New boater needs help

[ChipT]

I have an '89 Johnson 25 that I recently purchased...first boat..and I have a few questions that I hope this forum can help me with.<br /><br />1.Motor does not want to idle. It will knock off after a few seconds of idling or most of the time when put into gear. I am a rookie and I noticed the gas vent was closed when I was loading up to leave the lake. Can that cause the idle trouble? Ran great from quarter throttle on. How do you adjust the idle on these motors?<br /><br />2. What is the red switch for on the primer? Which way is open or off?<br /><br />3. What is the switch for below the key switch on the shifter/throttle control?<br /><br />4. Is there suppose to be any type of air cleaner on the carb?<br /><br />Thanks for the help!

 

[ralphhotdog]

Re: New boater needs help

Hi Chip, I'm not much more than a rookie myself but I can answer some of your questions. If your engine ran good at first starting out then began dieing on you it may have been the vent. Usually if you start out with the vent closed the engine will run until it draws a vacuum in the fuel tank when it will begin starving for fuel. I'd check it out at the lake again. The switch below the key is a safety kill switch. It should have a lanyard that hooks to the operator of the boat to turn the engine off if you fall from the boat. I have two outboards. An 89 Mercury 35hp and a 98 Force 40hp and neither has any kind of air cleaner on them.<br /> HotDog

 

[ChipT]

Re: New boater needs help

bump

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: New boater needs help

Chip.... There are no adjustments that can be made to the carbs. All of the jets are brass fixed jets. The only adjustment one can make is with the throttle cable itself ie increase or decrease the throttle mechanical setting.<br /><br />Regardless of the problem, First, check the compression first. It should be approx 100+ psi and even on all cylinders.<br /><br />Then, check the spark. With the s/plugs removed, check the spark. It should jump a 7/16" gap with a strong blue flame on all cylinders. (The s/plugs must be removed in order to obtain the highest rpm available).<br /><br />If the above checks out okay, I'd suspect that the carburetors are fouled somewhat and will require removing, cleaning, and rebuilding.<br /><br />The spark plugs should be Champion QL77JC4 plugs, with the gap set to .040 .