1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

[jcupo6]

My Sea Ox has twin 1988 Johnson 150hp vro outboards, with the VROs disconnected. Port motor starts and runs perfect. Starboard motor is a little more difficult to start, but once started, it runs fine in forward and neutral. Idles fine. When I throw it in reverse it stalls out. It's strange.

Just had the boat out this past weekend and ran about 50 miles. The boat ran great until at the dock trying to back in the slip. Put both motors in reverse and starboard stalls. The boat refuses to turn in reverse with only one motor, so it's an issue. lol

Compression is perfect as is the spark.
The plugs haven't been changed, going to do that next.
Water pressure is good.
We are mixing fuel and oil cause the VRO's are dissconnected.
Maybe a fuel issue? The port motor primer bulb gets rock solid, starboard doesn't.

I'm thinking carb rebuilds are in order on the starboard motor? Is it strange that it runs perfectly in forward and neutral, but not reverse? If it was a fuel or carb issue would it happen in forward too?

Any opinions/advice?

 

[jcupo6]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

I don't have the exact model of the motors, here's a picture if it helps.

 

[jcupo6]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

ttt

 

[nymack66]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

Shut her down, keep the keys in your pocket Pull the cowling off, grab the flywheel by hand and see if you can turn her in the correct running direction (not sure which engine is CR here), you can also drain the LU oil and look for metal shavings etc...

 

[71Windsor]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

will it stall even if you give it some throttle? id start with checking to see how many rpms your idling at and again when you put it in reverse. does it sound like its trying to jump out of gear at all?

 

[jcupo6]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

Update: Sorry such a long time between posts but have been real busy lately.

Took the boat out on the 4th of July. The starboard motor ran like crap and the the port motor ran like a champ.

Starboard motor was extremely difficult to start. Throttle has to be in WOT position.
Coughs and runs rough at low RPMs stalls in neutral
Once warm I can get the motor in forward if I shift quickly.
Seems to run much better at high RPMs.
Last trip last month, the boat ran about 38mph WOT at around 4400rpms, this trip WOT was about 3800rpms and 25-27mph. Both trips has a similar load.

I checked the fuel water separator before leaving the dock and the starboard motor definitely had some water. Drain the filter but the motor ran the same.

The starboard motor carb has been cleaned and rebuilt.

Here's the boat running at about 24mph

 

[jcupo6]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

Maybe a water issue? Would water cause the issues listed above?

I disconnected the VRO, could the fuel pump be bad?

Any advice/opinions are greatly appreciated!

 

[jcupo6]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

ttt

 

[jcupo6]

Re: 1988 Johson 150 VRO stalling in reverse

After some research maybe the idle jet is clogged or bad? Thoughts?