Johnson is hard to start? HELP!!!

[bossmannjb78]

my friend is having a hard time cranking his johnson, bout has to kill a battery, but once it cranks it runs good? What would this be? THe carbs gummed up maybe? Thanks

[tkrein]

what year i hard a 78 140 horse same way i made sure the fuel ball was hard motor trimed all the way down chocked first couple cranks let off then she startred after first start she ran good all day i always thought it was because the fuel drained out of carbs just my thoughts when i sold here she ran like hamp check timing on that thing. but we need to know more about the motor year size things like that older johnsons were known for being cold starting motors at least that v4 1978 was

[LTB Racing]

need more info...what year, what size, what model....is it only hard to start when its cold? warm?

[bossmannjb78]

I believe it is about a 78 or 79 johnson and it is hard to start all the time, I am going to look at it alter today I dont even know if the choke is working?

[OldePharte]

I'm old and my johnson has never had any problems starting. Ah . . . wait a minute. Never mind.

[margaritaman]

I'm old and my johnson has never had any problems starting. Ah . . . wait a minute. Never mind.

If you put one of those blue pills in the tank it will help getting it up and going.

[slingshot]

He said Crank and Johnson in the same sentence...Huhh. huhhhh, huhhh, huhh, huhhh.

[HandymanHerb]

Does this one have the key push choke on it, mine I have to push in the key while cranking to engage the choke, it's either that or he has a separate button for the choke, not using the choke will make it hard to start first time and then start when warm the rest of the day easy.

[Hersbird]

My 74 115 is hard at first and then as long as it doesn't sit more then a few hours it will fire right up with just a few turns of the motor. So I know this is bad but I just spray a short burst of starting fluid for the first start, and then it starts right up. The choke was working fine but no matter how hard we squeezed the bulb and how long we cranked it with the choke on it would not even make noise like it wanted to start. The last owner of the motor just used an oil squirt can and put some in the fogger hole. That's probably a better idea then the starting fluid... Still a pain to take the cover off. I had a gas squirter (instead of a choke) off my 86 50 hp but the older Johnson would need holes drilled in the carbs for the tubes. That and rebuilding the carbs so they don't leak all the gas out is probably the best solution. The squirter is wired in place of the choke wiring and probably could be bought for 30-50 bucks new.

[mike]

Does it have a hard time starting only the first time, then start ok the rest of the day?

[bossmannjb78]

Yes it has the key choke, and does start ourdy good after the first time, Im thinking of running some seafoam and then changing plugs?

[tkrein]

definatly change the plugs and get the right ones they are gappless at least my 140 was anyway most johnson motors that year were hard to start first time make sure your linkage and choke are working smothly you should here the choke engage but just to be sure go back there with the cowl off and have some one check it also make sure your fuel bilb is staying hard. if not change it out simple things first if none of that works check timeing and fuel pump. no I was always told not to run a fuel cleaner in my 2 stroke motor as you mix gas and oil and cleaners clean out the oil just what i have heard but i did run seafoam through mine just dont run to much at a time also is your oil gas mixture correct to much oil will make it harder to start.

[tkrein]

what size is the motor anything above a 90 i think they had v4.

[bossmannjb78]

It is a 3 cylinder, the linkage on the carbs is really loose, and the choke solenoid I guess it is called appears to be worn out, maybe this is the problem?

[WaltF]

my friend is having a hard time cranking his johnson,

Should i say it?... ahhh..
err...

ok, better not...