Johnson outboard troubleshoot
Hey guys,
recently I've been foolish a buggered up my helm and steering cables so the boat has been out of action for a while now as I gather the funds to fix her, been a bit hard with my new roster/building a house and so forth anyways......
normally I would start my outboard every time I'm home, ( every second week) and she was sweet, she is a 1994 Johnson 40hp with oil injection,
after i buggered the steering I gave my fuel to a friend and when home and washing her I let it run dry( out of fuel) as I knew it would be a while before I could get it on the water again,
After three weeks of sitting in the shed I have gone to start it and it would fire and run for maybe 3-5 seconds
then die out, I tried this about ten times with similar results, checking the spark plugs and they seemed fine and I checked the fuel lines from tank to filter and that all seems fine any ways I had placed to be and had to pack her away again until today, so today with fresh 98 fuel I once again tried to get it running,
same problem, runs for 3-5 seconds then dies, sound like its possibly starving, So a few curses and looking for small faults with limited mech exp, I discovered now that I'm leaking oil out of the prop and skeg , it looks like motor oil and not leg oil all though I cannot be too sure,
I've also noticed that one of the spark plugs rubber bracket ( for lack of a better word) wiring seemed bit dodge and when removing it it actually stayed on the spark plug itself but after a bit of fumbling I got it back in but I know I'll need a new one of these,
one last try before I call the mechanic and add it to my list of bills at the moment and this time I continued to press in the key to keep squirting fuel in when it started to die, this kept it running for longer at a higher revs but once I dropped it down to just idle it died again,
i hope ole someone may of exp this type of problem before and could hopefully give me an idea on what it may be,
The art of fishing consists of casting, winding, trolling and jigging
while freezing, sweating, swatting and swearing.
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
If I leave my johno (use tot
If I leave my johno (use tot work away for up to 8 weeks) for a long time the same thing used to happen ....minus the oil. (don't know about that)
would burst into action run for 2-5 sec then die.
used to just persevere and eventually it would run for longer and longer until it was fine.
try squeezing primer bulb as soon as it fires to see if it runs for a little longer.
Mine gets used pretty well weekly now and don't have that problem but the longer I leave it .....maybe 2-3 weeks it may die 2-4 times ....when I'd work away it went for up to 3 months without a start and could possibly take 50 starts ....always eventually went.
don't do this continually give it a few starts then leave for couple of miuntes. can do damage to starter if you continually crank it.
Edit: if it looks like engine oil it could be the injection unit bleeding a small amount into the system over a long period...which is not something to be worried about.
just means that it will take a bit of starting (and smoke) to get it going.
sandbar
Posts: 704
Date Joined: 25/10/09
oil could be
from it being flooded. I have had this happen.
I too work away and come home to a motor that's
been left a while. As previously mentioned try
squeezing the bulb as its running, also change the
fuel filter
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Its over oiling
Because you ran it dry with fuel, the Oil injection is still pumping oil while it is starving from fuel. This oil would have built up in the cylinders and as you are now running clean fuel and turned it over several times it has now been pumped out into the exhaust collected the carbon from the exhaust and now dripped down the leg.
Clean spark plugs maybe disconnect oil line and crank it a few more times while pumping the fuel line bulb. As soon as it fires reconnect the oil line. Dont run oil injected outboards dry of fuel. Disconnect the fuel line and drain the carby bowl. Edit: If it has a carby bowl.
Edit: You are trying to avoid stale fuel I believe by running it dry. Fuel itself without oil in it is generally good for upto 3 months, when mixed with oil(premix in tank) it is prone to phase separation which can happen within a month. As yours is oil injected im assuming you have an oil resevoir so the fuel and oil dont mix until the engine? If you are really concerned use a fuel stabiliser like stabil or outboard branded fuel conditioner but it must be done with the fuel fresh, once it has split out then nothing can recombine it.
Bryan
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
so ......
how'd you go ?
what Sarcasm says sounds right. but would add that if you are trying to avoid stale fuel use quality fuel.
BP or Caltex (yes it makes a difference in your boat or car (especially diesel) ....and no I don't work for them .........any more. lol) will last a long time easily 6 months or more.
Brock O
Posts: 3232
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Get exactly
the same from my 95 johno 115hp two stroke, more so after the rebuild because we were running the extra oil.
Even now we still have some hard starting but once system is full she's up and good, still sorting best way to get started without possible flooding as priming and having choke on maybe not required as much. Would change all your leads out if your suss on them, I had one of my leads fall off the plug ends before, I changed these and check these regularly as there easy to catch when removing cowling.
also as above, I always run 98.
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Why run 98?
The engines compression is not high enough to capitalise on the extra octane. Maybe in the OP's situation it wouldnt be a bad idea to try to burn some of the crap out on a flat out run once its up and running but otherwise you are just spending money for no return.
Bryan
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
Brock o: as far as the best
Brock o: as far as the best way to start after a long period.
for me anyway.... 02 135 Johno ocean pro. was
no choke... squeeze primer until firm...as soon as it fired squeeze primer bulb and keep firm
rinse repeat couple of times until started.
have had mine for ten years now.
have run 98 couple of times with no noticeable difference and only use Mercury ...(quicksilver) oil.
Valvoline 2 stroke mix was the worst in mine. (hard to start smokey as hell. )
quicksilver was a HUGE difference in the starting. eg I used Valvoline once 4L and after just a week it was hard to start and put out a bat mobile smoke screen... back to quicksilver can leave for couple of weeks with no probs.
Brock O
Posts: 3232
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Cheers
was discussing this with mate last trip, can only put it down to flooding one way or another with oil! New plugs going in next week and will go with out priming through key and choke.
Funny you should say as problem has raised since changing 2 stroke oil...... Will go back next bottle!
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
I still prime with push key
I still prime with push key until it's warmed up then ofcourse doesn't need it.
hope the oil makes a difference for you
Cheers
Brock O
Posts: 3232
Date Joined: 11/01/08
It's a 2 stroke
how is the compression not high enough, what's got higher compression average car motor or 2 stroke ? Notice a big difference with my last motor 07 merc 2 stroke, no pinging down low and more top end...way cleaner and better in my opinion.
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
The motor is not designed to run it
The only outboards designed to capitalise on the extra octane are high performance donks like merc verados etc. Ask a marine mechanic about it. If it works for you then sweet, im just saying there will be no performance benefit.
Happens all the time in marine service, blokes coming in saying should I run 98, mechanics response is pretty much there is no point unless you are trying to burn any carbon deposits out of the cylinders. Personally I think a good blat after a day of low speed running will do just the same.
Bryan
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Sarcasm0 is spot on by
Sarcasm0 is spot on by disconnecting the fuel line it has just kept pumping oil in (and that'll be what your seeping oil is), even if your not going to use for a while don't bother doing this the small amount of stale fuel in the carbs won't matter much next time you restart it'll burn through pretty quick (can drain the bowls but not worth the effort in my mind).
I had a johnno 70 and it got to the point it was a prick to start first thing at times but you could get it going - just keep trying it'll fire, die, fire, die etc. and eventually run and blow a shit load of smoke for a bit, you'll need to play with the rev lever a bit to egt it going - once warmed up she will run sweet all day and you'll be right. Might need to replace the lead though depending on how bad this is
Have also helped out another guy with a johnno and the same issue took an hour but got it going good motors but this is a common issue - was to the point I came close to disconnecting the oil inj and just premixing in tank (but bought a 4 stroke instead)
PS may pay to check the fuel lines just to make sure your getting fuel up otherwise you'll just keep pumping the oil in and not get anywhere - as your trying to start it squeeze the bulb between trys
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sandbar
Posts: 704
Date Joined: 25/10/09
Cheers
Sarcasm, very informative. My mechanic said exactly what you say reguarding 98, "there is no point".
Super Peg can we assume your silence is due to you being out on the water? How is it?
Super peg
Posts: 760
Date Joined: 02/09/12
Hey everyone, thanx for the
Hey everyone, thanx for the advice, it's nice to know that fairly common problem, I'll attenpt the disengage the oil line and try to get it to run, as said above it'll continue to run for 3-5 seconds each time, will try the primer bulb trick, the push key worked for a bit at higher revs, shit load of smoke hahaha
once again thank you to all for the advice and knowledge I will post up this arvo on how I go.
The art of fishing consists of casting, winding, trolling and jigging
while freezing, sweating, swatting and swearing.
Super peg
Posts: 760
Date Joined: 02/09/12
Happy days as said above by
Happy days as said above by a few, disconnected to oil and she went second go, then oil back on and she ran fine, thanx a lot for the advice, a definite weight off my mind
The art of fishing consists of casting, winding, trolling and jigging
while freezing, sweating, swatting and swearing.