95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

[anthdale]

I have a 1995 Johnson 150 outboard that appears to be leaking gas out of the carbs. A mechanic that was fixing a different problem (lower unit) brought this to my attention. I never noticed a problem before but it was definitely spewing all over the place when he showed it to me (priming the bulb). Anyway, I told him I would put the carb kit on myself. He really urged me not to do it myself saying "I would not let a marine mechanic do that job after two years of school until he got another two years of experience working for me." He said messing up just one carb could cost me my engine. He wants to charge me $950 parts and labor to do it. I will need to replace the seals and the bowls. Is this a scare tactic to get the job or is it really that complicated? After the job, would I not be able to look and smell the plugs to see a problem? Any advice would be appreciated for my wife will have a cow if I tell her I need another thousand for the boat!

 

[Mas]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Sounds like your float is stuck or not seating properly when the bowl is full. How is it running?

MAS

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

It runs perfect! I mean it runs like a new motor, not missing, no problems starting, nothing at all. Also, I primed the bulb with the engine tilted down when I got it back and no gas came out. I tilted the engine up, primed it, and no gas came out. All I can think of was it was very cold when I was at his shop and warmer the day I brought it home. Could the seals be that temperature sensitive?

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

The mechanic said gas was still spewing all in the water when he was running it to test the lower unit, and he made a comment that "the sad thing about it is that motor runs perfect... it purrs like a kitten."

 

[Mas]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

I personally would not spend $1000 to have carbs rebuilt if the motor is running "perfect." Nor would I rebuild the carbs if it's running "perfect."


Sounds a little shady to me!? What does everyone else think?

MAS

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Those carbs do have a tendency to weep from a certian spot which we address as a normal part of a carb rebuild. No big deal. I'll do the carb job for 1/2. Come on down!!

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Might take you up on it if Florida wasn't 800 miles away from me. I know that this model of Johnson outboards have plastic bowls instead of metal ones that are known for warping. It just seems to me that if it was that bad, air would be getting sucked in causing it to run bad. I think I am getting what Mas is suggesting... I'll just wait and see how it runs this spring and make a decision from there.

 

[Big Bubba]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

I agree that the carbs being rebuilt for $1,000.00 is highway robbery. I never did rebuild carbs before until I bought a 1989 Chaparral boat, with a 1989 Evinrude 88 SPL outboard, and I did those on that boat and spent no more than $60.00 for 2 carb rebuild kits to do both double barrel carbs and it was easy as a piece of cake and runs great. I also rebuilt the carb on my 1983, 70 horse Johnson outboard without any issues, runs great and I also own a 2 stroke, 1986 Honda Spree scooter with oil injection oil pump that was giving me stalling problems after it warmed up and found out my carb was dirty inside cleaned it out and WALLA!!! runs and still runs like a brand new one and I run Seafoam threw all my 2-stroke motors. So basically what I am saying is do the job yourself and save some money. It is not as hard as you think. Have fun and save money doing it at the same time. Take care, Bob

 

[Benny1963]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

might want to just fix the leak on the one crb or wever its leaking .
get a boat mech to do the carb ,you pull it .d hadley knows those carbs
it do able for you if your real motivated ,why build all when ya have one leaking .take it out run it on some muffs and see were your leaking and repost
maybe add pics good luck

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Just want to say Thanks to all the replies I received. I will consider them all. Hopefully, it won't be an issue. I am reassurred of what I was originally thinking before posting.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

If you do the carbs yourself you'll never give that "mechanic" the time of day again. An experienced tech could probably do the job in less than 1 hr, $100 for parts. Not shabby, $800 an hr with no heavy lifting.

It took me 2 hrs and I'd never touched a carb before.

watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5cxBMDezuU

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Rebuild them if they need it. Its soooo easy!

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

That YouTube video was the perfect thing I needed. Thank You! I do have to say that I have a 2-stroke engine with 6 carbs. The mechanic's estimate was approximately $300 for all 6 kits/bowls with a couple of other part items I did not recognize for anything to with carbs. The other $600 was for the work... $100 an hour X 6 carbs. Then tax made it about $45.00. I found a website that I could order 6 kits and 6 bowls for about $200.00 total. I have done a lot of my own mechanic work on my cars and trucks over the years. Unfortanetly, with the exception of my dad showing me how to adjust the air and gas mixture on a carb 20 years ago, I have little experience with them. None with outboards. I have a couple of good friends though that are great mechanics that if I get in a jam will be glad to help me out. I am very glad I decided to join this forum and posts! All of you made my decision easy. Thanks Again!

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

No need for bowls unless yours are very warped. The new ones will weep in that same spot. When you clean yours (make sure they're absolutely clean and dry) you can put a tiny dab of epoxy on the area where that little BB is. That'll stop the weeping.

 

[mrimike]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

whatever you do dont buy aftermarket kits.. (k&l, etc) buy oem needle-seat assy and bowls and you will be fine...
i would just fix the leaky one and go

 

[jonesg]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

That YouTube video was the perfect thing I needed. Thank You! I do have to say that I have a 2-stroke engine with 6 carbs. The mechanic's estimate was approximately $300 for all 6 kits/bowls with a couple of other part items I did not recognize for anything to with carbs. The other $600 was for the work... $100 an hour X 6 carbs. Then tax made it about $45.00. I found a website that I could order 6 kits and 6 bowls for about $200.00 total. I have done a lot of my own mechanic work on my cars and trucks over the years. Unfortanetly, with the exception of my dad showing me how to adjust the air and gas mixture on a carb 20 years ago, I have little experience with them. None with outboards. I have a couple of good friends though that are great mechanics that if I get in a jam will be glad to help me out. I am very glad I decided to join this forum and posts! All of you made my decision easy. Thanks Again!

I find outboard carbs simpler than the one on my car,

just don't pull everything apart at the same time,
you might need to look at a complete assembled carb to see how they go back together again,
a common mistake is getting the hi and lo speed needles swapped around.
Most of us prefer to run a small wire thru the jets to make certain they are clear.

I paid $120 for 6 carb kits ( no bowls). My mechanic charges around $600 for the whole job, I just wanted to try it myself.

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

I agree if you are anyway mechanically inclinded, get a manual and read it, then take the problematic one off and rebuild it yourself. Buy a quality kit and go for it. There easier and not as complicated as automobile carbs i had not done one untill my 25 rude plugged up and then rebuilt my jonny 60's 2 carbs and this last summer did all 6 on my fater in laws Gt 150. Some may cringe when i say this but not all steps are necissary especially since it runs perfect, but you may as well do it all since you have it off. But, you probably could get away with a new float and setting it and bowl gasket and new needle and seat.

I would fix it if its leaking. CAnt beleive no one has said this yet but its gas, its flammible and a fire could start if there is excess gas spilling and floating around in your cowl and could explode if a backfire or spark occurs. Also im not really a greenie or extreme environmentalist, but try to take care of the environment and not create excess polution if possible. But if u have a boat you probably like to swim, ski or fish why put more gas in the resource than necessary?

Do not pay that guy that type money.

You always pull the leaky carb and take it apart and if you feel your over your head just take the parts to a different reliable marine mechanic and have him put it back togeather for you, yea he may charge you more (they never like working behind anyone) but whats another $25 or so. Once he rebuilds it you can put it back on and off you go i would guess someone could rebuild it if you had the kit for $50 if you bring them the carb? I dont know since i did mine myself.

-nate

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Ok... it's finally warm enough outside to look at the carbs. I did not see fuel leaking when I originally got it back from the mechanic because the fuel switch was turned off (on the engine). Unfortunately, I reproduced the problem when I turned it back on. However, I don't see any fuel coming out around the outside of the carbs. The fuel is actually coming out of all 6 of the barrel tubes. It just seems odd to me that all 6 carbs would get bad at the same time. Could something else be causing the problem where fuel will come out of all 6 carbs when priming the gas bulb? I did pull one off and removed the bowl. Nothing looks hard about this at all. However, I don't want to put a carb kit on all 6 and find out it's a different problem.

 

[anthdale]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

Never mind on my previous post. I did a search on this (freak'n awesome) website and found the red switch is a fuel primer for an ignition start up. A guy posted a pic of the position the switch was suppose to be in for running. It was right the first time. I put it back and cranked up my boat with the rabbit ears on it. I ran it for probably a good 15 to 20 minutes in full throttle to idle. No fuel leak. I may have a potential problem starting on ONE of the carb seals (bowl seal). Not sure yet, I am going to keep an eye on it. However, not even a drop of gas touched the bottom of the case. Runs great. Even if a kit has to eventually be put on it, I am not intimidated anymore (by mechanics sale tactic) after taking a carb off and looking at it. I hope this post helps someone else. You guys that take the time to help people out on these forums really are something special. Thanks again!

 

[jonesg]

Re: 95 Johnson 150 carb leak?

You either had an epiphany or a DOH!

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