Pull starting your outboard!

Nick Hearne · 14 June 2004, 15:29

Well I always thought that it was a mad idea to pull start my engine V4 100hp Johnson but the other day after starting it normally I thought of giving it a go, & yes started first time! But this had been wormed up first!
Well yesterday went down to the Hamble put the boat in loaded up but could I get it started no! I think the kill switch was in crocked, but by the time I had found this it still did not want to start. For the next hour tried all sort of things, cleaned the plugs, changed the fuel supply, checked primer bulbs, out of gear, Evan changed a HT lead that I though may be at fault! But still nothing & by now the battery was getting too low to turn it over at any speed!
So out came the bit of rope wound it around the flywheel & after a phew pulls it came to life! Let it worm up then out for a spin. It was not running too well lacking power but did not say much as did not want to get the wife worded. But stopped put back the original HT lead & all back to normal running like a posy cat.
So I had managed to pull start a 100 hp outboard that was only running on 3 cylinders from cold, if I had not done it I would of said no you are wasting your time!
Well the delay did give the kids a chance to do a spot of crabbing, so not all bad & I know that if I have a flat battery I just get out my bit of rope.
Nick

Matt · 14 June 2004, 16:07

Funny how we all do the 'better not say anything to worry the missus' thing.

Ribald · 14 June 2004, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMat

Funny how we all do the 'better not say anything to worry the missus' thing.

Simple answer - don't take her then you only have yourself to worry.

I have seen the start cord under the hood but never used it. Perhaps worth a practice though. Nick, did you have to remove the flywheel cover under the hood first?

Louise · 14 June 2004, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribald

Simple answer - don't take her then you only have yourself to worry.

gavin · 14 June 2004, 19:29

I remember in my early days I landed on an Island with my sib.I somehow managed to jam the pullchord on my 15 hp up in the flywheel mechanism.When the chord came out it was in pieces, I simply put the motor in gear and spun the prop with my foot! after 3 spins it caught and the motor started.

Richard B · 14 June 2004, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavin

I simply put the motor in gear and spun the prop with my foot! after 3 spins it caught and the motor started.

Is that why they call you one-foot-Gav???

(in case of misunderstanding - joke!!)

gavin · 14 June 2004, 20:52

its true, we were on an island and badly stuck

Matt · 14 June 2004, 22:16

I wonder if you could pull start an optimax, or even an efi engine. I suspect not if the battery is flat, plus don't max's need to spin over a couple of times to charge the FI system?. Maybe priming the engine with a shot of juice down the inlet, if the ignition systems still use the old stator & switch box like my old merc did. One thing I did like about the old carb engines, KISS, none of this electronic jiggery pokery.

Richard B · 14 June 2004, 22:26

According to Yamaha, you can pull-start a 200hpdi, but you need at least 9v from the battery to operate the electric fuel pump.

Bajan · 14 June 2004, 22:32

I experimented with pull starting my 90HP Mariner when we took it out of storage after having been greased and sealed up for 6 months. The battery was too weak to turn the engine over so I went for the Pull cord and it started first time. I was quite impressed as the engine was full of all the winterisation gunk.

Elbow grease...can't beat it.

Richard B · 14 June 2004, 22:36

That winterisation stuff (storage seal) is flammable isn't it? I thought it was just an oil.

Nick Hearne · 15 June 2004, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribald

Simple answer - don't take her then you only have yourself to worry.

I have seen the start cord under the hood but never used it. Perhaps worth a practice though. Nick, did you have to remove the flywheel cover under the hood first?

Ribald, no all I had to do was take the hood off & just wined the rope around the top of the flywheel! Tiring not to take out my 20 months olds eyes as I gave it a good pull!

Nick

LURCHER · 15 June 2004, 10:11

I had a very nasty experience a few year back with a 50 Mercury on a 4m Searider . It had a manual start and also manual tilt .To tilt the engine the throttle lever had to be in FWd position to disengage the tilt lock .On this occasion I had anchored a few yards off the beach at Calshot and my young son was swimming in the water near the beach . I swam out to the RIB got in and lowered the engine into the water and pulled the start cord , the 50 Merc was a 4 cylinder engine and started so easily that even my small son coukd do it . This must have been the first occasion I had tried to start it with the lever in FWD and I discovered the hard way that the previous owner had disabled the in gear start interlock . As usual the engine started first pull I went out the back without even knowing what had happened the boat shot forwards about 10 yards complete with anchor and missed my son by inches it went straight up the beach engine still running at about 3/4 throttle .The prop was throwing an arc of gravel into the air and chewing itself to pieces ,I swam in checked James was ok and stopped the engine , sat down and was sick! It still makes me cold writing this 10 years later .We were very luck that day . Whilst all tghis was going on some kind soul stole our kneeboard !!

Moral of the story check that you cannot start in gear when hand starting as it may be possible as the interlock may not work when manual starting.

Richard B · 15 June 2004, 10:21

Spot on with that one, Lurcher - our engine handbook explains the same point in detail.

Bajan · 15 June 2004, 17:13

That's a very valid point LURCHER!
Thanks for that, I never was aware, but it makes perfect sense. Hit's home as I had to pull start it not too long ago.

Richard B!
Not sure if it's flammable or not.

Ribald!
My engine has a flywheel cover that needs to be removed if you want to pull start it so could be either.

Regards