1986 Johnson 60 horse power - setting up idle?

[ShoestringMariner]

Hey guys, I just fired up motor I just went through. It starts and seems to want to run away. I’m nervous about it over-revving so I shut it down. It seems to gradually build and build slowly until running quite fast. Is this normal during cold starts?

so questions;

I don’t want to start messing with the wrong thing. Should I adjust the cable fine adjustment wheel to bring the revs down?

do these motors typically start and run fast until they warm up? I don’t have a tach but is sounds like 2000-2500 rpm by (untrained) ear
I didn’t see any telltale during the many starts. My earmuffs were spraying everywhere, but shouldn’t I have seen some telltale stream? (New impeller)
EDIT
I just tried it again. I turned the cables down as far as it will go. It still wanted to run fast. Still nothing of the tail tail. Shut it down before too long. Powerhead feels warm exhaust plate feels warm middle section feels warm. Can I have screwed up the impeller or could this be a thermostat?
Tried a different set of muffs.
I installed the impeller counter clockwise looking down/upside down. So it runs clockwise when running.

any help would be appreciated. I need to get this motor off to my brother to use and get on my main boat project. Summer is here and I have a boat without floors. No time

 

[flyingscott]

Is the throttle cable pulling the linkage tight to the stop.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Is the throttle cable pulling the linkage tight to the stop.

Yes

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Yes

I just ran it holding the carb linkage tight closed. Still ran fast. Perhaps not as fast as before. Previous owner might’ve messed around with the ignition timing? No idea

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Wait, would running it without the air box make a difference?

 

[flyingscott]

Have you done a link and sync? Make sure all the carb butterflies are closed. You do not care about idle timing at all.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Have you done a link and sync? Make sure all the carb butterflies are closed. You do not care about idle timing at all.

Thanks, no I’m reading up on that now

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Have you done a link and sync? Make sure all the carb butterflies are closed. You do not care about idle timing at all.

You nailed it, I went back through it with the factory manual that I ordered. It was a slightly open butterfly. I set up the linkage as per the manual. Starts and runs (idles) good now. I made a piston stop tool from a sparkplug and the TDC mark is good. I changed the thermostat for good measure, checked and re-set the impeller tube connection and I have a strong telltale now. Time for a water test.