Originally Posted by
R19
Carburetor motors do not have an EMM. The letters EMM stand for Engine Management Module which is a fancy word for a computer. If your motor is a carburetor motor there is no need for a computer. If your motor is direct injection/fuel injection then it will have an EMM or ECU. ECU is a Electronic Control Module which is another fancy word for a computer. If my memory is correct one computer is air cooled and the other is water cooled. If your motor is what I suspect it is then it should have a power pack. An engine model number will confirm what you have.
First and foremost I am not a mechanic but I do however have knowledge of boat motors. With that being said are you using the fast idle lever to warm your engine before you put it in gear? Also carburetor motors are real finicky when you put a load on them is reverse. Its best to let a carburetor motor warm up a couple of minutes in the summer before you put it in gear. I would let it warm up 5 minutes or more before trying to get on plane...in the cold weather add more time for warm up.
Automobiles had fuel injection technology in the early 80's. It wasn't until the late 90's that boat motors started using fuel injection technology...so in comparison its like trying to start grandpas ol 76 Ford truck. You have to pump the gas a few times and feather the throttle until it warms up. If you start it and drop it in gear it will stumble and sputter. To the best of my knowledge Johnson/Evinrude were the first to release a fuel injected V6 motor. If my memory is correct in 97 and 98 you could buy a fuel inject Johnson or Evinrude but from 99 forward they only had fuel injection in Evinrude. Anything after 98 for Johnson was carburetor. I am not 100% sure on my year dates so the best way to identify your engine is by the model number. It will identify if your 2000 Johnson is carburetor motor or a fuel injection motor...I put my $ on carburetor.
Since this is your first boat I am going a little more in depth. Hopefully I am not bombarding you with too much information. I do have a few tips I would like to throw at you. You mentioned the boat started fine but stumbled when you tried to back it off the trailer. If you have someone else driving the tow vehicle when you unload the boat have them back in deeper AFTER you have the motor running. Backing in deeper will allow the boat to float off the trailer. You can avoid putting a cold motor in gear and having it stumble. As there parking the truck the motor will warm up some. If you are by yourself then I understand the dynamics are different.
FYI your easy starting carburetor motor will become more difficult to start in cold weather. There is a starting procedure that helps make it easier. I have no idea if you know it so I will give detail...
back boat in until the motor is in water deep enough to start
trim the motor until level if possible...make sure your deep enough for this
squeeze the primer bulb until firm
raise the fast idle lever all the way up
turn the key on but do not attempt to start
push in on key for 2 seconds and release
push in on key for 2 seconds and release
push in on key and crank the motor
once it fires work the fast idle lever up and down...the fast idle lever basically does the same function as a gas pedal for a vehicle
once the motor is running smooth close the fast idle lever
once the motor is has warmed up some you can put it in gear...remember earlier you trimmed to level position to start so I would trim up a little when backing off the trailer.
patience is key...a carburetor boat motor is not something you fire up, drop in gear and take off
If you run the motor a couple of miles down the lake everything will be up to operating temperature. The rest of the day it should start fine by simply turning the key. If it sits for a couple of hours and you try to crank it and it does not start on the first try then push in on the key as you crank the motor. When it fires if its not running smooth raise and lower the fast idle a small amount.
Two things I want to go into more detail about...The fast idle lever pretty much acts like a gas pedal for a vehicle. Its only operable when the motor is in neutral. Work it up and down to rev the motor. Once it smooths out push it back down. Once the motor is in gear the fast idle lever become inoperable.
Pushing in on the key...this does two things. It is and electric choke that primes the carburetor by spraying a small amount of fuel into the carburetors. The initial push in of the key primes the carburetor and the holding in on the key activates the choke. Too see exactly what I am talking about remove your hood. Turn the key but do not try to start the motor. Now push in on the key...you should hear the electric choke pulse fuel and activate the choke.