landofskysailor
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2005
- Messages
- 8
Great forum. Learning a lot! Onwed my first boat and motor one year. I have an old Johnson Seahorse 8hp with the longshaft. I have read the posts but no perfect match found. Here is my situation:<br /><br />After about 10-15 hours motoring during a sailing trip the motor quit as I approached the ramp from teh docks to pull out (at least it ran for the vacation). Upon getting it home and on the stand, it seaped a lot more oil/fuel mix out of the exhaust and the water intake at the base than in the past (maybe a 1/2 teaspoon vs. a few drops). I figured with a lot of idleing, it ran too rich and flooded (I only just learned about the idle adjustments reading other posts). Still the oil/fuel seap seems a bit excessive.<br /><br />Upon inspection, I noted that the little retainer pin in the pull-start assembly (the one that guides the catch up to the wheel so it will crank) had come part way out of the hole and had rubbed and shaved off a little dust from the wheel. I cleaned up the dust, including siping out of the air intake, but did not pull off/apart the carb. <br /><br />Also, from a previouis service by a hack when I first got the motor, the top spark plug was partially stripped and while the plug will hold, it has been slightly seeping oil/fuel mix. This now appears to have worsened and with only a couple clean threads at the end, I fear overtightening. <br /><br />So...I cleaned up everthing including the plugs and got the motor to run for about 1-2 minutes (idle and full speed) before it quit again. It ran rough the whole time. I could not get it to do more than cough after that. (same as when i left the docks to the ramp at the end of my trip.) Bulb firms up and fuel is being delivered and I assume since it runs for a minute on both, spark is good.) <br /><br />During the 2 minute runing, the top plug seaped enough mix to drizzle to the base of the motor . <br /><br />So here is my question: If I can get the plug to hold without a heliocoil , but with a slight leak (as it has for a year), will that prevent the motor from running if it goes too far (leaks more)? <br /><br />Or...could the shaved wheel dust have screwed up or clogged the carb (or worse considering the oil/fuel seapage on the stand)? <br /><br />Note: I noticed this engine does not have any filter in the air intake so there was nothing to prevent it from sucking in dust. Should it have a filter or is it designed not to? <br /><br />Also note: I have been hauling this motor on its side (gearshift lever up)in the bed of my truck when trailering the boat. Many have said its ok and others say not too good. Not sure if tahat could be a source of the problem.<br /><br />Any advice is appreciated including what I should expect in cost to have the heliocoil (sp?) put in, carb cleaned, ?.<br /><br />Ron