20hp Johnson manual start put away in my garage for 3 years, now I can’t get it to start. I ran the gas dry before I put it away. I put new plugs in and am using fresh gas. I pulled until I was beat. Any suggestions are appreciated.
a little starting fluid in the plug holes and giver her another try. This usually seems to get my old 58 5.5 fired up after she sites for a while.
carb probably gummed up and wont allow fuel to flow in the cyclinders. tear down and rebuild the carb 
Never use “starting fluid” in a two stroke. It’ll kill the motor.
Find “waking an old outboard” in the FAQ of the iboats forums.
Quote:
Never use “starting fluid” in a two stroke. It’ll kill the motor.
Find “waking an old outboard” in the FAQ of the iboats forums.
You obviously never owned an old “2 stroke” snowmobile….. 
them things ran on starting fluid and didn’t kill em….. heard the wives tale about 4 strokes and starting fluid though 
Agreed, the carb is varnished solid…. take the carb apart, float is more than likely stuck…
big G 
I am the first to say clean carbs in any situation, however don’t forget this.
If carbs were drained properly I would try the fuel pump as well.
Many times when stored long periods the pump diaphrams get dry and need to get wet first to provide the pull.
I had and old Montgomery Wards SeaKing 10hp when I was a kid and every year I drained the bowls and would struggle to start it in the spring till I figured out that using a seringe to shoot a bit of fuel into the pump after removeing the lines. After that fired like a top till next spring. Also check for a bad inpulse line too.
Just one of those things to check as well. But carbs cleaning is a great idea as well.
Also pour or inject a bit of fuel into the carb barrel to see if she fires. Ether(starting fluid) works too.
-Mark
Also did you check to see if you had spark. could be a cracked coil, also probably has points & condenser! good luck those things are almost bullet proof.
Quote:
Never use “starting fluid” in a two stroke. It’ll kill the motor.
Find “waking an old outboard” in the FAQ of the iboats forums.
Never had a problem with it so far, but then again it’s a 58 not a 98. Starting fluid would probably melt a motor made in 1998.
That motor has a primer and choke. You should be able to pull out and pump the primer twice and it will shoot gas right into the pistons. Leave the primer pulled out for the choke. If you should be able to feel it pushing gas into the motor. If it doesn’t fire you should check the spark. That motor has a power pack, electronic egnition.
Quote:
Never use “starting fluid” in a two stroke. It’ll kill the motor.
Find “waking an old outboard” in the FAQ of the iboats forums.
This. Starting fluid contains no lubricant, so it is rough on the cylinders. Not saying it won’t work, and in small doses is probably no big deal.
Check spark, compression, and fuel, those are the three things your motor needs to start. If it ran before, probalby just check spark and fuel.
If you disconnect the fuel line from the carb and pump the ball, does fuel come shooting out? If so, fuel is getting to the carb. Clean and rebuild the carb.
To check for spark, go to an auto parts store and get a spark tester. You should jump a good gap with a strong blue spark.
I had a similar problem with my 1973 25HP Johnson this year. A little TLC and she’ll get going. Best of luck!
Not sure but couldn’t you lay the plug on the block with the spark plug wire hooked up and look for spark?
Or maybe get the brother in law to hold the plug while you turn it over??
Timing light might do the same but is no where near as much fun as the BIL method.
Al
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