Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Unusual problem on a 5.5hp Johnson 1960 › Re: Unusual problem on a 5.5hp Johnson 1960
Joe
Joe your inital hard starting maybe the carburetor or the fuel pump. You stated the compression feels really good, but have you actually tested the compression of both cylinders with a compression gauge?
If your ignition is in good shape and you rule out fuel delivery issue (carb or fuel pump) then the compression maybe an issue. Please get a reading of the top and bottom cylinder with a compression gauge. That way you have ruled out compression as an issue. Remember compression, spark, and fuel (CSF). Issues with one of these will cause running or starting issues.
Lower compression motors are hard to start, but once started they run ok. Low compression motor do not pull in enough fuel mix(fuel charge) into the cylinders from the crankcase. So, it takes longer or multiple multiple starting attempts to get started. Once there is enough fuel charge in the cylinders, the motor will start. Now the motor is running it increases rpms and increases compression some and the transfer of fuel mix (fuel charge) from the crankcase to the cylinder heads becomes easier.
Let us know your compression numbers. If you do not have a compression gauge, then you get one at Auto Zone, OReillys….etc etc. Some will loan you one with a return deposit.
Cajun