Great idle, bad in gear

[FishMagnet]

This is in reference to my 1960 Johnson 40hp Sea-Horse (Model RD-22)<br /><br />Thanks to everyones help I've recently rebuilt my fuel pump, the carb, and cleaned/set the magneto points.<br /><br />Anyways. The motors starts, runs, and sounds like a new motor in idle.<br /><br />In gear at low throttle it sounds like its misfiring and jerks like hell. At mid-throttle it runs decent but awfully slow. At full throttle its bogs down, stinks of gas and runs at a low throttle speed.<br /><br />Any ideas where to start?<br /><br />Matt Richey

 

[FishMagnet]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

Anyone...any ideas where to start looking for the problem?<br /><br />Matt

 

[FishMagnet]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

Sorry to bump this again, but you guys are my only hope. I don't know where to begin. Could it be an ignition problem, or more likely a carb problem? My low/high adjustments don't seem to do anything.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Matt

 

[Brew2]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

I'm certainly no expert, but....given you can smell gas at WOT, I'd be suspecting compression, spark or timing as the culprit (ie. not fuel).<br /><br />Start with a compression check. If the cylinders are around 100 or higher and within 10% of each other then you are good.<br /><br />Assuming the compression is fine, try checking the spark. It should jump a 1/2 inch and be bright blue.<br /><br />Report back on what you find and I'm sure someone with more experience will help you along from there.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[FishMagnet]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

Thanks for the reply Brew2.<br /><br />Compression is not great, but it's around 100 for one cyl. and 105 for the other. The spark jumps 1/4 inch, I guess I haven't set the tester for a wider gap. As far as timing goes I haven't gotten that far in my outboard knowledge yet, I'm still learning.<br /><br />And apparently I lied in my last email. The carb low/high adjustments are working. I'm messing with them in neutral almost as we speak and when I get lean is when I get the "missing" jerk from the motor. I won't get a chance to set these out on the water for a couple days so if you have any other ideas please do tell. <br /><br />Matt

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

It sure sounds like you've got the high speed adjustment too rich. Did you follow Joe Reeves carb setup method:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=030558 <br /><br />How about my Link&Sync?:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=033290#000006 <br /><br />Sounds to me like you've got good spark. Hard to get much more than 3/8" off these.

 

[FishMagnet]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

I'm adjusting as well as I can at home in the tank. Thursday night I can get the boat out in the actual lake and make the proper adjustment there.<br /><br />As far as the link&sync goes, I have not touched it. I'm a little confused on what should be happening, but the picture helps. <br /><br />One more question. My magneto points according the owner manual should be set to .020. When I set the anchor screw it seems to get a lot tighter. Obviously .020 is where I want to be, but if it was to change would I want it to head, smaller gap or larger? <br /><br />Thanks, <br /><br />Matt

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

The picture there shows the position everything should be in just when the throttle plate on the carburetor just begins to open. The adjustment is obvious once you start fiddling with it. What isn't clear in many manuals is the cam pointer and cam mark positions.<br /><br />Just get it as close to .020" as you possibly can. You should feel some drag from the feeler gauge. I half-tighten the clamp screw, adjust the point, then fully tighten. But I don't think it matters much which way you're off by.<br />If you've got a timing light and want to get real fancy you can try my timing trick up that post a bit.<br /><br />It's impossible to set the high speed mixture control anywhere but on the boat. You do have the two mixture controls, correct?

 

[FishMagnet]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

Yes, I have two mixture controls. Hopefully I can get the boat out tomorrow night and get them set properly.<br /><br />I have located all the markings indicated in your link & sync msg. Now to figure out the adjustments.<br /><br />Matt

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Great idle, bad in gear

Just a tip. Next time you post, put the year and hp of your motor in the title. That way, folks with experience with your outboard will read the post.<br /><br />I see Paul Moir's here. You can't do better with your RD-22. I'll help, too, if I can. Let us know you you're doing with it.