88 20HP Evinrude-timing setting

[Old P'Tooner]

I got a '88 Evinrude 20 hp electric start remote steer motor with a 16' pontoon I bought recently. It had sat for 4-5 years so the carb was well gunked up. Got the fuel system taken care of. But in the doing, I noticed tonight that the timing adjustment screw. (Rubber bumper on a slotted 1/4-20 screw) was pegged at the starter bracket w no 1/4-20 washer or nut and that white plastic throttle lever thumb screw was all the way out. The motor ran, but only w the electric primer mostly on full then would die shortly after.(hence the carb/primer cleaning), My book says to start the motor and set the timing. Not going to happen unless I get those baselines set first and go from there-???? Is there rough or bench settings to get it running then procede? I have the motor off and here at home 40 mi's from the lake.The ring gear/flywheel appears to have TDC marked w a #1 per the method in the Factory Evinrude service manual,but have not found any bench timing setting listed. I can take pics if it helps.

 

[Old P'Tooner]

Re: 88 20HP Evinrude-timing setting

If it helps here is the model # 20TELCC S/N 0730544, I'd like to get this thing going as we only have about 1.5 months left of decent weather here.

 

[countvlad]

Re: 88 20HP Evinrude-timing setting

I got a '88 Evinrude 20 hp electric start remote steer motor with a 16' pontoon I bought recently. It had sat for 4-5 years so the carb was well gunked up. Got the fuel system taken care of. But in the doing, I noticed tonight that the timing adjustment screw. (Rubber bumper on a slotted 1/4-20 screw) was pegged at the starter bracket w no 1/4-20 washer or nut and that white plastic throttle lever thumb screw was all the way out. The motor ran, but only w the electric primer mostly on full then would die shortly after.(hence the carb/primer cleaning), My book says to start the motor and set the timing. Not going to happen unless I get those baselines set first and go from there-???? Is there rough or bench settings to get it running then procede? I have the motor off and here at home 40 mi's from the lake.The ring gear/flywheel appears to have TDC marked w a #1 per the method in the Factory Evinrude service manual,but have not found any bench timing setting listed. I can take pics if it helps.

theres no timing table in the manual that tells you whats the RPM idle? thats hard to believe...

usually if you advance the throttle might be able to start the motor as long as you havent flooded the motor... give that a try....

do you have a timing light? you will need one... thats the only way to properly check the timing....

i assume you are talking about the screw circled in black... then what i would do is try to adjust the screw circled in red until u reached the desired idle RPMS.... i guess 1100 on the muffs, 1000 in neutral in water and around 650-700 in gear..

good luck

 

[Old P'Tooner]

Re: 88 20HP Evinrude-timing setting

There may very well be a table. But being new to these types of motors I am not recognizing it or not knowing what it means. Also I do have a 12v inductive automotive timing light. I know that the fuel system is clean now, but B4 it would not run for more than a few minutes and would bog out as soon as I tried to put gas to it. No matter what I tried.

1. Is the white platic knob I am refering to-(I found the setting procedure for this)
2. Is the set screw w the rubber bumper- (sometime in its past someone broke off the ground bolt and they used the set screw,probably why its out of time)
3 Another view-
4 The manual I do have-

 

[johnny 30]

Re: 88 20HP Evinrude-timing setting

In picture #1,that is your idle adjustment,I have a 87 30hp johnson my is all the way in, but yours may have to be adjusted a little differently.Pic #2 is the timing adjustment screw,my omc manual does not mention a bench mark setting for this either.Selco suggest 1/2" off outside of starter bracket only as a starting point.Followed J Reeves timing procedure found here on iboats,it really made a difference.Timing on my 30hp is 30 deg was out by 3deg,timing mark is the embossing on starter bracket(flat side).A tach really helps in final adjustments.Motor run 100% better, don't forget to adjust throttle cable at motor most times it is over looked