Anybody ever had to pull start a big main?

[AK Angler]

I was out last weekend and stayed overnight in PWS. It was getting late (read dark) when we left Whittier harbor so we didn't go very far before we decided to pull up for the night. I had pretty much everything turned on on the short run out, GPS, VHF, other GPS, fuel flow meter, electric wiper, and my nav lights. Then, while idling into a cove for about 15 minutes, I used my rooftop mounted spotlight to avoid any rocks, and while setting anchor. Then I had my anchor light on while we slept.

Well, as you may have gathered from the title of this post, the battery was too weak to start my 90 horse Johnson in the morning and I ended up pull starting it.

Turns out that it's not too bad of an operation. Just follow the directions... flip lever on fuel pump... squeeze bulb a couple of times... flip lever back... wrap rope... pull... pull... pull... pull... turn key to "run" position (OK, I added that one myself)... pull... pull... and whammo- it's running.

It actually seemed pretty easy once I turned the key on. But you do need a rope with a good handle. I happened to have a length that I practice my knot tying skills on that has a great monkey's fist tied into one end. Makes a wonderful emergency-pull-start-rope handle.

Anybody ever pull start your big mains? I would recommend giving it a try the next time you're out just to get familiar with your particular rope start procedure.

(BTW- I think, after a little internet searching this week, that my 1985 90hp Johnson may have come with only a 9 amp alternator. The parts to upgrade to a 35 amp unit are hard to find and expensive. I think I'm gonna have to add another battery at the very least...)

[Sea Wolf]

Rid-

Yup, I started my 90 horse 2 cycle Evinrude once back when I had it. Wasn't too bad, really. Started on the second pull.

You're right about having a good handle on the emergency start rope. I had the original OEM model and am glad I didn't have to use a makeshift.

Some of the newer motors like my Yamaha 4s 90 EFI require that you remove more than just the cowl to get to the starting pulley to use the emergency manual rope. They have a protective cover over the notched belt that drives the valve train that has to be removed.

In order to use an engine mounted trolling motor without fear of battery failure, I've got 4 group 27 deep cycle marine batteries in my boat and carry an emergency battery starting pack and, additionally have a Honda 1000i generator on board that will charge the battery directly or drive a 40 amp three stage charger that's on board.

I'm hoping to avoid manual rope starting all together. Joe.

[Forty Two]

My Honda 90s ( 2 on the TC, 1 on my Arima) each came with a starting rope. I used one once when I killed a battery. Not too difficult. I would worry though about trying to start a 200 HP motor with a pull rope.

[Redƒox]

140 Johnson... not a batt' problem, a coolant hose poped-loose while under-way; soaking the starter-drive, causing it to slip! (wierd )
Wasn't too bad ya do have to have a good rope though. I would not want to have a bad back going-on durring the prcedure

[Sea Wolf]

Sopunds like a good reason to take your kid fishing--your BIG KID--preferably a 6'4' 260 linebacker, or so!

Now we know why BC takes the kid along!

Joe.

[B~C]

Naw the kid can't get er done, he pulled the boat all around the lake one day and it wouldn't start...maybe if he could swim faster, we couldn't find any kind of a hill to get her going fast enough

That's a nice thing about having twins, with a short jumper wire I can use one engine to charge up the dead battery. I don't jump start it, just charge it up for a bit and then remove my wire before starting aflicted engine

[Captains Cat]

Ken, this isn't like a car with a manual transmission, you gotta use a rope...

Surprised he came home after that trip...

The Honda 45's I have require you to take off the hood, and a housing. The instructions are under there. I think my bride could do it, I hope...

Charlie

[B~C]

well du, we used the rope but it was so short the kid kept hitting the bow with his feet

[eieioh]