1974 115HP Johnson Left Me Stranded....

kshelly

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 9, 2004
Messages
124
1974 115 HP Johnson. Cruising down the river at maybe 1/2 throttle, fat, dumb & happy. Out of the blue, engine stalls :( It starts immediately, but I notice that I can't increase the idle speed regardless of the position of the warm-up lever. Engine also vibrates a bit. As soon as I put it in gear (forward or reverse) it stalls. Engine has kind of a "tinny" sound when put in gear, although I only have about 2 seconds to listen before it stalls. My very first thought was that something got stuck around the prop. Not so lucky. I'm wondering if I lost a cylinder (coil, plug, whatever). The engine was recently submerged and given a clean bill of health, so I have to think that carbs are clean. Anyone have any other suggestions on where I should start looking? I'm going to test my coils first, I think. On the right track?????
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: 1974 115HP Johnson Left Me Stranded....

Check the compression first. Nos sense going any farther, if you have a dead cylinder.<br /><br />Also, check the lower unit fluid. Any metal in it?
 

kshelly

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 9, 2004
Messages
124
Re: 1974 115HP Johnson Left Me Stranded....

Even if the lower end turned to complete mush, would it effect engine idle? I guess I'm thinking that in neutral when the engine is at idle, the lower end could fall off and the engine should run, right? I'll be checking lower end oil anyway, and the "tinny" sound does worry me a bit, but if I lost a cylinder AND the lower end...oh boy, how depressing to even think of the $$$$$$$$$!
 

Walker

Captain
Joined
Jun 15, 2002
Messages
3,085
Re: 1974 115HP Johnson Left Me Stranded....

Yes, the lower unit can effect the motor, even in neutral. The drive shaft is always turning,
 
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