1991 70hp johnson idles good cuts off when put in gear

[drush]

I have a 1991 70hp Johnson. It runs fine at idle. it runs fine when hooked to a engine flusher, but when you put it in the water it will also idle fine but will cut off when put in gear. It will run fine in gear on the flusher it just doesn't like to run in the lake. Could this be a VRO pump problem?

 

[Hooty]

Re: 1991 70hp johnson idles good cuts off when put in gear

I doubt it's the VRO. The engine should idle about 750rpm in gear, in the water so it may need idling up. Check your manual.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[drush]

Re: 1991 70hp johnson idles good cuts off when put in gear

It will run in gear at idle speed, but only for a little while. I can "bump" up the throttle and it will choke out. I did try to adjust up the idle speed, and I still get the same problem.

 

[boatin]

Re: 1991 70hp johnson idles good cuts off when put in gear

Has the motor been sitting up for a while? If so, it sounds like a typical gummed up carb. Might do a search in this forum for carb. problems.

 

[drush]

Re: 1991 70hp johnson idles good cuts off when put in gear

Thanks for the help. Do you think that the carbs could really be the problem since it runs so good in neutral? I know there's not much load, but I can rev it up and it runs beautifully. It will run great in gear on the flusher. I will check the carbs for now.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 1991 70hp johnson idles good cuts off when put in gear

As Boatin said, I believe you have a dirty carb problem. The engine can pull enough fuel through the idle circuit, and sound fine under no load. Before you take the carbs apart, check simple things first, fuel lines, and primer bulb, contaminated fuel, compression test, linkages.