Changing Carb Jets!

mtblackdog

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
102
I recently got my new to me boat out and ran around the lake. It is a 90 horse 1991 Johnson. It has really low hours for a 15 year old motor but it is only putting out 5050 RPMs and I have been told that it should be around 5700+ Im running it at 4800' in elevation Im thinking it has the factory sea level jets in it. My question is what is the process of changing out the jets, what should I change them to (I have been told at least 3 times leaner), and any ball park idea of cost?
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: Changing Carb Jets!

The redline for that motor is 5500rpm and it should be propped for 5000 to 5500.<br /><br />Jets are about $7 apiece but talk to the factory or a knowledgeable dealer in the high country. If you take the boat to a lower elevation, you will have to put the correct jets back in to keep from burning up the motor.<br /><br />You are better off just putting a one size smaller pitch prop on to get the revs close to 5500.
 

mtblackdog

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
102
Re: Changing Carb Jets!

Seahorse the prop now is 13 1/4 X 17 any ideas on props.
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: Changing Carb Jets!

Originally posted by mtblackdog:<br /> Seahorse the prop now is 13 1/4 X 17 any ideas on props.
A 15" pitch would be perfect
 

mtblackdog

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
102
Re: Changing Carb Jets!

What kinda of performance can I expect out of that pitch of prop (top end, hole shot ect...) And also if I went to a bit leaner jet wouldnt my fuel effeciency be better. The lowest elevation that I will probably ever be at is 3500' with this boat.
 

walleyehed

Admiral
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
6,767
Re: Changing Carb Jets!

You'll see better hole-shot with the 15, and fuel efficiency will be better.<br />Not a hit, seahorse, but we've dealt with 4000ft on these since the early 70's, and our central distributor at that time (until about 1989) is the people who taught us to set these up for 3000ft+. I've ran 2 sizes leaner in my '97 115 down to 700ft above sea-level with no ill affects. we advance timing at least 2 degrees above 3500, and lean 1 size on mains for every 1500ft. At 4000ft going 3 sizes leaner shows about a 300RPM gain, no plug fouling or any bad signs. we have a 1978 115 with 4 sizes lower with well over 3000hrs, and has had nothing but good PM and no issues.<br />Being at this elevation, and seeing the results of our down-sizing over the last 25 years on conventional carbed engines, I highly recommend he drop down 2 at the least, and he will still have a safety margin.<br />A carbed V4 at altitude doesn't run well at 5000RPM either...thin air, it's not developing anything near designed power, so stress isn't an issue, but 5000RPM would be lugging when running that (factory) rich on the mains. That kills'em quick here.<br />At Dillon in Colorado, at 9100ft, I run 7 sizes leaner and 5 degrees advanced from max, and drop from a 20P to a 15P to get the same R's...I wouldn't have went THAT far lean, but the JohnRude dealer there told me how they set up V4's at that lake...I trust these guys..they were selected to run a bunch of the E-Tec prototypes due to high altitude and cold weather.
 
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