1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

[GeorgePIV]

I was given a 1970 Glastron with a 1979 85HP jonhson by a friend. He had taken the boat out less than a year ago and said it ran fine the last time he was out, but like I said almost a year ago. He told me it never gave him any problems and he had owned it for 10 years and his family was too old now and his wife wanted a laundry room and the boat was in the way. He did tell me it might need a tune up. I brought it home and put a new battery on it and emptied the fuel and put fresh fuel in. I tried to start it and it sounded like the carbs needed re-built, so I re-built them and they did not look dirty at all. I put some new plugs in also. I can start the motor with the choke fully opened, but when I idle it down it struggles and when I shift it in gear it bogs out and die. I checked for leaks in the fuel lines and some looked cracked, so I replaced the fuel lines and made sure they were on tight. Like I said, it runs and sounds fine while choked, but when it idles is struggles a little bit and when I put it in gear and try and give it throttle, it just stalls. I was wondering if it could be the coil packs? I have yet to put a spark tester, or compression tester on it, but I have the strangest feeling its the coil packs. Before I change the coil packs, I was hoping for some advice from some more experienced

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

The model # is 85TL79R.

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

I was given a 1970 Glastron with a 1979 85HP jonhson by a friend. He had taken the boat out less than a year ago and said it ran fine the last time he was out, but like I said almost a year ago. He told me it never gave him any problems and he had owned it for 10 years and his family was too old now and his wife wanted a laundry room and the boat was in the way. He did tell me it might need a tune up. I brought it home and put a new battery on it and emptied the fuel and put fresh fuel in. I tried to start it and it sounded like the carbs needed re-built, so I re-built them and they did not look dirty at all. I put some new plugs in also. I can start the motor with the choke fully opened, but when I idle it down it struggles and when I shift it in gear it bogs out and die. I checked for leaks in the fuel lines and some looked cracked, so I replaced the fuel lines and made sure they were on tight. Like I said, it runs and sounds fine while choked, but when it idles is struggles a little bit and when I put it in gear and try and give it throttle, it just stalls. I was wondering if it could be the coil packs? I have yet to put a spark tester, or compression tester on it, but I have the strangest feeling its the coil packs. Before I change the coil packs, I was hoping for some advice from some more experienced

sound like a carb issue did u make sure every passage was clean an clear seems if u have to choke it to run make me think the carbs arent all the way clean

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

sound like a carb issue did u make sure every passage was clean an clear seems if u have to choke it to run make me think the carbs arent all the way clean

you need to run a fine wire through the jets make sure there is no obstruction from fuel line to carb check the fuel pump also for a pulse

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

When I took apart the carbs, they were already very clean inside. I took them completely apart cleaned them very thoroughly with carb cleaner then blew them out. When I was done I took a shop light and made sure there was nothing obstructing any passage before putting back together. A friend of mine also told me that he thought the owner must have just had them cleaned because they still looked new. I replaced the float and pin and made sure that they were installed correctly and the float was level. It does sound like a fuel problem, but the carb re-build is whats throwing me off because of how clean it was when I put it back together. I can take them apart again just in case something was in the old fuel lines. Would you advise that?

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

When I took apart the carbs, they were already very clean inside. I took them completely apart cleaned them very thoroughly with carb cleaner then blew them out. When I was done I took a shop light and made sure there was nothing obstructing any passage before putting back together. A friend of mine also told me that he thought the owner must have just had them cleaned because they still looked new. I replaced the float and pin and made sure that they were installed correctly and the float was level. It does sound like a fuel problem, but the carb re-build is whats throwing me off because of how clean it was when I put it back together. I can take them apart again just in case something was in the old fuel lines. Would you advise that?

make sure ur fuel pump is clean an yes i would take another look at the carbs just to make sure

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

I took the fuel pump apart and cleaned the filter and replaced the fuel lines going to and from it just to be safe. I guess I will take the carburators apart and check again. Should I purchase new carb kits? or do you think they will be ok putting it back together with the current kits I just put on?

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

I took the fuel pump apart and cleaned the filter and replaced the fuel lines going to and from it just to be safe. I guess I will take the carburators apart and check again. Should I purchase new carb kits? or do you think they will be ok putting it back together with the current kits I just put on?

i think an this is my opinion that if you just installed a new kit you can reuse the ones you have i do it all the time with any carb boat or small engine unless it needs it in ur case it should not

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

did u check to make sure the fuel pump is pumping?

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

Not really, I guess that would make sense also because it could run off the primer pumps with very little load right? Whats the best way to check the fuel pump? A clear fuel line?

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

Not really, I guess that would make sense also because it could run off the primer pumps with very little load right? Whats the best way to check the fuel pump? A clear fuel line?

if it were me i would pull the line going to the carbs and turn the engine over see if it squirts

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

Ok, I just checked the fuel line and fuel was spitting everywhere.

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

When the floats are installed they should be level right? Thanks for all the advice, I really appriciate it.

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

Ok, I just checked the fuel line and fuel was spitting everywhere.

i would double check the carbs again sux i know just went through this my self had one carb not working looked clean was not and still couldnt get wide open throttle on the water had to redo em all now she runs like new

 

[busted-bayliner]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

When the floats are installed they should be level right? Thanks for all the advice, I really appriciate it.

level with the bottom of the carb bowl off yes

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

Ok. When I get off work tomorrow I will pull the carbs and go through them again and make sure they are completely clear. I will keep you posted on the outcome. Thanks again.

 

[GeorgePIV]

Re: 1979 85 hp johnson stalls when in gear

Ok I took the carbs off and cleaned them again and it ran alot better and I was able to put it in gear. I took the boat out on the water and had her running for a few minutes at about half throttle and then it just shut down to an idle speed and kept reving and slowing down. I was able to get it back to the dock and then there was a little trouble starting it, but I was able to get it started and it was like it was having the same problem again. I didnt want to attempt to take it on a test run again in case it died in the middle of the river. I dont have a temperature gauge or an alarm, so I dont know if it was too hott. I felt the block with my hand and it was pretty warm. The water is pumping through the motor good, so I dont think its overheating but I could be wrong. Could it be the mixture? What does it sound like?