1989 Johnson 88 SPL idle adjustment

[stormtracker]

Hi all. If someone can help me; I need to turn up the idle on my 1989 Johnson 88 SPL. It runs great at high speed but sometimes stalls out at idle, and when shifting into gear. I see several adjustment locations, but not sure which is the correct way to adjust the idle. The attached picture shows how it is at idle, at least before I started messing with it; Which I started to do originally to bump up the water pump flow at idle, as the overheat alarm would sometimes come on at very low speed. And it's a brand new water pump, and thermostats that I put in.
From reading other threads here, I believe the red arrow points to the idle adjustment screw, however notice how far from the stop it is. I have to turn it almost all the way in to make any adjustment at all. And doing so also, with every turn, moves the long threaded rod (green arrow) under the flywheel. What does that do ? Is that the timing advance adjustment ? If so wouldn't it set that out of whack by advancing it way too much ? Then there is the thumb wheel adjustment, (the white arrow). Should that be adjusted ? And last but not least the thumb wheel adjustment on the cable itself.
Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks.
KM

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: 1989 Johnson 88 SPL idle adjustment

it looks like your linkages are way out of adjustment.
I cant really help you with this, as i took mine in when it was like that and now it runs great, but they know what they are doing.
I think your right for the idle adjustment being the red one. and the timing adjustment being green. the pic is a little small.
I do know that the idle screw needs to be touching the stop and then the timing can be set, then the carb linkage can be set. and that the timing needs to move (advance) before the carbs start to open.
there my brain is empty now...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1989 Johnson 88 SPL idle adjustment

personally i think it is time for a through carb cleaning. i just did the same motor, there was so much ethanol poision in that carb, i had to replace 2 of the 6 jets in each carb. then do a linc n sinc. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680

 

[stormtracker]

Re: 1989 Johnson 88 SPL idle adjustment

Actually when I did the thermostat and water pump, I did just about everything including rebuilding the carbs with new carb kits.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 1989 Johnson 88 SPL idle adjustment

Since you've messed with the linkages, you now need to do a link&sync and you need a service manual for that. It far too long a procedure to do here. You DO NOT adjust the throttle cable to set idle speed or anything related to it. It is a throttle cable adjustment only, again, that is covered in the manual.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 1989 Johnson 88 SPL idle adjustment

I am chiming in because I have a recently aquired 1987 88 spl!! and I want to read all the threads on motors i have.

I think boat motor owners should decide what group they fall into.

nefore they deleve into issue with their motors. some people are handy and some people have a large assortment of tools and the time and space to tinker.. and maybe they have a history of having different motors and will continue that...

others may have ONE motor, and their only goal when it acts up is to get back to where they were before the issue...

they have little or no prior outboard experience....

like a car...some people dont even change their own oil...others might draw the line after the oil change...especially with computers controlling everything in the car...

considering all the adjustments on these outboard motors, especially the multi carbed larger HP version.... you can EASILY mess things up adjusting something that certainly LOOKS like its the adjustment but has nothing to do with what you want.

after Silvertips comment on the throttle cable( one I did myself a few years back) I thought the issue over.

i have been getting into fixing up motors more out of not wanting to dish out $6K or more for new ones

I'll have to take the time to get the right tools and reference material and give myself time to learn things in the order they need to be done.

I was going to do a carb rebuild on my 70...but was a little concerned, I might not have the lead shot, or special tool to remove something.. and I dont have vacum measuring tools to make sure something is really sealed off when it needs to be...so when the mechanic told me $50 to rebuild my three carbs...I jumped on it..

fight semi -winable battels early on!!!

ok..done now

ps: to all those offering advice...THANKS

bob