help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

towtruckgirl

Recruit
Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
5
i bought a boat and the motor starts fine,and runs for a mile or two,then it shuts off. i restart the engine but as soon as i put it on drive it shuts off,but if i put it on reverse it runs but wont go on forward..what can it be??
 

rockyrude

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
1,120
Re: help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

We need more information before we can help. What year? model number? The model number can be found on a plate attached to the transom mount on the port side of the motor.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

Howdy, TTGirl.

Welcome to iboats. :)

Sounds like you have a hot failure killing the ignition in one or two (2cyl or 3 cyl?) cylinders, TTGirl. That is just a guess. Most multicylinder 2 stroke engines will make enough power to operate in reverse on one cylinder, and hot failures in the ignition usually occur only after a few minutes of loaded operation.

We need the model number and more info.

After the engine cools does it go back to behaving properly for a while?
Have you tried pumping the primer bulb (fuel line) when it is down on power?
 

towtruckgirl

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Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
5
Re: help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

when i bought it i had to buy new battery cause the battery kept on dying on me and i found that the starter wasnt the right one for it and they had a bunch of washers on it but it was to tight and i couldnt started then i took care of that and got it started. i decided to go on the water and try it and he ran for about 1/2 a mile and died on me and wouldnt start again had to paddle back. then i cleaned the carb a little with carb cleaner and tried again and ran for about 2 miles and died on me but started every time it ran on reverse but every time i put it on drive died on me i tried accelerating while on drive and took off but only for 5 sec and dead again. i bought the boat and motor for cheap cause it was supposed to be ready to go and i havent been able to fish only paddle back dissapointed. the guy that sold it to me was supposed to come with a mechanic and never showed up wont even pick up the phone for me or call me back any way thats the problem with the motor i hope that helps to determine the the problem i hope u can help thank you all.
 

towtruckgirl

Recruit
Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
5
Re: help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

Howdy, TTGirl.

Welcome to iboats. :)

Sounds like you have a hot failure killing the ignition in one or two (2cyl or 3 cyl?) cylinders, TTGirl. That is just a guess. Most multicylinder 2 stroke engines will make enough power to operate in reverse on one cylinder, and hot failures in the ignition usually occur only after a few minutes of loaded operation.

We need the model number and more info.

After the engine cools does it go back to behaving properly for a while?
Have you tried pumping the primer bulb (fuel line) when it is down on power?

no it wont behave properly and yes i tried pumping the primer bulb but like i said starts every time and stays on runs on reverse but put it on drive and dies try again the next day runs for a while and same thing again except that every time i try again runs a little longer could it be cause it wasnt used for three years?
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

I do hope you aren't running that thing hot. You seem to be too knowledgeable to do that. Your motor is a 1971. They have a CD Ignition system with breaker points. I'd say you need to pull the flywheel (and distributor cap beneath it) and check out that area. Breaker point gap is .010, and must be precise. Distributor cap and rotor must be clean. There is a silver wire anti-reverse ring in there that prevents the engine from running backwards. That ring has to be lubricated very sparingly with just a dab of EP grease. If it runs dry, it wears and the metal dust from the wear contaminates the electrics. Spark plugs should be L77JC4 or UL77JC4. Trash the surface gap spark plugs that came with the motor when new, if they are still in there.
You need a puller to get the flywheel off and a torque wrench to put it back on at 70-85 ft/lbs. You can rent the tools from some auto parts stores. The puller is called a "harmonic balancer puller". Use only hardened Grade-8 bolts with the puller. Lesser bolts will break.
 

towtruckgirl

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Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
5
Re: help my 60hp johnson outboard motor

thank you fr im goin to try that hope it works ill let you know how it goes after that
 
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