Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

maggun

Seaman Apprentice
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Jun 1, 2003
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31
Hello fellow boatsmen<br /><br />Johnson 50 '84, Mod. nr. J50BELCRM<br /><br />In coldstart engine starts easily, but it stops shortly after, requiring several attempts with choke on/off 5-7 times before it is able to keep running. Operating in the water, there is a threshold to how much throttle the engine can take before it dies i.e. it will not reach high rpm in normal operating conditions. Becauase of this we are not able to get the boat up "in plane", it acts kinda jerky in this threshold, managed one time to _almost_ get it fully in plane, but it just suddenly dropped when almost in full plane. In a test tank I can get the engine up to high rpm's, obviously because there is no load. During test in a water tank I find it somewhat stumbeling and not smooth running, sometimes I can hear it running kind of ok, and suddenly hear a serious drop in rpm, almost like it misfires. If I remove the spark plug lead from the top cylinder it keeps running, if I remove the bottom spark plug lead the engine stops or at least have more difficulty running.<br /><br />I have serviced the carburators according to the manual, cleaned for dirt and debris, changed inlet valves, and synchronized them. After carb service it starts more easily than before, however as said it will not keep running, this takes about 5-7 attempts. Probably unrelated, but compression is good.<br /><br />Thanks for any input, hope I did a better job presenting the problem this time.. ;)
 

BF

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Apr 8, 2003
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1,489
Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

A couple points....<br /><br />DON'T run the engine up to high rpm's without load... it doesn't tell you anything, and can make bad things happen.<br /><br />It was important that you did the compression test. As you said, it's only running on 1 cylinder. One reason it might have a dead cylinder is because there is no compression on that cylinder... but that's not the problem if the compression is good.<br /><br />How about spark on the dead cylinder? Could be faulty ignition. Is the plug on the dead cylinder oily or dry? If dry it points to there being a fuel problem, even though you went through the carbs already.<br /><br />If there is spark, is the timing wildly off (maybe it sheared off the flywheel key). Backfiring/jerky running might be because the timing is way off. <br /><br />Anyway, those are my thoughts....<br /><br />Brent
 

maggun

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Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

Thanks for your input BF,<br /><br />I might have made myself abit unclear on a couple of things.<br /><br />I am not sustaining high rpm without load, I just give throttle and race the engine somewhat, not very high rpm with that either.<br /><br />Both cylinders is working, but the top cylinder seems to have more difficulty running. I know both is working because if I remove the spark plug lead from either it keeps running, _but_ if I remove the bottom one I notice that it has far more difficulty running than the bottom cylinder and usually stops after a few seconds.
 

skelly

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Jul 28, 2001
Messages
45
Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

Maggum - Check your thermostat!! If your not getting up to operating temp it will run like crapp, I have a 87 50hp and found the thermostate stuck open,Replaced it and ran fine. Put your hand on the power head, If it feels cool to the touch after 2 minutes or soo thats a good indication that it is stuck open. good luck!!
 

jim dozier

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Jan 8, 2003
Messages
1,970
Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

Although you have been through the fuel system, squirt some premix into the carb throat of the cylinder that isn't working well and see if it picks up to rule out a lean cylinder. My guess is that you have a problem with the spark in one or both cylinders and you need to get a manual and start checking ignition components according to the specs.
 

maggun

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Jun 1, 2003
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31
Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

Originally posted by skelly:<br /> Maggum - Check your thermostat!! If your not getting up to operating temp it will run like crapp, I have a 87 50hp and found the thermostate stuck open,Replaced it and ran fine. Put your hand on the power head, If it feels cool to the touch after 2 minutes or soo thats a good indication that it is stuck open. good luck!!
Thank you for your reply, I will keep your suggestion in mind. However, if there is a problem with the thermostat, there must be more to it, as in my opinion the engine takes to many start attempts to get running.
 

maggun

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Jun 1, 2003
Messages
31
Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

I have redone the whole fuel system, incl. both carbs. There was some trouble with nr. 1 carb, removed some dirt, and now it starts fairly easy, just 2-3 attempts to get it running. But still, if I have the engine running on cyl nr. 1 alone, it dies quickly. Nr. 2 runs ok alone.<br /><br />The spark plug in nr. 1 is somewhat wet, it has a blank surface (little carbon debris), nr 2 is not so wet and has carbon debris and no blank surface.<br /><br />I have switched the wiring from the powerpack to the ignition coils, and the spark leads, so that nr 1 ignition coil gives spark to nr 2 cylinder and vise verca. Did this to exclude any problems with the Nr. 1 coil, and sure enough, problem is still the same..<br /><br />I am getting desperate.. :'(
 

davejnz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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May 2, 2004
Messages
115
Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

Did you do the lynch & synch procedure with your carbs?
 

maggun

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Jun 1, 2003
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Re: Johnson 50 '84, High rpm problems

Originally posted by davejnz:<br /> Did you do the lynch & synch procedure with your carbs?
Yes, everything is done according to the manual. Nothing seems to overcome the issue we experience. Also, I would belive that synching has little effect to the condition of nr 1 in idle.<br /><br />The cylinder nr. 1 is running badly in idle, and that is why I also belive that this one is the cause for bad performance in high rpm.
 
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