Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

[valand]

Hello, I need some help with my outboard and as I read a few posts, I'm sure somebody will know what is my problem...
I got the engine from a friend to use as spare parts for my older one, but my older one now is gone and I'm trying to get this one working...it has been swimming in salt water once...
Anyway, I was able to get it to run, it worked for a week without any problem, then it started to run on one cilinder only, checked the sparkplug and it was fouled, black and oily, I thought was a carburator issue, I opened it up, cleaned it, but it never worked anymore. The upper cilinder's plug was working and the engine started on one cilinder. Now both sparkplugs don't give any sign of life.. any idea ?

 

[Beek14]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

Whats your compression?

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

Whats your compression?

No idea, I have no instruments to check it, can it be the problem ?

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

No idea, I have no instruments to check it, can it be the problem ?

Welcome aboard.
Compression and spark tests are good starting points for an unknown motor.
Don't know where you are located, but you can borrow a compression tester for free from Autozone or Oreilly's auto parts stores. You can also purchase a spark tester for about $7 (US).
Since you mentioned no spark, then that's at least one problem that will keep it from starting. You have CD ignition on your motor. See link below to the trouble shooting guide. One quick thing you can do is disconnect the ground leg for the stop button and retry. If your spark returns, that would indicate a problem with your stop button. Let us know if you need more help.

http://www.cdielectronics.com/downloads/troubleshooting guide/OMC 2 Cylinder 1977-2006 4-60 HP.pdf

edit: Just for reference, I added a link to the parts diagram for your motor...
http://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-parts.php?year=1981&hp=15&model=E15RCIS

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

Thanks, unfortunately I live in the caribbean (regarding borrowing tools etc..) and I live on my sailboat and I'm italian, so I may write funny things from time to time, I don't know many terms and expression in english. My outboard is like your car, I need it to get to work, go shopping etc...at the moment I have 2 outboard and both not working !!!
Thanks for the welcome, I'm happy that I found you people, very helpful and knowledged people...
Anyway, I did check the powerpack resistances and shorts...no shorts and resistances close to the ones indicated but a bit different, I think it should not be a problem...hopefully, but i got a bit over the spark problem, I found a pin of the connector from the powerpack to the magneto & co that was bent and probably not connected. I have now spark, not a nice blue one like I suppose it should be but orange, but the motor started and that's a wonderful step forward. It sterted but it runs only if I keep it high in revs, if I slow down it die. I had a fuel pump kit so I rebuild it, checked and if I squeeze fuel with the hand pump it goes through easy, and cranking the engine it squirts out fuel, not big squirts but I guess it should only keep a minimum pressure to get fuel up from the tank.
After running it for a minute or so, I open checked the spark plugs, the upper one is black with deposits, the lower one if wet and the liquid is a creamy color (maybe some water gets in there ??).
While running I went close with my hand to the cable that runs from the coil to the spark plug, I got an electric shock, is that normal ?

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

Update...I can start it and run it for as long as I want, but only at high revs. When I slow down it dies...I placed a clear tube from fuel pump to the carburator, no bubbles. I disconnected the hose from the carburator while engine was running and it blew around a lot of fuel, the fuel pump works perfectly. Second test, I put it in the water, started and kept revs a bit high to keep it running and put in gear but the engine has not much power, it doesn't go up in revs at full throttle but it keeps going for a while. As soon as I slow down it dies. May be compression problems ?

 

[the machinist]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

I would guess you may only have it firing only on one cylinder. Some will test a spark on pull over but not enough to fire the plug under compression.

These motors run quite well on one cylinder, but in the water have no power & will die if slowed down. Could be weak coil or a corroded spark plug wire at the coil or even inside the plug boot. Even a corroded ground connection under the coil to the block/head.

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

I would guess you may only have it firing only on one cylinder. Some will test a spark on pull over but not enough to fire the plug under compression.

These motors run quite well on one cylinder, but in the water have no power & will die if slowed down. Could be weak coil or a corroded spark plug wire at the coil or even inside the plug boot. Even a corroded ground connection under the coil to the block/head.

Hi, thanks for the tips, I checked the grounding wire, all good, the spark plug wire too, no corrosion in the boot, I had the all apart. One question...I had the lower unit apart to clear the water tubes and I noticed there was a seal on the vertical shaft, inside a conical cover. That wasn't looking very well, but I didn't touch it. Can water get in there and contaminates the fuel in the lower cilinder only ?

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

I would guess you may only have it firing only on one cylinder. Some will test a spark on pull over but not enough to fire the plug under compression.

These motors run quite well on one cylinder, but in the water have no power & will die if slowed down. Could be weak coil or a corroded spark plug wire at the coil or even inside the plug boot. Even a corroded ground connection under the coil to the block/head.

Ok, my problem was the seal on the vertical shaft, when I will get the part I will put everything back together and see if that was the only reason why it was not running. Anyway, I opened the intake manifold to have a look inside and I found a little screen and a little check valve. The holes going in the engine block were full of dirt. On one side that conduit is going in the crankcase head where I have the damaged seal and it now it is clean. On the other side, where the screen and check valve are, the hole is heading into the cylinder block but I cannot blow through, anybody can tell me where this hole goes ?

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

Ok, got everything back together, but still not running well. The motor works at idle, revs up like everything is ok, both cilinders works, but when I put it in gear doesn't want to run properly. I tried to disconnect one plug with engine running, got electrocuted, is it normal or there is something that can be wrong ? I didn't remove the flywheel yet but I don't know if there can be something wrong under there, is it ?

 

[AlTn]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

google..Leeroy's Ramblings..outboard motor repair articles..9.9/15 hp....an extensive amount of info on your engine is given ..also..marineengine.com has diagrams of your motor so we can all get on the same page as to what exactly you are speaking of in regards to components

Yes, compression can be contributing to your problems, as well as erratic spark and fuel delivery. When Jasper asked about your compression is was for that reason as it's a starting point for any other decisions regarding repair and diagnosis.

 

[valand]

Re: Johnson 15hp E15RCIS 1981

google..Leeroy's Ramblings..outboard motor repair articles..9.9/15 hp....an extensive amount of info on your engine is given ..also..marineengine.com has diagrams of your motor so we can all get on the same page as to what exactly you are speaking of in regards to components

Yes, compression can be contributing to your problems, as well as erratic spark and fuel delivery. When Jasper asked about your compression is was for that reason as it's a starting point for any other decisions regarding repair and diagnosis.

Thanks thanks thanks, the site is impressive, everything is explained very well and I got to my problem...crankshaft upper seal is damaged and leaking badly...now I will change it, but I noticed the crankshaft move a tiny bit, so I guess the bearing can have a bit of wear. Is it normal that it moves a little bit or it should be really tight ?

Thanks again
Andy