J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

[jwellcraft]

Hi,

I just noticed recently when I was flushing my 1994 J150 that it has a spit every couple of seconds and the motor kicks to one side when it does. The tach is reading 1,080 at idle and when it kicks it jumps to about 1,150 and back down. And also if I give it a little rev it takes a couple seconds to return to idle now where as before it was very quick after the rev it would be normal. Any suggestions?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

sounds like a lean condition, dirty jets in carb.

 

[jwellcraft]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

Ok when idling with the air box off the carb bores, the starboard set seems to not have any gas settling in the bore but the port size has gas settling in the bores. If I put my hand over each bore they pull gas but can't see which carb is spitting and there is a puff of smoke when it spits out of the exhaust.

 

[steelespike]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

Yes sounds like a lean condition.I pretty sure that should idle at about 700 to 750.
Too fast and the clutch dog will wear prematurely.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

yes it will pull gas, but the proper amount is not getting thru the jets. try pulling plug wires imdividually, and seeing if the idle changes, if not that cylinder is not running, no gas, and no gas mean no oil.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

Remember No gas = NO OIL!

When was the last time the carbs were rebuilt?

Properly mixed fuel is the lifeblood of these motors running lean is the worst thing you can do to them.

 

[BrettNC]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

Check your fuel pumps also.

Don't fret about the idle speed. Idle should be 700-900 in gear, in the water, realistically. 1100 RPMs out of gear will pose no problem, especially on an older motor that is prone to idle higher out of gear.

 

[jwellcraft]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

Thanks for the info, I think I might have found the problem but couldn't run the motor this time of night to confirm. My port side carb throttle linkage was set a little open and that made that side pull more fuel/oil (that explains the fuel settling in the bore) and the starboard side was fully closed (and that's why that side was not settling any). I hope this was the problem but will know tomorrow when I run it. I noticed the change right after I was adjusting the throttle for more response and firmness in the lever.

 

[jwellcraft]

Re: J150 starts fine, idles but spits every couple of seconds

All is good and that was the problem, smooth idling again.