1990 evinrude 120 power loss

cogonc

Recruit
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
5
Please help! My engine initially seems to run great. However running at length(sometimes after 10 minutes, sometimes 2 hours or so) it will completely fall off plane and run what seems to be at 50% power. Sometimes it seems I can throw it in neutral and rev her at high rpm, than when put back in gear sometimes will plane back for a bit, but for the most part I cant trust it in the ocean. I have had all new fuel lines, bulb, water seperator replaced and checked. I have all new coil wires, new plugs and spark wires, pretty much everthing replaced by a professional. Compression is 125lb per cylinder, too. I just cant iron this quirk out. In addition it NEVER dies, just runs at a crawl, but fine at low speed. Could this be a power head? My voltage gauge also runs below what it should be and my mechanic suggested that may be the problem, and the water pump also seems to POSSIBLY not eject as much water as i might expect, but the motor never seems to get hot. Anybody ever hear of such a thing?
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

How do you know the Motor is not getting hot? Is your Battery up to par?
 

cogonc

Recruit
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
5
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

thanks for the quick response...<br />well i dont know i guess if it is getting hot or not. but i have never smelled or felt anything around the hood when it is on or off the motor like it was too hot. I have never heard a sensor go off either at the contols (if there even is one for temp). Batteries should be fine, but my mechanic thought that becuase my voltage gauge is always pegged a little bit below 12 that could be a part of it. I just have a hard time believing that battery/voltage could do this after it runs good for awhile...but i am NO MARINE MECHANIC(obviously!)! I friend suggested it might be a power head which scares the hell out of me.
 

LubeDude

Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
6,945
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

Its not likely the powerhead, especially sence your compression is what it is! although if it is tempurature related it will be!<br /><br />I had an Evenrude that did a similar thing once, and it turned out to be a coil failure after it warmed up! Sometimes it took 20 minutes and somtimes more! I finally had to take a mechanic out with me with his test equipment untill it failed to find out which one it was! Engine ran fine if I didnt run it for extended times!
 

cogonc

Recruit
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
5
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. i HAVE HAD REAL ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE COIL WIRES AND CONNECTIONS...I FINALLY REPLACED THEM ALL WITH NEW CONNECTORS AND OMC WIRES, BUT STILL IT SEEMS TO FAIL. 20 MIN. IS ABOUT ON THE MONEY, TOO. GOOD IDEA ABOUT TAKING MY MECH. OUT WITH ME....WHEN HE DID THE LAST WORK HE RAN IT INTO THE CAPE FEAR (ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM SLIP)AND BACK AND RAN FINE. I GO FISHING THE NEXT DAY AND IT KONKS ABOUT 2 MILES OUT OF THE INLET. IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING.
 

Walker

Captain
Joined
Jun 15, 2002
Messages
3,085
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

Try cleaning all the coils and block where they ground to the block.
 

james roach

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
216
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

Are you getting any type of audible alarm? If not double check your cylinder heads and make sure they are hooked up. I'm thinking this problem is electrical as well. I assume you have a manual? I did read correctly that you did replace the coils and the wires or was it just the wires? I live off of Carolina Beach RD and could possibly help you. Assuming your carbs are clean and the motor is not going into SLOW mode, your problem IS electrical. Send me an email james@bradfordproducts.com<br />Good luck.
 

cogonc

Recruit
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
5
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

i sent you an email James and thanks for the help. Although in the email i did leave out that there is no audible alarm sounding, and no, i do not have a manual.........
 

DHPMARINE

Captain
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
3,688
Re: 1990 evinrude 120 power loss

Seems like I often get out on a limb....but here goes...Obviously you have checked the battery cables.Now check them at the engine (especially the ground cable).When I read your note I felt like Yogi Berra...Deja Vous all over again.<br /><br />DHPMARINE<br /><br />WHEN YOU GET TO THE FORK IN THE ROAD.... TAKE IT
 
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