Have a 1973 Johnson 115v4. She had a intermitted starting problem that
has turned for the worse. It almost wont start at all now.

Last year we had the carbs rebuilt. This didnt really help. but did
help the fuel usage.

When shes running.. She runs great, smooth all that.. Its starting
thats the main problem and then sometimes at idle it runs rough and is
hesitant.

Starting- If the battery is full charged SOMETIMES it will start. but
it has to be a really fresh new battery. But when we try to start it
on the lake with a less than 100% fresh battery.. It wont start, wont
even fire when we spray ether into the intak. I can pull a plug and
its either weak or no fire. Last season we connected 2 batterys
together. This worked for awhile.. it would start every time for a
time. Now thats not working. And sometimes now not even jumping is
starting it. I replaced the starter last year too to make sure she was
cranking 100%.

I only have two ideas now that I think is the problem. Either the
powerpack is going out. Or the stator under the flywheel needs
replacing. Does anyone have any other thoughts on what this could be?

Thanks,
Nathan

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 22:42:44 GMT, wrote:

Have a 1973 Johnson 115v4. She had a intermitted starting problem that
has turned for the worse. It almost wont start at all now.

Last year we had the carbs rebuilt. This didnt really help. but did
help the fuel usage.

When shes running.. She runs great, smooth all that.. Its starting
thats the main problem and then sometimes at idle it runs rough and is
hesitant.

Starting- If the battery is full charged SOMETIMES it will start. but
it has to be a really fresh new battery. But when we try to start it
on the lake with a less than 100% fresh battery.. It wont start, wont
even fire when we spray ether into the intak. I can pull a plug and
its either weak or no fire. Last season we connected 2 batterys
together. This worked for awhile.. it would start every time for a
time. Now thats not working. And sometimes now not even jumping is
starting it. I replaced the starter last year too to make sure she was
cranking 100%.

I only have two ideas now that I think is the problem. Either the
powerpack is going out. Or the stator under the flywheel needs
replacing. Does anyone have any other thoughts on what this could be?

Could be a couple of things. Check the plug wires and see if there
are cracks or some leakage. Actually, you might want to purchase one
and just try it to see if the spark improves on that cylinder. Most
likely, it is the power pack although I can't remember if there is one
coil or one coil per cylinder on that model year Johnson. I suspect
the coil{s} [power pack{s}) just based on that dual battery deal.

Out of curiosity, have you checked compression? You might have a
couple of weak cylinders that could cause starting problems, although
there would be other indicators for that and you didn't mention any of
those.

I'd try the wires, then power pack route first - it seems the most
obvious.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------

Basic Fishing Program:

10 - Fish
20 - Eat
30 - Sleep
40 - Goto 10

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 22:42:44 GMT, wrote:

Have a 1973 Johnson 115v4. She had a intermitted starting problem that
has turned for the worse. It almost wont start at all now.

Last year we had the carbs rebuilt. This didnt really help. but did
help the fuel usage.

When shes running.. She runs great, smooth all that.. Its starting
thats the main problem and then sometimes at idle it runs rough and is
hesitant.

Starting- If the battery is full charged SOMETIMES it will start. but
it has to be a really fresh new battery. But when we try to start it
on the lake with a less than 100% fresh battery.. It wont start, wont
even fire when we spray ether into the intak. I can pull a plug and
its either weak or no fire. Last season we connected 2 batterys
together. This worked for awhile.. it would start every time for a
time. Now thats not working. And sometimes now not even jumping is
starting it. I replaced the starter last year too to make sure she was
cranking 100%.

I only have two ideas now that I think is the problem. Either the
powerpack is going out. Or the stator under the flywheel needs
replacing. Does anyone have any other thoughts on what this could be?

Could be a couple of things. Check the plug wires and see if there
are cracks or some leakage. Actually, you might want to purchase one
and just try it to see if the spark improves on that cylinder. Most
likely, it is the power pack although I can't remember if there is one
coil or one coil per cylinder on that model year Johnson. I suspect
the coil{s} [power pack{s}) just based on that dual battery deal.

Out of curiosity, have you checked compression? You might have a
couple of weak cylinders that could cause starting problems, although
there would be other indicators for that and you didn't mention any of
those.

I'd try the wires, then power pack route first - it seems the most
obvious.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------

Basic Fishing Program:

10 - Fish
20 - Eat
30 - Sleep
40 - Goto 10

Pull the flywheel and check the coils on the stator. My early 70's 'Rude
snowmobile used to have those coils expand and crack. Same as some of those
vintage O/B's. I got a couple of replacements off wrecking yard rudes.
Bill

"Calif Bill" wrote in message news:Wzc_b.4247
Pull the flywheel and check the coils on the stator. My early 70's 'Rude
snowmobile used to have those coils expand and crack. Same as some of those
vintage O/B's. I got a couple of replacements off wrecking yard rudes.
Bill

I grew up around snowmobiles, and never saw an Evinrude one. Do you
have any pictures, or links? I'd like to take a look at this Evinrude
snowmobile.

On 23 Feb 2004 07:33:09 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:

"Calif Bill" wrote in message news:Wzc_b.4247
Pull the flywheel and check the coils on the stator. My early 70's 'Rude
snowmobile used to have those coils expand and crack. Same as some of those
vintage O/B's. I got a couple of replacements off wrecking yard rudes.
Bill

I grew up around snowmobiles, and never saw an Evinrude one. Do you
have any pictures, or links? I'd like to take a look at this Evinrude
snowmobile.

http://www.millville.org/Workshops_f...ools/snow.html

http://www.umit.maine.edu/~christoph...y/omc-info.htm



Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------

Basic Fishing Program:

10 - Fish
20 - Eat
30 - Sleep
40 - Goto 10

Wankle powered. 35 hp about 80 mph in our version. They also changed the
carb system for 45 HP for the racing units. Was a great machine. Rode 2
adults comfortably and had a reverse gear. Somewhere we have pic's. My
kids loved driving that thing. But when you are 8-12 years old, is fun to
drive anything, including the dune buggy.
Bill

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 23 Feb 2004 07:33:09 -0800, (basskisser) wrote:

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
news:Wzc_b.4247
Pull the flywheel and check the coils on the stator. My early 70's
'Rude
snowmobile used to have those coils expand and crack. Same as some of
those
vintage O/B's. I got a couple of replacements off wrecking yard
rudes.
Bill

I grew up around snowmobiles, and never saw an Evinrude one. Do you
have any pictures, or links? I'd like to take a look at this Evinrude
snowmobile.

http://www.millville.org/Workshops_f...ools/snow.html

http://www.umit.maine.edu/~christoph...y/omc-info.htm



Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------

Basic Fishing Program:

10 - Fish
20 - Eat
30 - Sleep
40 - Goto 10

"Calif Bill" wrote in message ink.net...

Pull the flywheel and check the coils on the stator. My early 70's 'Rude
snowmobile used to have those coils expand and crack. Same as some of those
vintage O/B's. I got a couple of replacements off wrecking yard rudes.
Bill

Admittedly I'm not as familiar with the snow machines, but I think the
V4 has a different system. The cracking was a problem with some
under-flywheel high tension magneto coils of the vintage 1 and 2
cylinder JohnRude outboards and Lawnboy mowers, i.e. not the V4.
Problem would show up on or after a foggy night or morning when the
motor would not start or would miss till the moisture was heated out
of the affected coil, and/or it would start fine but after the coil
would get hot it would arc and misfire.

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