Johnson 1988 88hp not getting gas at startup

thecrest

Recruit
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
3
First love the Iboats forums it's help me numerus times. Ok here is my issue. I've had the boat for about 3 months. I've always had a hard time getting it started but once it is going not a problem until i stop and try to start again. So wether it's cold or hot it doesn't want to start. The carbs were rebuilt. Last wkend I made some headway determining if it was gas or spark issue. If I pump the ball hard and turn my red choke dial on the engine I can hear the gas squirt into the carbs. I do this while playing with the throttle as the wife turns the key. It takes about 3 times then i play with the throttle for a few seconds and we are running. I've tried holding in the key for the 5 second and much longer but doesn't work. I'm going to disconnect the gas out line on the choke and activate with the key to make sure gas is passing thru in the morning. I can hear it click but haven't visual checked. The next thing I was going to do was rebuild the fuel pump. Any idea would be helpful. Thanks
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Johnson 1988 88hp not getting gas at startup

1st understand the red handle,
Primer Solenoid
the primer replaced the old choke butterflies in the carborators, pushing in the key activates it, like the old choke plates, but injects fuel directly into the intake.
The red handle is used when your battery is dead, and you have to rope start. You move the handle 180 degrees.
Normal operating position is with the handle back over the body of the solenoid, like in the picture below.

Does the fuel line bulb get hard? you have a fuel delivery problem. carb float needle misadjusted, or fuel pump. or you idle speed is set too low.
 

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kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Johnson 1988 88hp not getting gas at startup

Agree 100% with TD. Fuel delivery somewhere. Start at the beginning and work through.
 
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