Success sweet success...

[robtown]

So I bought a project boat in July with a 72 50hp Johnson, started tinkering and immediately found this site.

With ya'll's help I was able to diagnose the ignition system, the electric shift in the lower unit, and the fact that the carbs were in pretty rough shape. Just finished rebuilding the carbs on Monday of this week, took it out today for the first successful run ever. Ran for two hours straight, and used a half tank of fuel, had a blast...

I still have a little bit of a lug at idle, and if I leave it the Neutral position too long it will eventually die, but things were going too well to try and adjust it out there on the water, last thing I needed was to drop a tool or part in the water or cause it to somehow not crank back up... I'll slap the muffs on it and tinker with it here.

Anyway, I wanted to say thanks to you all for your help.

To recap what all I had to do:
Timer base was bad (you showed me how to test it)
Lower Unit didn't shift (bought a used Evinrude lower unit off Ebay, works good)
And the carbs were pretty darned varnished... (your help led me to the correct solution on the first try)

I still haven't bought that damn manual though...

 

[danpemby]

Re: Success sweet success...

I for one am happy for your success! 8)

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Success sweet success...

Good job! Don't hear too much about end results. Glad it worked out and thanks for letting us know...

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Success sweet success...

Thanks for the cap and ditto on rick's remark.

Now get you some Sea Foam and do a decarb. Might fix your long idle problem. Sounds like the engine is loading up. The low speed bogging could be carbon (Sea Foam will fix) or could be the low speed jet(s) needs a 1/4 ish inch additional opening. Do the seafoam and give it time to work before you diddle with the carb jet.

Mark

 

[robtown]

Re: Success sweet success...

Maybe I don't fully understand what "lugging" is. It accelerates fine, pretty smooth through lower RPM's and smooth as glass @ full throttle. It idles so low at neutral that it will eventually die, I just figured that I needed to adjust the needles a bit more, or kick the idle adjustment up a hair...

I was practically running on fumes when I came back in or I would've tied up at the ramp and fiddled with it. I needed to get it back on the trailer before I ran it dry.

I will run the Sea Foam though, as it can't hurt.

Thanks

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Success sweet success...

Let's see, '72 50 hp should be electronic ignition; think my '72 125 was. With that said, idle speed, with the engine in F gear, in the water should be about 675 rpm's. Too fast and you have a problem shifting without damaging your lower unit; too slow and it does as yours.........dies.

Mark