1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

My tach is broke, needs a new one. I thought that too about the idle but I raised it when I did the carbs no prevail. It still has an audible miss at idle and still won't shift into gear without dying.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Let idle on muffs today for awhile, took plugs out and #2 and #5 cylinders plugs is awfully black and sooty. All others have some black deposits but are mostly wet and oily. Carbs were spotless when put in and if I choke the motor it bogs it more than helping it idle better. Just thinkin' out loud.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Just got back playin' with this again this afternoon, and got this as well. I was confiming spark while running one plug by one and all of the plugs could be checked except the bottom 2 on the port side. What I mean by this is that I could plug the other 4 plugs into a spark gap tester and start and run the engine, with either the bottom 2 on the port side unplugged it wouldn't start. Just throwin' it out there, looking for any kinda info.

"I was confiming spark while running one plug by one "

What does that mean?

If you find a dead cylinder ( not firing) swap coils around and see if the problem follows the coil.

When doing a spark you don't run the engine.
Remove all sparkplugs and test each one in turns, set gap to 7/16th inch gap.
Blue spark good, yellow no good.

If all coils fire good,
test the timing,
if the timing is good and link/sync is good...

go back to fuel.

Get a small spray bottle and try spraying premix into each carb throat.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

I sprayed some fuel into the carb throats and really it made no difference. I tested the coils and they are testing good per my manual. When I tested the coils though #4 and #6 was hard to get a ground on the HT lead I have a feeling this is suspect so I'm going to install new boots and HT ends. I was getting a weird spark out of the #4 hole cranked engine for 7-10 seconds no spark, bump it again and get a blue spark after 3 revolutions or so.

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

I agree with jones about swapping coils did
You try that?

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

I haven't tried that quite yet. No time today to really make much progress, between college and work Thursdays aren't very good days to piddle. I'll report when I can, I believe I'm just going to buy new coils all together to be on the safe side. The coils on the motor are original and I don 't wanna be floating on my second fishing trip or in a tournament.

 

[oxbeast1210]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

thats a good good idea im doing the same with mine

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Guys I'm still getting intermintent spark on the #4 hole, even after a coil swap. Every other hole on that bank has great spark which makes me think its not a powerpack. Got anything for me guys? I guess I should just start testing all my electrical components on that side.

Edit: Can the powerpacks be switched from bank to bank to rule out faulty powerpack?

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Guys I'm still getting intermintent spark on the #4 hole, even after a coil swap. Every other hole on that bank has great spark which makes me think its not a powerpack. Got anything for me guys? I guess I should just start testing all my electrical components on that side.

Edit: Can the powerpacks be switched from bank to bank to rule out faulty powerpack?

Yep, thats the easiest way to troubleshoot it.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

I'll get you guys an update as soon as possible. My starter crapped out yesterday so its getting rebuilt again. (lost the return spring this time) If I get the same problem on the #3 hole on the right bank I believe I've found the culprit. Just as a side note, the right bank with the "good" powerpack has been replaced before its an OMC pack just a newer part #.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Swapped the power packs, the pack that I thought was bad produced good strong spark on the right bank on all 3 cylinders. The left bank has spark on the top two cylinders but intermediate spark on the bottom now. The bad spark moved from #4 to #6, its not as bad but still there. Haven't checked timing, prolly should huh?

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

So did the problem follow the powerpack ?

How do the grounds look when you removed the packs, they ground through the mounting bolts to the block.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

No the problem didn't follow the powerpack. The pack I thought was bad produced good hot blue spark when I swapped them to the starbord bank. But on the port bank the intermintent spark moved from the #4 hole to the #6. Note, there is hot blue spark, just not all the time, its hit or miss if its going to spark on time. The starbord bank has no issues, hot blue spark. My grounds looks great, clean and the bolts had no corrosion on them. Like I said I've got all winter, and really in no hurry. I just get frusterated easily hahaha!

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Got my spark problem fixed, as it was a operator error whooooops. When I changed the coils I didn't have them all the way seated on the plugs so now great spark. Still misses, but I believe its a carb issue now. There isn't a choke plate on the top carb so when I bumped the choke it just bogged it down, well I covered the top carb with a cardboard templet and it cleared the miss and made my RPM's raise just a bit. Dont' know whats in there as I already cleaned em, but its worth cleaning the top carb again. Putting 2+2 together thats probally causing my extremely black sooty #2 hole plug.

Updates when I can get the carb off, cleaned, and reinstalled!

Question. Should there be fuel spritzing out of the high speed jet before the butterflies at idle? Top and bottom carb do, middle one has no sign of fuel and butterflies are dry as a bone.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Also guys, I read that the motor should not be ran with the aluminum plate removed over the carbs what about the black plastic cover? Should it remain in place with the gasket in place?

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Got a new carb kit in the top carb and guess what fella's she purrs like a kitten on muffs. No lean sneeze or any kick or miss, the Big O (the Ohio River) is running a bit high right now so I'll have to wait for a water test. As far as I'm concerned it should run great.

Do have a couple of questions still though, more electrical than motor related. My tach isn't functioning properly and thought it was a bad tach but when I was trying to start her today I melted the threaded negative post on the battery. There wasn't a problem when I changed batteries and got it running with my trolling motor battery, no issue at all, let it idle for more than 35 mins. Any clue?

 

[2wings]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

I sprayed some fuel into the carb throats and really it made no difference. I tested the coils and they are testing good per my manual. When I tested the coils though #4 and #6 was hard to get a ground on the HT lead I have a feeling this is suspect so I'm going to install new boots and HT ends. I was getting a weird spark out of the #4 hole cranked engine for 7-10 seconds no spark, bump it again and get a blue spark after 3 revolutions or so.

I have followed your post and wanted to know if you solved the engine problem

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

I posted earlier, got it running at least idling great can't tell till the river goes down. My spark problem was just myself being an idiot, and the lean sneeze one more time me being an idiot. Shoulda cleaned carbs better and make sure I had good clean connections on my electrical componets. Those two things in combination got it running pretty smooth.

I do still have a couple of issues, but not motor related. Only reading 10 volts on my volt meter in boat, melted a battery post while cranking, and have a faulty tach. But I've got all winter.

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Water tested today guys ran great all day! Purrs like a kitten and all the top end you want. Just wanted to thank everyone for all the help and let's hope she runs good for years to come

 

[Thompy_04]

Re: 1979 Johnson 150 "kick"

Guys now that I have it running like a champ I think I have a a problem most people don't have, I can't get the darn thing to shut off sometimes. If its running and I turn the key it'll skip then stay running untill I choke it. I hope its not running backwards but..... any suggestions?