I have a 2001 Johnson 150hp J150VXSIG that I have been dealing with a fuel starvation issue for longer then I care to admit. I will start I have a Seloc manual and wish I could find an OEM Service Manual (I guess that is my first question).
To go into it... the motor was intermittent for a while where sometimes it would idle (or not) and then let me go to WOT and then when I would come back to idle it would die or die when I came back up. Then it progressed to where it would not let me give it any throttle without bogging and dying. If I hand pumped the priming bulb it would work. So being a rookie I started throwing parts at the fuel system without doing a true diagnosis. I started with replacing the VRO to a conventional fuel pump and premixing, this did not fix it. I then replaced all fuel hoses and put hose clamps on all fittings, still same problem. Then I rebuilt all 6 carbs, same problem. So I got half a brain since it must be an air leak and I used clear hoses from priming bulb to fuel inlet and also from the vapor tank/fuel pump to the carb fuel trees. Air bubbles were pouring in from vapor tank to carbs until it would die out on me. So I rebuilt the vapor pump and the vapor tank.
This is fixed my bogging problem. I had it out on the water tonight and was running great from high clutch ahead to WOT. However, the problem I still have is at idle and clutch ahead, it will die out on me every time unless I give it throttle. It also makes starting and leaving the dock a pain with this issue. Could this simply be the carb mixture needle valves need to be backed out more from rebuilding the carbs (I did 5 turns like the seloc told me)? Or my carb floats need proper adjusting? Or do I need to look elsewhere?
Sorry for such a long post just wanted to give the full back story. And want to say I have truely enjoyed making so many of these mistakes and eventually learning how to do this all the right way. It is very satisfying this solve these problems yourself/cost savings.
Thanks for the help.
Alex
To go into it... the motor was intermittent for a while where sometimes it would idle (or not) and then let me go to WOT and then when I would come back to idle it would die or die when I came back up. Then it progressed to where it would not let me give it any throttle without bogging and dying. If I hand pumped the priming bulb it would work. So being a rookie I started throwing parts at the fuel system without doing a true diagnosis. I started with replacing the VRO to a conventional fuel pump and premixing, this did not fix it. I then replaced all fuel hoses and put hose clamps on all fittings, still same problem. Then I rebuilt all 6 carbs, same problem. So I got half a brain since it must be an air leak and I used clear hoses from priming bulb to fuel inlet and also from the vapor tank/fuel pump to the carb fuel trees. Air bubbles were pouring in from vapor tank to carbs until it would die out on me. So I rebuilt the vapor pump and the vapor tank.
This is fixed my bogging problem. I had it out on the water tonight and was running great from high clutch ahead to WOT. However, the problem I still have is at idle and clutch ahead, it will die out on me every time unless I give it throttle. It also makes starting and leaving the dock a pain with this issue. Could this simply be the carb mixture needle valves need to be backed out more from rebuilding the carbs (I did 5 turns like the seloc told me)? Or my carb floats need proper adjusting? Or do I need to look elsewhere?
Sorry for such a long post just wanted to give the full back story. And want to say I have truely enjoyed making so many of these mistakes and eventually learning how to do this all the right way. It is very satisfying this solve these problems yourself/cost savings.
Thanks for the help.
Alex
Last edited: