fishinggeek Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 If an outboard motor with an electric ignition is hooked up to a dead battery, can it still be started manually? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Sure...use the pull cord usually found under the cowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinggeek Posted April 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Thanks Roy. I thought I saw that on a show once. I know it's a dumb question but I've never had an outboard before and never had the need to try that on any friend's or rental boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinggeek Posted April 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 What about the advantages and disadvantages of a portable-type mounting unit versus a permanent one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Clemens Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Not a stupid question at all Fishinggeek. I know it can be done, but in the years since I've owned a boat, I've never had to do it. Probably be a good idea for me to refresh myself so that in the heat of the battle, I'll know how. Helpful little reminders these questions are .. for someone is is that farthest thing from a boat mechanic as one can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerritt Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Good info provided so far... if for some reason you need to pull start it.. there is usually a tab that needs to be turned in order to open the choke. I know mine is red in colour also if you have a electric trolling motor on the boat you can also start the engine using that battery if need be... G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cranks bait Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Just make sure you have a spare cord before you head out. I got stuck once and had to pull the one out of my front trolling motor. Both batteries dead, and me floating like an idiot. That was the first time I used the boat. I guess when the marina said the batteries were good to go, they ment on the charger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forrest Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Does this go for EFI engines too? From the manual and the mercury dealer I was under the impression that the pull cord is only good when the starter is gone. Even after starting a full battery is needed. This sounded REALLY strange/stupid to me but I went along with it. forrest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Some engines require a battery. I believe the Optimax needs one. You have to be careful with this folks. Check your service manuals. There is a risk of damage to some engine electrical components as well. Also on old Johnson/ Evinrude with the electric shift they went to forward gear without power. The risk was when rope starting that more than a few guys went overboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taper Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Just to ad on my 115hp yamaha 4 stroke the dealer told me it can be done and they provide the pull cord but he said " trust me you never want to have to do this " I took it to mean always keep your batteries etc. in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschirk Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have pull started my 90HP Honda...it is a B*&ch to pull but can be done. Not EFI, it is plain oldcarburated. Part of the reason I bought it was just in case I got stuck a long way from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perodimi Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I had a problem with my Merc 115 4 stroke EFI cutting out for no apparent reason and then suddenly coming back to life. It turned out a bad ground at the battery was the culprit. I had one of those battery quick disconnect units that you unscrew which I bought at the sportsman show installed. When I took it apart, it was all burnt between the plates. Never a problem since removing it but I was surprised the engine wouldn't run without the battery. I guess the new electronics are highly dependant on a good battery. I do wonder how it would run after boosting a dead battery as I wouldn't want to try and pull start this beast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Good point on the poor connections. Some engines will blow modules with bad connections. A little anti corrosive on the terminals with self locking stainless steel nuts is a good idea. O yes, watch out for cheap battery switches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have a 55 Suzuki and do a lot of fishing in the evening and until after dark. According to my manual it can be started manually in an emergency but after reading what was involved I wouldn't want to have to do it! Last year a couple of friends gave me a nice little portable power supply/booster, ever since I got it, I take it in the boat with me, in fact, during fishing season it stays in the boat, doesn't take up much room, fits easily into my storage locker. It can be charged from an AC outlet or a DC source and about once a month I plug it in just to make sure it's topped up. This thing has plenty of power to start an outboard, in fact I used it to boost a friends big V8 truck last winter. He had to turn off all his accessories mind you but it turned it over and started it in cold weather. I think they got it on special at CTC for about $39.00 bucks and it even has a built in inverter to give you AC if you did need it, it I won't go out in my boat without it any more, day or night, it's part of my safety gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Bernie, what do you recomend using for an anti corrosive? I have always just used vasoline, made my connections, then put a little diectric jell over the whole connection. It seems to have worked so far but you can always teach this old dog new tricks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I think the vaseline would be fine Cliff. Just be careful with dielectrics on connections. The stuff is what it says it is. I never use it on low voltage applications, only on distributor caps and ignition wires. The problem can be that if a dielectric gets between two terminals it can insulate the connection creating high resistance. If I need to join/repair wires I use shrink butt connectors or if it needs to be a male/female connection a coat or two of neoprene over the terminals can create a good protection. What you need to be careful of is if it's a poor seal it can create a worse condition by sealing water in as well so it never dries. Most good batteries these days are well sealed at the terminals. Those ones that are turning green are usually seeping electrolyte out and causing the corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Thanks Bernie, good advice! Much appreciated! Do you have a particular product that you rely on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 (edited) Well the first product I rely on is having Cottonelle in the morning. Sorry Cliff, just popped into my mind. Not sure which product you were referring to. Di-electric-grease. Cant remember the name of it. But it in a 500 ml tub anyway. Dont use it a lot as most ignition wire sets come with it. Shrink butt connectors are available at most auto supply stores. They are not cheap but they do the best job.(Dont get the ones with the solder in them) Neoprene I buy is a tire bead sealer, stays flexible and coats connections. OMC used it for decades. I can sell just about any brand of battery but my favorite is the Interstate or AC Delco. Both have been great and very low warranty issues.(I hate paperwork) Edited April 15, 2008 by Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forrest Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 I have a 55 Suzuki and do a lot of fishing in the evening and until after dark. According to my manual it can be started manually in an emergency but after reading what was involved I wouldn't want to have to do it! Last year a couple of friends gave me a nice little portable power supply/booster, ever since I got it, I take it in the boat with me, in fact, during fishing season it stays in the boat, doesn't take up much room, fits easily into my storage locker. It can be charged from an AC outlet or a DC source and about once a month I plug it in just to make sure it's topped up. This thing has plenty of power to start an outboard, in fact I used it to boost a friends big V8 truck last winter. He had to turn off all his accessories mind you but it turned it over and started it in cold weather. I think they got it on special at CTC for about $39.00 bucks and it even has a built in inverter to give you AC if you did need it, it I won't go out in my boat without it any more, day or night, it's part of my safety gear. that sounds like a great idea. I am going to keep my eyes out for one of those sales. forrest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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