Hard starting Honda

[Fishtail]

I have a 2000 Honda, BF8 trolling motor that is extremely hard starting. I have tried several different options that were found on another site but they don't seem to help...... The motor is a manual start so I start getting a bit frustrated after tugging on the rope a while:cool:... Once the motor starts it runs smooth and without any problems. Hondas are new to me so maybe I don't know the short cuts to get it started. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[luckyr]

Pump the ball, jack the throttle once(this sets the choke)or does it have a manual choke and pull. Is your main power running when I try to start the troller and my main is running, it is a little harder. I know you probably do these things but you didn't say what you do. Good Luck

[Fishtail]

My motor has a manual choke. I usually pull the choke, put it in forward gear and try starting the motor. Worked the other day, but today no such luck:cool:

[garyk]

I usually pull the choke, put it in forward gear and try starting the motor.

I've used that BF8 since 2000 and it will start on the first pull or two after sitting for months.

Your sentence above is the clue -- the shift lever MUST be in neutral.

The throttle grip MUST be in the 'start' position.

[Fishtail]

I've used that BF8 since 2000 and it will start on the first pull or two after sitting for months.

Your sentence above is the clue -- the shift lever MUST be in neutral.

The throttle grip MUST be in the 'start' position.

I tried that and it didn't work. I did the other after reading another forum that suggests putting it it in forward and running the throttle up past start.

[Backlash2]

My kicker is a 9.9 and electric start, but this is my procedure;

1.) Squeeze the ball just to make sure there is fuel there. I don't bother squeezing until it's firm.

2.) Grab the handle and rotate it to full throttle and back to low 10 times...it takes about 8 seconds.

3.) Start the motor.

Hot or cold, fished 8 days in a row or not in a month, it starts immediately every time.

[Fishtail]

I'll give that a try to see if that works:D

[Wolfdog]

My motor has a manual choke. I usually pull the choke, put it in forward gear and try starting the motor. Worked the other day, but today no such luck:cool:
Sounds like someone wants you to sail off the back of the boat when it starts..
I have never heard of a honda that would start while in gear ???
Always have in Neutral. If for some reason it does start in gear with a higher throttle, Ya better be sitting down :-)

Also with Honda, unless the plug is fouled, or someone has tweaked the carb or it's varnished up, Hondas almost always start easy.
Found out something a couple days ago.
Never run the fuel out then trailer a Honda. The float will bounce and bang and damage it. Always trailer with fuel in the bowl.

[12pulls]

My 2002 Honda was hard to start until I found out that the throttle handle must be in the correct position, which on my motor was just a little past start. Check out where you throttle position is.

[Flipcb]

I've had two 8 hp hondas and both are hard to start in cold weather. I've been to the dealer several times with my current 2001. His answer was to turn handle fully open three times before starting. I pump the bulb solid, turn handle 3 times, turn to start, open choke and start pulling. In warm weather starts fine. In cold weather it takes many pulls and runs half way for 3 or 4 minutes. It then acts like it gets a shot of adrenalin and runs great.

[IDWITHELD]

I have electric choke on mine and electric start.

Pump ball until firm.
Three twists of the throttle. Return to start position.
Should fire up in a under 2 seconds.

If it hunts, chokes out or runs erratic replace the carb.

[Chrome Bumper]

I would dissemble and clean the carb. My electric choke doesn't work as good as the manual choke on my 25 hp. Maybe your choke is out of adjustment.

[Fishtail]

I want to thank everyone for their responses. I work graveyard so sometimes it takes a while for everything to sink into my melon. I reread the forum about starting the motor in gear. I guess because it wasn't explained better, I made that assumptiom:whistle: That was my bad. I will over the next day or two get my boat back out and give it a try. I guess I got used to my "Gucci" Yamaha's and figured they all should start all about the same.

[RiverJohn]

I have a 2000 Honda, BF8 trolling motor that is extremely hard starting. I have tried several different options that were found on another site but they don't seem to help...... The motor is a manual start so I start getting a bit frustrated after tugging on the rope a while:cool:... Once the motor starts it runs smooth and without any problems. Hondas are new to me so maybe I don't know the short cuts to get it started. Any suggestions are appreciated.

My former Honda 8 man start was also "COLD BLOODED !"

My best advice:

Give plenty of gas during 1st start up in the morning.

I had always thought I was giving it "Too Much" fuel, but these small kicker Hondas are gas mizers with small carb jets. So dont be afraid to gas her up on 1st start.

:twocents:

[Fishtail]

Well, I put the Honda in the tank this afternoon to see if I could get her started. I gave the gas bulb a couple of squeezes, pulled the choke out and then put it in gear. I ratcheted the throttle up to full speed 6 different times and then put her back into nuetral. I pulled the starter rope twice and she was off and running:meme::meme::meme::meme:

So, tomorrow I plan to do the same thing to see if my luck continues and if it does, I'll plan for a celebration:thisbig:

[RiverJohn]

Well, I put the Honda in the tank this afternoon to see if I could get her started. I gave the gas bulb a couple of squeezes, pulled the choke out and then put it in gear. I ratcheted the throttle up to full speed 6 different times and then put her back into nuetral. I pulled the starter rope twice and she was off and running:meme::meme::meme::meme:

So, tomorrow I plan to do the same thing to see if my luck continues and if it does, I'll plan for a celebration:thisbig:

Awsome !!

Gas that Baby up in the morning - she is a very good motor just fussy when cold, like my wife !!

Nice to hear !

John:excited:

[Fishtail]

Well, I have managed to start the Honda for three days now without fault. I feared at first that I was flooding the motor, but in the end I just wasn't giving it enough fuel. I can now rejoice and feel at peace with my new motor:excited:

[Wolfdog]

<quote>Well, I have managed to start the Honda for three days now without fault. I feared at first that I was flooding the motor, but in the end I just wasn't giving it enough fuel. I can now rejoice and feel at peace with my new motor</quote>


I am a firm Honda fan.
I have used Johnson, Evenrude, Mercs, and not one of them performed as well or as long as the Honda.
I ran a 10 hp on a 21' Harvey Dory commercial crayfishing and in the 12 yrs I used it, it never once failed to start on the first or second pull, and was absolutly the most economical engine I ever used.
Just bought a new 2009 15 hp. Love em.

[Fish Slapper]

I'll give that a try to see if that works:D

I have a 2002 model of the same motor and I hate it! I found out that unless you run it completely dry it will barely start and run after sitting for a couple of weeks. I have to take the carb off , the clean it with carb cleaner, put it back on and it will start on the first pull every time and run like a dream, but if I do not run it dry and I mean dry, it will not start after sitting for a few weeks, it is a manual start and manual choke as well, good luck! I am trying to trade it for a Yamaha right now. I read on some other web sites that this is a common problem with these engines, I honestly do not know since this is my first Honda.

[tafish7]

I have been fishing Honda 8's for the past 10 years and I couldn't be any happier with their performance. I usually buy a new one every 2 years to upgrade and take advantage of the high resale value. Honda motors get a little better every year. A little TLC and they run like a clock. One suggestion to new Honda owner's is change your oil on a regular schedule. If it says every 50 hrs or every 100 hrs they mean it. Your motor will run great and your time on the water will be memorable with or with out fish.:twocents:
Hopefully with fish!:excited:

[RiverJohn]

I have a 2002 model of the same motor and I hate it! I found out that unless you run it completely dry it will barely start and run after sitting for a couple of weeks. I have to take the carb off , the clean it with carb cleaner, put it back on and it will start on the first pull every time and run like a dream, but if I do not run it dry and I mean dry, it will not start after sitting for a few weeks, it is a manual start and manual choke as well, good luck! I am trying to trade it for a Yamaha right now. I read on some other web sites that this is a common problem with these engines, I honestly do not know since this is my first Honda.

Honda kickers are great OutBoards but fairly cold blooded on 1st start.

For what its worth I had a Honda 8 and now have a Yammi T8.

Both great Outboards, the T8 is much easier to start and has a bit more precise throttle control. For some reason Honda gives you a much smaller throttle range (on the handle), never understood why.

I cannot say anything bad about either - they have both been reliable overall.

[5 Salt]

Start Running Stabil Gas stabilizer. Most hard start problems are the result of deposits and/or old gas gumming up the some small jet/port/valve. As well a lot of idling problems can be traced to fuel gumming or old fuel contamination….particularly if the problem has been a more recent phenomenon.


Both my Yami T8 and former Honda 9.9hp started and idled a lot better over time once I began running Stabil all the time. The cleaners in Stabil do their thing over time as well as prevent even slightest chance of old or, less than great gas from causing problems.

This is not an immediate fix but if you start now you will notice a difference in 30-40hrs on run time. That and you’ll never have a worry about the quality of your fuel if you have not been able to run her as often as you like – it’s cheap insurance in my book.

[Dinikin]

My Yamaha F9.9 is cold blooded as well. Probably 6 pulls to get it going.
If I do Seafoam decarb then it runs much better, have not done that in few years.

[Wolfdog]

I have a 2002 model of the same motor and I hate it! I found out that unless you run it completely dry it will barely start and run after sitting for a couple of weeks. I have to take the carb off , the clean it with carb cleaner, put it back on and it will start on the first pull every time and run like a dream, but if I do not run it dry and I mean dry, it will not start after sitting for a few weeks, it is a manual start and manual choke as well, good luck! I am trying to trade it for a Yamaha right now. I read on some other web sites that this is a common problem with these engines, I honestly do not know since this is my first Honda.


Do you trailer it with all the fuel burned out?
If you do you have damaged the float. There is something in there that turns egg shaped from what the Honda Mechanic has told me. Never trailer an outboard with the bowl empty. Everything bounces and bangs around in there. You might talk to the Mechanic at Sportcraft... Little Tim I believe his name is.

Also Run Stabil or Stabil Ethanol Treatment in your fuel all the time.
Having problems with a honda is a rare event.

[RiverJohn]

Start Running Stabil Gas stabilizer. Most hard start problems are the result of deposits and/or old gas gumming up the some small jet/port/valve. As well a lot of idling problems can be traced to fuel gumming or old fuel contamination….particularly if the problem has been a more recent phenomenon.


Both my Yami T8 and former Honda 9.9hp started and idled a lot better over time once I began running Stabil all the time. The cleaners in Stabil do their thing over time as well as prevent even slightest chance of old or, less than great gas from causing problems.

This is not an immediate fix but if you start now you will notice a difference in 30-40hrs on run time. That and you’ll never have a worry about the quality of your fuel if you have not been able to run her as often as you like – it’s cheap insurance in my book.

I will 2nd that.

I have done the same thing. I was quite pleased the other day when after 3 months in my garage I fired up both motors right off the bat. My T8 just purred on the old Stabil treated gas. I do like to also use either premium or the mid level octane fuel, I was told kickers with Carbs do a bit better on good octane.

[Lurp]

I have had two Hondas 9.9 & 8 hp
Both start the same :
pump up the rubber ball
make sure you are in neutral
turn throttle all the way up
pull choke halfway (if it's freezing all the way)
pull rope briskly
after engine runs for about 10 secs secs push choke in and return throttle slowly to idle
They both would start on second pull after being stored all winter and first pull after that
Honda manual reccomends that you drain the carb by using the drain screw not running engine until it runs out of fuel with fuel line disconnected I keep a small screw driver on a cable inside the housing