Starts easy on the hose, hard on the water

[IDFISHER]

What could be causing my motor to fire right up on the muffs in the driveway but require significantly more cranking once it's in the water? I understand there's increased back-pressure in the water but is there anything else I should be looking at? Motor is a '94 60HP Johnson with 115 PSI compression across the board and new spark plugs that clear a 3/8" gap. Once started, runs like a dream.

 

[GA_Boater]

Once the motor is warm, does it start easier on the water?

Tell us your starting steps on the water.

 

[IDFISHER]

Yes, once warm fires up very easily on water.

Pump bulb until firm, turn and push key simultaneously. - This procedure fires the motor up instantly on the hose.

Motor is relatively new to me and I haven't had a lot of opportunity to start it on the water so I haven't played with the cold start lever or used the 8 second key push before starting but thought that what works out of the water would work in the water.

 

[GA_Boater]

Use the warm up lever when doing a cold start, that's what it's for.

The 8 second key push only works on a motor that has a primer pump and very few do - I'm not sure if your motor does. Most need the fuel pump going during cranking to pressurize the primer hose to the carb.

Squeeze the bulb 'til firm, lift the warm up lever, twist and push the key - I bet she starts easier on the water when cold this way.

After a while you'll get used to how the motor starts when cold and warm.

 

[IDFISHER]

Thanks GA. I figured it would just take some time to learn the nuances of the motor but thought I'd ask in case there was something else I should be considering.

So is it really just the back pressure that causes the difference in starting?

 

[GA_Boater]

Oh yeah. It's almost like shoving a potato up a car tail pipe and the car won't run until the spud is blown off. Same with a boat motor in the water, the exhaust is filled with water from the waterline down and water doesn't compress. The extra gas from the warm up lever and priming gives a little more oomph to push the water out of the exhaust.

 

[IDFISHER]

Great analogy, thank you for the clarification.

 

[F_R]

Heh, heh, people still shove a potato up the tail pipe? Haven't heard that one for 50 years. Must be a Georgia holdover thing.

Just funnin'

 

[GA_Boater]

Heh, heh, people still shove a potato up the tail pipe? Haven't heard that one for 50 years. Must be a Georgia holdover thing.

Just funnin'

Unfounded rumors heard while growing up in the North.

 

[interalian]

I was tempted to pump a can of Great Stuff up the tailpipe of a past neighbor's truck. He seemed to think just because he had a diesel, he should idle it for hours at all hours. A long enough hose on the can and you'd never see the evidence.