Old 6hp OMC - problem with idle when hot

Swell

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Aug 8, 2010
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98
I created a recent thread where I was trying to sort out my lack of idle, and resolved it through correct slow speed needle adjustment. It's a 1968 Johnson 6hp.

HOWEVER, although it idles fine when cold after starting, it has real problems idling when hot after a run. The engine has a nice even running sound when cold, but when hot it develops more of a 'chugging' type of sound at idle, and stalls after about 30 seconds.

The sound is not dissimilar to the sound it made when I was testing crankcase pressure. I used a gravity fuel feed, removed the fuel pump and plugged the pulse hole. When the pulse hole was partially unplugged, the engine made a similar sort of sound, and died fairly quickly.

So I'm wondering if I'm losing crankcase pressure when the engine is hot? Is this possible? Could there be any other causes of a poor idle when hot?

The engine has had a complete set of new ignition parts, a fully overhauled carburettor and new head gasket.
 

1946Zephyr

Vice Admiral
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Oct 21, 2008
Messages
5,556
Re: Old 6hp OMC - problem with idle when hot

What did the coils look like? Were they replaced as well?
 

Swell

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Aug 8, 2010
Messages
98
Re: Old 6hp OMC - problem with idle when hot

Coils were replaced so are basically new. One of the old coils cut out when hot so it was down to one cylinder - obviously that one's sorted now. I do wonder if the chugging might be caused by a cylinder cutting out?
 

kbait

Commander
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Nov 13, 2007
Messages
2,471
Re: Old 6hp OMC - problem with idle when hot

You may have a bad condenser if it seems to be running on one cylinder when you have the issue. I'd bring a spark tester w/next time and check spark immediately when the problem occurs to confirm that.. or at least to confirm a spark delivery to plug issue. (could be a bad spark plug.)
 

Swell

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
98
Re: Old 6hp OMC - problem with idle when hot

I'll do that. If it's just an ignition problem it should be relatively easy to rectify - unlike low crankcase pressure.

Can condensers be affected by heat? As I say, it runs fine when cold.
 
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