Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

[ondarvr]

A friend of mine that's a guide had his battery die while out fishing with some clients. He had started large OBs with a rope before, so when the time came he pulled the cowl off the 150HP Merc and wrapped the rope around the flywheel. His motor starts easily, so it didn't take huge pull for it to start and it did. That's when the trouble started, the rope caught on the flywheel and it quickly turned into a 150HP weed eater. The throttle was turned up so the idle was high and the rope beat the crap out him before he could get away from it. He ran to the front of the boat and collapsed, then had to figure out to get back to the motor and shut it off (its a tiller motor with the key on the front near the tiller handle).

The guide was sort of going into shock at this point, the rope had hit him in the hands, arm and side, leaving open wounds about 4" long and 1/2 wide. So the customer had to crawl on his belly to the back of the boat and shut it off, but now they had to restart it to get home. They very carefully got it started and went back to the launch with no further problems.

I saw him a couple of days later and his hand was bruised badly and swollen, so was his arms and side. He went right out and bought a charging system for his kicker, he said he's now scared to death of trying to rope start a big motor and plans to never do it a again.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH !!
Dang... now that's a new one on me, certainly believable though, usually the little knot comes free out of the flywheel notch, I wonder if it had a doubled up knot or something causing it to wedge in there rather than come free?

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

Ouch! That is my worst nightmare when pull starting big outboards!

I also tie the pull start rope to a makeshift handle (piece of wood) so that I can let go easily if need be. Don't want your hands wrapped around that rope if the motor starts and the rope sticks to the flywheel...

 

[5150abf]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

I have a 50 an had to do that a couple weeks ago, it is pretty scary, more so now.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

you also have the risk of whipping the passengers in the eye when it works properly. It's not a good process but nice to have the back-up.

If your guy was "one of those types" and sued the manufacturer, they will take out the notch. So don't tell them!

Never wrap the rope around your hand. Tie off anything to make a handle.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

I've never had to pull start a large OB before, always wondered how hard it'd be, good to know you can just watch out for the flying dutchman....lol.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

My 200HP doesn't have a rope, not even a place to put one if you where foolish enough to want to try it.

 

[rbh]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

I was given an old seagull, have not tried it out yet, but will remember this before I do, OUCH is right.

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

I've had to pull start my 140. I found that if I turn the flywheel to a spot of high compression where a rope notch is just left of rear center. Then use a "short" rope. I talking about 3-3 1/2 feet long. If it's pretty much a warm motor it'll crank with 1/2 rotation. Using a very long rope and wrapping it all the way around the flywheel is just a bad idea IMHO. I hope your friend heals well, and fast.

MyViewGS

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

My old Wellcraft had a 200 horse evinrude on it and the pinion gear shot craps on me one time, left me stranded ten miles from shore. Had the wife and kids with me and needed to get back. Granted it was an older somewhat tired motor but it was still a 200. I made a pull rope and handle out of some stuff I had on board and made everyone get up in the cuddy. I was so nervous about it catching I thought Id give it a go without a knot. Wrapped it up and gave er heck started first pull without incident. I was way nervous though once back at the ramp I just left it running while I got the trailer backed in etc. Had a new starter ordered the next day...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

The problem might also have been that the rope was too long. The engine can start before all the rope is near being pulled off the flywheel, it wraps over itself and is now captured in the spinning flywheel.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Starting a large OB with a rope..turns into a weed eater.

yep I'd say silvertip nailed it.... if you can't keep the rope tight until it is free from the flywheel you are in danger.... combine that with high idle and you have a recipe for disaster... short rope and follow through with the pull....