Noob 101

[reelmichigan]

How do I find out if I am running rich or lean?

I have some smoke in my exhaust but it isn't fogged out, my spark plugs are grey on the insulation and look dry. But like my other thread I am leaking oil out of the drain.

I am running either a 63 or 69 don't know yet but would like to run it a tad rich since it's older. Thanks

 

[jonesg]

Re: Noob 101

"I am running either a 63 or 69 ......"

a 63 or 69 what?

Don't you mix the oil in the gas tank?
The old ones use around 24:1.
Thats what I run in my 1959 10hp.

1963 is hardly broken in.
They just keep goin...and goin...

 

[reelmichigan]

Re: Noob 101

It was sold to me as a 1969 20 HP Johnson but upon further investigation it looks to be a 1963 Seahorse 18 horse or something I mean I am a noob I looked up the model number which is FD-17M

The guy I bought it from said he ran 32:1 so thats what I've been running. I just want to make sure I'm running a little rich but I don't know how to tell.

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: Noob 101

OK. There is no more mystery. You have a 18Hp motor made in 1963. The oil ratio you are using (32:1) is fine.

I am not sure why you would want to run it a little rich, but here is a method for adjusting the carburetor's rich/lean adjustment.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167352

All you need to do is turn the knobs in a counter-clockwise direction to enrich the mixture. If you are concerned about wear on the internal parts, I would suggest simply adding more oil to the mixture of gas, then enriching the mixture with less air, as you are suggesting. The increased oil to gas will lubricate the internals very well. The increased oil/gas to air will foul your plugs and carbon up your cylinders and piston rings.

Go to 24:1. It would be appreciated by that older motor anyways. Adjust the carburetor correctly as Joe Reeves describes in the link above. That would be my advice. Good luck to you.

 

[reelmichigan]

Re: Noob 101

Thanks alot for the help guys