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    1978 johnson 85hp no spark on one bank

    So today at the lake i couldnt get more than 2500 rpm. I put my inline spark tester on and found that the 2 cylinders on the drivers side arent firing. I have 4 new coils because the old ones were falling apart. Is this as simple as the power pack on that side has gone out. I was looking at the...
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    Primer bulb

    I had a few questions on the inline primer bulb on my 78 Johnson 85hp. I think I have a spot that is sucking air on one tank as I can get it nice and solid on one tank but the other it never gets firm. The question I have is if the primer bulb should stay firm while it's running or only before I...
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    Time to rebuild the carbs?

    I have been chasing a problem on my 1978 85hp Johnson for several weeks now. The issue is the motor would not rev more than 3600 rpm running down the lake. At first I thought it was a coil because I had 1 that was arc out of the boot so I replaced it. Boat did well and then started acting up...
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    Curiosity question 1978 Johnson 85 hp

    I have been doing some work on this motor here and there as the season goes on. I noticed there is a wire embedded in the each head in between the plug wires. What is this wire for? It isn't causing any issue I'm just curious.
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    Prop nut torque

    Is there a certain torque value I should use when installing a new prop and thrust washer? motor is a 1978 Johnson 85 hp if that info is needed. Also should I put it into gear to keep it from turning or just hold on to the prop?
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    Solas props

    My new solas Amiya 4 prop came in today. Nice prop, but I don't see a size stamp on it anywhere. Do they not stamp them? I don't need to know since I know what I ordered but somewhere someone might like to know that if I'm not around
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    Oem carb and fuel pump kit

    I was going to order a set of carb kits and a fuel pump kit just for piece of mind for my 1978 85hp Johnson. I found the carb kit on boats #383906 but I don't see a fuel pump kit. Do they make one? I didn't see too many positive things on the Sierra kits so I figured I would just pay the extra.
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    Prop slip question

    I was thinking about something this week that I wanted to ask. The scenario is this: Let's say you have 40% slip on a prop at wot and a set rpm. If you were to change props and everything as far as size stayed the same but the slip was cut to 20% would your rpms drop or would you pick up speed...
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    Replacing cables

    So I think my hard shifting has to be because of old cables. I want to replace them but I am leary about taking apart the control box. Are there any how to's? Below is a pic of my control box, when I go to boats.net that's not the same one which is ousted for my 1978 85 hp Johnson. Any idea...
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    Octane and ethanol

    This is probably a more general outboard question but since I have a Johnson I put it here. I usually fill up everything I own with 93 octane. I recently found a gas station near my house that has ethanol free gas in 87 octane. I am not sure what octane my 78 85 hp requires but should I go with...
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    Fuel line

    I would like to replace the fuel lines from the pump to the carbs on my 78 85hp Johnson. Does anyone know what size fuel line is used? I know some are pre-formed which I will try to find locally first but otherwise I will have to make something work. If I knew what size the bulk hose is that is...
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    Hard shifting

    I finally got the boat running right. The only problem I have left is it's kind of difficult to put the motor into gear forward or reverse. Motor is a 1978 85hp Johnson. It goes in and throttles up fine but it's difficult getting it into gear. What should I check for? The control box makes me...
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    1978 Johnson 85hp troubles

    So I started a thread a few days ago about the rpm on my boat http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=498166. Yesterday I replaced the plugs and did a de-carb with deadpan and today I took it out for testing. I throttled it up and she got to 4500 rpms and held fine at 20 mph. So we stopped and...
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    Motor height off cause other issues?

    So I have a thread in the motor forum concerning low rpm http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=498166 I was reading about re propping and found that the anti vent plate should be 1" above the bottom of the transom. I have a 1988 24ft playboy pontoon with a 1978 Johnson 85 hp motor, but the...
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    Motor/ transom height

    I recently posted a thread about my rpm http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=498166 After reading some other topics I came across one for setting the height for the motor. When I measured mine the anti ventilation plate sits around 5 inches below the transom. Could this be causing my low...
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    Prop Selection - 24 ft pontoon 85hp Johnson

    I have a 1988 24 ft pontoon with a 1978 85hp Johnson. I took it out this weekend with my recently installed tiny tach but I think partly I did my max rpm wrong. You can read my current thread in the Outboard forum: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=498166 The short of it is I could...
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    Rpm for my 78 85 hp Johnson

    I have a 1988 24ft pontoon with a 1978 85hp johnson motor. In neutral it will rev to 5500 rpm but I notice when we are going down the lake it only gets about 3300-3500 rpm. Is that just because of tHe load trying to push the boat or should I be concerned? I currently have a 13 3/4 x 15 prop and...
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