Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

[Meals_on_Reels]

Hello everyone. Getting ready to freshin this baby up. Runs like a champ as it is right now but I just bought it a couple weeks ago & previous owner said he hadent done a thing to it besides change the lower end oil a few times in the past three years.

I bought all kinds of goodies (THANKS iBoats! ) Plan to change the lower seals, water pump, thermostat, plug wires, plugs, coils, condensers, & points. Don't see anything that looks overly complex but I am kinda thrown off by timing proceedure. My service manual is kinda brief to say the least and it refers to using a "special tool" to set the timing.

Anyone have a shadetree version of this method? I havent even started to tear into this baby yet but I wanna know exactly what I am doing before I start so there are no suprises. Any other tips or advice when doing any of the above would also be appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[JB]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

I fear you are about to break the technician's first law.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Meals_on_Reels]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

Better to fix it and have piece of mind than be stuck in the middle of no where thinkin "I knew I shoulda serviced it".

It has been 3 years since it was tuned up & whos to really say what was done at that point. Its a 42 year old outboard. Id say its probably due. I am a fan of proper preventative maintenance. Spend some now and save more later. You know, like replace the water pump before it goes out and you dont realize it and then stuff gets all siezed up and crispy.

 

[Rick.]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

For sure some maintenance is due. Not sure I would recommend doing the gear case though. The one thing you failed to mention that I would do however is the plug wires. Other than that, I'd say go for it. Rick.
Edit. On second thought, I would also replace the fuel lines.

 

[Meals_on_Reels]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

For The one thing you failed to mention that I would do however is the plug wires.

They are listed above . I was going to replace the fuel line(s) also. I just thought of that while I was looking it over last night. I have a variety of new lengths and sizes of high pressure fuel injection line. You think that would be satisfactory to use? Think the only difference is the pressure rating. The Fuel injection hose has a burst pressure rating of 900psi.

Is the gear case that big of a bear? I am no stranger to turning wrenches, although I can't say I have done much with outboards. I have been working on cars / trucks for the past 17 years. No doubt in my mind I could rip it completey apart and put it back together right, its the fine tuning that always seems to have me cusing. I have a service manual and a parts cat. (for the exploded views). The section on setting the timing is just kinda vague if you have no "special tool".

 

[Rick.]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

You won't need the "special tool" and I'm sure you'll have no trouble when you get to that part. The new fuel lines are to be rated for ethanol fuel as the prior ones don't react well to the new mix. No, the gear case isn't that difficult but still I would wait until it leaks before I do it. Rick.

 

[Meals_on_Reels]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

Perhaps you are right Rick. Think I will just do the ignition & thermostat, etc. (top end stuff) & just leave the rest till winter when I wont be pressed to get it done so I can fish.

 

[Nobody]

Re: Johnson 9.5hp tune up & Timing

If it is running good I wouldn't do much more than a visual inspection of the ignition system and the other things you mentioned. Pay careful attention to the wires from the kill switch where they pass under the retaining washer.

I actually made a good running motor run much worse by going in there and messing around in the name of doing a 'tune up' - this http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...on 3 HP 1952-1967 Ignition System Tune-up.htm was helpful in getting it setup right again, although for a 3hp the procedures seem very similar between the two motors.

These things actually will run on one cylinder as long as the carb is working although certainly not very fast.