will not idle runs great wide open

[jeff6898]

1979 Evinrude 85hp 85999R

My boat has sat for 9 months. Went to take it out today. Had to manualy choke it and hold throttle open to start it. FInally got it running. Ran great wide open 5,100 rpms 41 mph. Ran this way for 15 minutes Stopped and it would not restart. SOmetime it will kick over and run for a second and thats it. ANy ideas? I did put stabalizer in the tank back 9 months ago. Great running wide open wil not idle or start back up. Compression 140 all 4 spark jumps great.

 

[SS140]

Re: will not idle runs great wide open

haha hey Jeff.... It's Matt, from Panama City. Did you happen to run that thing in the lake water or in the bay? haha

 

[speedcat2000]

Re: will not idle runs great wide open

Warning: I am a total novice here. I have a 75 Johnson 85 horse, have had numerous starting problems and hope to be able to help a bit.

Did the motor die or did you stop it yourself?

Did you mix new fuel with the old, just use the old, or drain the old and use new fuel?

Have you tried opening up the carbs and spraying in pre-mixed fuel? Could be you've just jammed the fuel system with some old crap and need to force some new stuff through. Or clean the fuel filter and assure you have fuel all the way to your carbs.

You need to have your batteries charged to the max to rule that out. I've gone out before when I thought the batteries were up to speed, and they were not. Rule out the simple stuff first.

On my old Johnson, the choke valve (metal plate in front of the carb) doesn't close all the way even when the choke is manually closed. I have to physically hold the damn thing shut when starting for the first time, or when the motor is hard to start. I took off the intake air cover and use my oar to close the damn thing. Until I can figure out how to adjust it to close all the way. Unless I do this, the motor will not start.

Finally there's the fuel bulb - did you prime that sucker until it's completely hard? I was wary about this until I learned that these motors are hard to "flood" and even if you do flood them, they deflood quickly. Having solid pressure from the bulb is totally critical to starting because the fuel delivery system is pressure based (I am simplifying the issue here).

 

[jeff6898]

Re: will not idle runs great wide open

Ran in fresh water Deerpoint. I mixed the old fuel with the new fuel dumb move on my part. I think I just might rebuild the carbs this weekend.

 

[SS140]

Re: will not idle runs great wide open

Yeah man, you should. Im getting ready to head to Tharps landing and pull mine out of the water, gonna rebuild the carbs again and figure out this thermostat issue.

See you around the lake

 

[speedcat2000]

Re: will not idle runs great wide open

what kind of boat goes 41 mph with an old 85 Johnson?

mine is a 1974 15' Reinell tri hull, and I think I'd be lucky to get 25-30mph at WOT (have not measured this), but then again I must have the most ganked prop in the western hemisphere that still (barely) works.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: will not idle runs great wide open

Time for a carb service.