johnson 9.9 have to run with choke

badbowtie

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May 18, 2007
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I just bought a 14' deep v with a Johnson 9.9 motor this is my first outboard previous boats were I/O I have done lots of work to all them including rebuilding motors I am mechanically inclined. But just never have done much with outboards. When I choke it to start it up no problems starts up and will idle fine but the problem I am having with warm motor and choke all the way in it will idle fine. But if you try to put it in gear it will die forward or reverse. But if you pull choke back out half way to put in gear it is fine. So as long as when you slow down to load or around docks you have to pull choke out some. Once you get moving you can push the choke all the way back in and is fine. I hope someone else has ran into this and knows what this means Thanks in advance.
 

OptsyEagle

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Usually when a motor will idle fine but wants to die when put in gear is that the motor is running just a little too lean. The choke obviously creates a richer condition and overcomes that but you cannot run a motor with the choke on all the time.

I would turn the slow speed adjustment knob about 1/2 turn counter-clockwise and if that did not work, try another 1/2 turn out. If it does work then you should get the carb adjusted to the proper level with this procedure:

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...sorted-carb-variations-by-joe-reeves?t=167352

You should also post what model year your motor is and I or someone else can help you confirm that your timing advance is synchronized properly with your carburetor.

If that all fails then I would think your carb will need to be disassembled and cleaned and rebuilt with a new kit.
 

badbowtie

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May 18, 2007
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Okay I just found the chart to check model number and it is a 1988 9.9
 

badbowtie

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May 18, 2007
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I just found the serial number chart and found out I have a 88 I also am mixing the fuel at 50:1 so I am not sure if this is part of the issue.
 

OptsyEagle

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The fuel mix is fine, don't change a thing there.

I am not personally familiar with that model but to check if the timing advance is set right it probably goes like this. With the motor off, turn the throttle grip and you will notice that a metal plate (throttle cam) rotates and eventually starts hitting a roller on your carburetor. This is how the motor gets more gas. Since the spark timing needs to change as the RPMs of the motor change, you need to ensure the carburetor is synchronized with the timing advance. If it is, you will notice that there should be a mark on that throttle cam (a line or an arrow) that should be in the middle of the carb's roller JUST as the roller hits the cam. If it is in the middle you are set properly. If it is not, then there will be some screw or nut that will adjust the cam so that it is.

What I am looking for here, is that when you are idled down you will notice that the cam is not even touching the carb roller. That means the carb butterfly is fully closed. So the question is, why does the RPMs continue to reduce when you turn the throttle grip slower and slower. That is because the timing of your spark is coming later and later and eventually it comes so late the motor will die if you turn the throttle grip too far towards slow.

If the timing was off too much, you might find that the late spark might provide enough power to keep the motor idling but just not enough when you pop it in gear.

Anyway, check it out. It is probably set fine and if so, adjust the rich/lean adjust a little more rich (1/2 turn to 1 full turn counter-clockwise) and see if that helps. If it does, do the carb adjustment procedure in the link I gave you and if it has no beneficial effect, set the carb back where it was and report back.
 

kbait

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Nov 13, 2007
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I believe your carb has a plastic bowl, and plastic top (where low speed needle threads in). If that top plastic gets cracked (usually somewhere near the low speed needle), it'll let air in, and you'll never be able to set the mixture correctly. I have JB welded those cracks up and had 'em work fine.. so that's an option.

Take a careful look for a hairline crack.. you may find the culprit there.

Good luck!
 
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badbowtie

Chief Petty Officer
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May 18, 2007
Messages
634
I will check the whole timing thing tomorrow afternoon. I also have not touched the rich lean screw yet. I am really wondering if it is a rich lean issue since it smokes a very little when first start and then that is it does not smoke any at all when idling or when under throttle. I see allot of 2 stoke boats that smoke allot more than this one does. I also have a air flow knob on the front of the case next to the choke but I can turn it and cant here any difference while running.

I will also look at the carb tomorrow but I think it is all metal.
 
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