Re: Johnson 6hp…won’t start

[Don]

Well, kinda hard to say. You have to spray ether in the carb to get it started cold, but will start ok once warmed up. The engine runs ok once warmed up and will continue to run OK at high and low speeds, no stalling/surging problems, correct?
Once the engine is allowed to cool down, it will NOT restart without the ether, correct?
Based on my assumptions noted above, I would have to say there is something wrong with the choke/linkage. The only real issue you seem to be having is getting it started cold, once started it seems to run fine, and starts up OK while still warm.