77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

tysidor

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
48
I bought a 1984 CVX-20 with a 1977 Evinrude 200hp. I have been working on it non-stop to try to get it in prime condition. Keep in mind that I am new to boat engines.<br /><br />I was having a gas issue where at WOT the engine would die. I pulled the tank and there was all kinds of gunk in it. Verified this was the problem by hooking it up to a 6 gallon tank directly.<br /><br />Decided I should decarb using SeaFoam, so I put the muffs on was in the decarbing process when I heard the overheat warning horn come on. I immediately shut the engine down. My Hose stopped pumping as it is connected to my sprinkler system pump which burned up while I was doing this. I know it ran between 30 seconds and possibly upto 2 minutes without water. <br /><br />After cool down, engine started up fine and sounds fine. I took it to the river and it seemed like I had lost some low end power, and high end Max RPMS were around 4000-4200. Now there are two issues first off I put a new 21" prop on because the 19" that was on there was banged up. Secondly considering I only ran it that one time at WOT with the 6 gallon tank I don't really remember what my Max RPMS were. I am sure the prop was part of the power loss. But I would think I should easily be able to turn a 21" with my setup.<br /><br />Some questions:<br />Should I replace the impeller? It was brand new 2 days old before the overheat.<br /><br />Shouldn't I be able to turn a 21" prop?<br /><br />What might I have damaged from the overheat?<br /><br />How do I check for spark?<br /><br />The engine sat for over a year with out being run do I really need to rip the carbs apart. I would prefer not to mess with them. <br /><br />What type of spark plugs should I be using? The type that were in there didn't match factory #'s.<br /><br />Sorry for the long post, but I really appreciate the help.
 

tysidor

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
48
Re: 77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

Update:<br /><br />Ran a compression test with the following results:<br /><br />Cylinder 1 95<br />Cylinder 2 100<br />Cylinder 3 100<br />Cylinder 4 100<br />Cylinder 5 100<br />Cylinder 6 95<br /><br />Compression looks pretty similiar across the board. I guess my only question is that enough compression? <br /><br />I would still love some answers to some of the questions in my first post.
 

walleyehed

Admiral
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
6,767
Re: 77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

It depends "How" hot it got... compression numbers look good.<br />4000-4200RPM will ruin that engine in no time flat...should be at 5700-5800.<br />15 seconds is long enough to ruin a water pump, dry...<br />Before you melt a piston from a lean condition, tear the carbs down and O/H them...get your hands on a service manual, they're available right here at iboats....<br />You should check spark with a spark tester available at any marine dealer...it's a visual gap you can see the spark jump if all is correct.<br />What sparkplugs do you have in it???<br />Fresh fuel and oil???
 

tysidor

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
48
Re: 77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

Well I don't think it got too hot. I think if it would have gotten that hot my impellar would be completely shot. Right now it still seems to be cooling just fine. <br /><br />I put a 19" prop back on so I will run it to see if that helps. I also installed a new teleflex tach to help veryify the rpms. I think pulse 6 is right. I didn't have a manual so I am trying to remember off the top of my head. <br /><br />As far as fuel. I have a new tank and fuel line. I know the fuel is fresh and the oil is OMC Ficht oil made for that engine. <br /><br />I will check the model # of my sparkplugs tonight also. <br /><br />Is there any other way to test spark besides buying a spark tester? <br /><br />Thanks for the help.
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: 77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

I wouldn't run at very high rpms with a banged up prop. You can do a number on the seals that way.<br /><br />Yes replace the impeller.
 

tysidor

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
48
Re: 77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

I tried a new 19" prop and changed my spark plugs. The plugs that were in there were the original factory # UL77V and I replaced them with QL16V which is the current recommended one on the champion website. <br /><br />It seemed to be running alot better. The only problem was that I don't think my new tach is working right. Even playing around with the pulse I couldn't get it to read right. It was going way over 6000 which it didn't sound like. I guess I need a good OMC tach to verify with. The pulse should be at 6 right?
 

tysidor

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
48
Re: 77 Evinrude 200hp performance issues

Here's an update.<br /><br />After putting old tach in my rpm's showed 5000 with 19". I thought this was low, but I verified it with a Merctronic tach on the spark plug wire. I still didn't think I was getting the performance out of the engine I should be. Ordered a 17" prop same type and rpms still didn't go above 5000 even with lower pitched prop. I don't think I am getting the kind of power out of the hole I should be with my 200hp evinrude. What's next? Do you think the carbs need to be cleaned or should I be looking somewhere else?<br /><br />The other issue I am having is with spark plugs. The engine seemed to idle and start better with the UL77V plugs then it does with the new ones recommended by champion the QL16V. Anybody know the difference between these plugs or which ones I should be using?<br /><br />Thanks for all the help.
 
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