Johnson 5.5 won't run

[Bunky]

I have a Johnson CD18 5.5hp it run in the Tank but when I put it into gear it dies or runs with no power and dies... It has new coils, fuel pump, points condensor and Carb has been rebuilt, I have also pulled the power head and check the exhaust ports to see if they were plugged looked good, Compression is 55lbs with the recoil... Anyone have any other Idea's?????

 

[OBJ]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

Hi Bunky and welcome to the forums.<br /><br />Ya' got a great little engine there. It's a 61' if ya' didn't know. Now to the problem......<br /><br />Most of the time I find guys will over adjust the low and high speed needles. The high speed needle will only need be out a half turn to start and the low speed 3/4 turn to start. Remember, screw in the needles until the GENTLY seat. Then back out.<br /><br />Set the high speed first for max speed. Then slow down and set the low speed. This should be done at idle in gear.<br /><br />Just another thing. Did you set the throttle cam follower with the cam follower? <br /><br />There is a lever sticking straight up at the back of the carb. This is the cam follwer and this opens the throttle plate at the right time with the timing. The cam us under the flywheel and easily located. On the cam is a hash mark. When this mark is center on the cam follower, the throttle plate should just start to open. Make any adjustments on the starboard side of the carb. There is a screw there on the linkage to do this. A service manual would help if you don't have one.<br /><br />Just one more thing, when you rebuilt the carb, did you blow out all passages with carb cleaner and follow up with air?<br /><br />Keep us posted....thanks.

 

[Bunky]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

Hello Yes i knew that the engine was a 61' and I soaked the carb in Carb solvent and blew it all out with carb cleaner and air, I will have to check the Cam follower and make sure that's right. I will have to pick up a manual I just haven;t found one locally..

 

[OBJ]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

OK Bunky...that's cool....let us know what happens and don't hesitate to post if you have more questions.....Thanks!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

How is the shock-absorber portion of the 2-piece driveshaft? If it's sheared off, it can bind up against the bottom of the upper bushing in the lower unit. Motor may run fine with no load, but as soon as you put it into gear it will bind up. I had this happen on a 1960 CD.... It's worth a looksee, particularly if you haven't replaced the waterpump impeller yet, as you have to do approximately the same disassembly sequence to check either...<br />- Scott

 

[Bunky]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

Chinewalker <br />I think you might be on to something, I just took the lower unit off to check the water pump and it turns hard, I assume you have to take the bottom of the lower unit to check this????

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

Hi Bunky,<br /> The shock absorber portion is under the waterpump base. GENTLY pry it out with two screwdrivers - one on each side, working around the edges. If the center of the base looks punched upwards or cracked, that's a sure sign that the lower driveshaft is broken....<br />- Scott

 

[Bunky]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

Well I took it to the local dealer he popped the part out and sure enough the part was binding on the upper bushing, We pressed it down and now i'm gonna weld it solid he says he does this all the time as the part is NLA and another thing was that someone had taken the shift pivot pin out and out a set screw in... and it was rubbing on the gear... Thanks to all..

 

[Bunky]

Re: Johnson 5.5 won't run

Well I keep finding 1 thing after another with this engine I took the power head to the dealer today to get parts and he was messing with the flywheel and said that head gasket is bad.. I said what he says that he could tell by the compression so sure enough I came home and pulled the head and there it was the head gasket was original and burnt between the cylinders.... Well maybe tomm We will ahve it running again...