenfield]

On my 1980 Johnson 4.5 the fuel valve knob pulls out about 1” for the choke. The knob is multi-purpose.

The engine won’t start without being choked.

See if the fuel valve knob on your engine also pulls out. The icons on the front panel seem to indicate that it does.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Press the primer bulb 3 times and pull the choke like Ted mentions. Your motor does have a choke

 

[flyingscott]

His motor has a manual primer not a choke. Pump the primer once and leave it half out.. Try starting the motor that way your primer has a 1/2 way position that acts like a partial choke.

 

[HerbertW]

His motor has a manual primer not a choke. Pump the primer once and leave it half out.. Try starting the motor that way your primer has a 1/2 way position that acts like a partial choke.

I’ll try that. My motor runs as new once I can start it. I wish I had the owners manual.

 

[Scott Danforth]

here is the service manual http://162.144.28.33/lib/evinrude/manuals/1971-1989johnsonevinrude.html

 

[MTboatguy]

Same system that I had on a Suzuki motor I had, they called it an enrichment knob, you would pump 3 times and then leave the knob one notch out to start it.

Also, I keep a spray bottle with the proper fuel oil mixture in it when trying to start motors and I use it to fog the carb to see if it will start, starting fluid is bad mojo on two stroke boat motors.

 

[HerbertW]

I tried starting after priming once, leaving primer out and it started! ! Now to let it sit till cold and try again. Still if anyone has a original owners manual that would be great.

 

[HerbertW]

Have any one removed the aluminum plug on the carb top. I’ve tried blowing air through the primer tube hook up and I think the inside is plugged which is under the plug I want to remove. I can buy a new aluminum plug to redo it.
I can’t get the primer to spray gas into the carb throat like I think it should. The primer pump works great and gets tight after a couple pumps.

 

[tpenfield]

I would not go removing any plugs from the carburetor. The priming function should do the trick. Are you having trouble starting it (again)?

 

[HerbertW]

Hi Ted. I couldn’t get it started again! I had unhooked the fuel line, ran till it quit, waited till the next day.
I then hooked up the tank to engine again, pumped up the squeeze ball, primed till tight, left primer rod pulled out and got tired of pulling. A slight spray of starting fluid and it then started first pull. Runs excellent then!
I may drill a hole between the front mounting screws and have a spot to prime it. Or reroute the primer tube to spray into the air baffle. Such a nice engine for it to be a hard starter.
The slide lever on the top may be set to a wrong speed setting for starting. The throttle plate may be the choke.

 

[tpenfield]

FWIW -

I have a Johnson 4.5 hp and a Mercury 7.5 hp The Merc starts 1-3 pulls no matter what. The Johnson is about 10-15 pulls