Advice on starting '68 6HP Johnson after sitting for 10 years

[oldboat1]

sounds like progress on the cooling issue(s). (Check for leaking around that blasted t.stat cover gasket.) Just monitor engine temp (hand on top of cyl. head, or use of an infrared gun) until water has a chance to circulate through. The t.stat opens at around 140 degrees F, and they vary some. That's similar to the temp of the hot water in your home water heater or at the faucet. Pretty hot to touch, so shouldn't be overly cautious either. If you can hold the heel of your hand on the top of the head for a few seconds, that's about right. If it's clearly too hot to touch, shut it down. If a little new to outboard maintenance, need to get that thing up and running properly before you can get a sense of what the proper running temp is (kind of circular....)

 

[olympic]

I have the thermostat back in with cover on and ran a water test and yep, got water so the problem was just the water tube wasn't lining up in previous attempts. The motor is still shutting itself off after running for maybe 10-15 seconds. I do have a pretty good fuel leak at the filter cap that bolts onto the top of the fuel pump. I'll get that fixed (part on order) and see if that was perhaps causing a fuel pressurization problem. If that doesn't fix it then I am thinking it might be a coil issue given that they are likely original. I welcome thoughts. Thanks again for all the continued help!

 

[oldboat1]

sounds offhand like fuel rather than ignition, but then that's probably owing to your reference to that fuel leak. Check under the filter to see if the rubber gasket is in place. If the rubber gasket is in there, think it probably should seal. If the pump is leaking elsewhere, likely a rebuild (I replace them -- too many small parts for my liking). Anyway, got past the cooling issues!

 

[Tim Frank]

OP mentioned in an earlier post that that the inlet housing....the plastic part has a crack. He has a replacement on order.
That can bring things to a skidding halt on its own.

 

[AlTn]

if you have time and want to...you can use some other container to hold the fuel mix and run a hose to the float bowl connection...the fuel pump to carb hose can be directed to another container so the fuel still in the hose and pump will be pumped into it...anyway, if the new fuel supply is a ft. or so higher than the carb it will supply enough pressure for the engine to idle in gear and help to determine why it is shutting off....just an idea....I kept an old plastic tank off a lawnmower and use it for this purpose

 

[olympic]

Hey all, sorry for the delay in my followup. Had to wait for parts and was under the weather but feeling better now. Anyhow, got the fuel pump cap and got that installed. Motor now starts right up (always seem have to choke it even when warm for some reason). Pumps water and now not running out of fuel or dying after running for a bit. Runs fine at higher idle but as soon as I try to idle it down into the shift/slow range it just slowly dies out. Sometimes I can feather the throttle and catch it and get it back up to higher idle. So right now it doesn't want to idle down into the range where you would want to be to shift into forward or reverse. Seems to run fine and consistent at a higher to medium revs in neutral, just doesn't want to idle down but for a couple seconds before she tries to just die out. Thoughts? Thanks!