1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

[superharmonix]

After not running for 8 months I ran some sea foam mixed in with the fuel and after the smoke cleared it runs great! However, after the first day of running fine with no leaks, I saw a rainbow pool in the water all around the boat. The primer bulb was stiff, and the motor was leaking fuel. On the port side of the motor there's a plastic piece that runs up and down with three black tubes coming off of it. The top hose goes to the top carburetor, the bottom hose comes in from the filter, and the middle hose is only about 2 inches long and doesn't plug into anything(I am thinking carb overflow hose???). That middle hose is the one leaking fuel.
Anyway, someone told me to tap the carb with a rubber mallet or screwdriver handle to loosen up a needle or float, that maybe the sea foam cleaned off some gunk and it got caught in the bowl? I am no carb expert so I came to the place where I know I will get the correct answer, right here.

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Yes, going to have to clean out the carb/s!

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Short of dismantling the carbs, what is the most cost effective way to do this?

 

[Sixmark]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Short of dismantling the carbs, what is the most cost effective way to do this?

Well being that you need to dismantle them to clean them properly, it answers the issue of cost effectiveness.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

The plastic fuel tube on the port side of the engine does not sound like an original part. Probably from a later engine-80 or newer. The extra hose barb on that plastic tube is for the fuel primer solenoid, which your engine does not have. Not a problem to continue to use that fuel tube, but that small hose barb should be capped off so that it does not leak.

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

The plastic fuel tube on the port side of the engine does not sound like an original part. Probably from a later engine-80 or newer. The extra hose barb on that plastic tube is for the fuel primer solenoid, which your engine does not have. Not a problem to continue to use that fuel tube, but that small hose barb should be capped off so that it does not leak.

...now you've got me thinking... I did think it was a bit odd to have a small tube that goes nowhere. Before the fuel was leaking all the time last weekend, it did leak only when tilted up all the way. Could this uncapped tube possibly be part of that issue as well?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

If the plastic barb is uncapped, the fuel pump will pump raw fuel out of that opening, into the lower cowling. It could "leak" so much fuel that the carbs could run lean, esp the upper carb which is closest to (downstream of) the opening. A lean condition is not good for any two stroke outboard. Very possible it is affecting the way the engine runs and idles. Cap the opening and see how it runs. Bet your fuel mileage will go way up.

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Consequently, went I took the cowling off, I found a small screw just laying in there, loose. I am thinking that was what was plugging that tube and preventing the overflow. I am going to seal that tube off, probably with another screw, and get in there nice and tight and test it out.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Put a small pc of hose on that barb and plug the engine of the hose with something. A screw can come out again...

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

plug the engine of the hose with something.

What do you mean by this? Did you mean the end of the hose?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Yes. You correctly guessed my cryptic mis-spelling.

 

[Fed]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Wouldn't the spare hose go to the bottom carby?
Looking at the BRP website it shows a tee, top to top, bottom to bottom & center barb comes from fuel pump.

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

bottom hose comes from fuel pump, top hose to top carb.

 

[Johnson 140]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

The tee should be turned sideways with the middle barb pointing towards the fuel pump... The fuel line from the pump goes on this middle barb.... The top barb goes to the top carb and the bottom barb goes to the bottom carb.... This is true for all 1978 85hp engines (atleast thats the way they left the factory)

You mentioned the top hose to top carb, fuel pump to bottom barb, and the middle barb nothing.... Where is your bottom carb getting fuel from?

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

I think my memory is messing with me...
I am going to dig back into it tomorrow and take a couple pictures. We just got hit with a storm out of nowhere...

 

[Monte1961]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Superharmonix. You ever do any fishing at Howard prairie or lake of the woods? Klamath falls here. Oh and as far as the storm goes, we are going to get warm starting tomorrow.!

 

[superharmonix]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

OK, the angle is impossible to get a clear shot, but here's what I've got:
the plastic fuel line has one tube coming into the bottom from fuel filter, one tube above that going to bottom carb, the tube above that is the one that is only a couple inches and clamped off, also where I believe the fuel is leaking from, and above that a 4th barb goes to top carb. ?????
Maybe an aftermarket fuel line the last owner installed??? Maybe this would explain the extra barb?

Monte- yep, Lake of the Woods for sure. Also Lake Selmac, variosu local ponds, and of course, the mighty Rogue.

 

[Johnson 140]

Re: 1978 Johnson Javelin 85hp Sea Horse leaking fuel

Sounds like the PO added a different tee for some reason.... I think the line coming from the fuel pump/filter should go into the "side" barb and not the top and bottom barbs that are in line - this way the fuel coming from the pump is forced to split and go to both carbs. If the line from the pump comes in the bottom barb, it would flow easily straight through the tee and possibly cause less pressure in the line that is connected to the "side" barb.

Im no expert, but I did just go through the entire fuel/carb system on my '77 140 and its running great now. Hope this helps.