1996 225 idle trouble

[mikesea]

My turn for questions guys.My 96 226 johnson ,decided to give my grief today while of course docking.It stalled ,due to idle going too low.Then decided it should run at 2000 RPM.It was back and forth,hi to low rpm.Whats your first guesses. Thanks as always./Mike

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

One more thing to add to the list to check, if you've been working on it lately and leaning on the flywheel cover, that can cause the timing linkages under the cover to bind and produce eratic idling.

The question is, does it reproduce the problem on the hose or at the dock now?

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

thanks Mr.Jones,come on guys.

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

Mike,

I know you are very good with this motor...that you have checked the obvious....

This happened yesterday, so I ask, have you been back out with it? Can you make it repeat, or did it happen just once?

If it were me, I would get my timing light out and watch the timing while it is acting up. No throttle, just at idle on the water. If timing is jumping around it must be the pack or the timer base. You have spare packs and timer bases? I have a few known good ones...could lend to you if you want.

Obviously, check for free timer base rotation. Eliminate/unplug shift switch to make sure it didn't stall due to cylinder kill.....

No need to worry about the flywheel cover.....

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

Shift assist is malfunctioning.

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

Im thinking something with the spark advance link.If I manually push the timer base around I can get the RPM to lower,once I shift and give throttle ,it revs up and I need to go back and again push it back.The timerbase is rotating OK,Im thinking the rod is getting hung up inside the advance link.Whats the process on adjusting it .I know it has the phillips screw ,with lock nut,.Ezeke,yes,I also have a problem with the shift assist,but that only kills a bank to allow for shift ease?correct.The engine had no work lately,all the adjustments are as they were for yrs.I m not to up on how that whole spark advance link works.So if anyone has the answer ,thanks.Im thinking I'll need to go through a sinc and linc ,but again,why suddenly a problem with hi and low idle,the cable and connections are Ok,,

 

[daselbee]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

You know that the idle speed is adjusted with that screw and locknut there on the front of the spark advance link. Idle speed is not adjusted with throttle plate opening, but rather with advancing/retarding the timing as needed.

If it is sticking, your timer base will not return "home" and you will experience exactly what you are getting. It is just a spring loaded plastic tube, and the spring loading helps return the timer base to home.

When you get it fixed, play with that screw a bit. Turn it in 5 turns while watching the timer base. It will rotate as you turn the screw. Turn the screw out 5 turns, and watch the timer base go back to where it was originally. The screw adjustment is not critical, adjust it for proper idle timing to obtain 700 rpm in water, about 4-6 degrees ATDC, for a properly set up engine.

I heard somewhere that those advance links are hard to get now. Might have to find one on a junk engine, if you can't fix yours. Call Chris Carson...he probably has one.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

Just to be on the safe side, you might want to disable the shift assist temporarily and see if the problem persists. You can do this by disconnecting the ground wire from the switch itself. Just be careful because shifting out of forward gear can be much harder while the switch is disabled.

The switch can behave badly if it is worn, or if something has altered the control cable/linkage settings

This is a QuikStart engine, so the timing is advanced automatically by the powerpack. You may want to run the tests to be sure that QuikStart is engaging and disengaging correctly.

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

still having problems,tried the shift asst disconnect,wasnt it,.. Is there a warm up cycle on these engines?Seem to think there is.I got it used,when running right ,it seemed to run at a high idle til it got warm ,then idled down on its own .Now it will idle at low or hi speed at will ,between 850 and 2000.I thought it was the timerbase connector was sticking,it seems like an electronic malfunction.Again ,like a warm up cycle.Ive disconnected heat sensors,no change.If there is a warm up cycle,can it be bypassed. relly dont need to worry about warm up down here in Keys.Thanks

 

[Saki1211]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

Quikstart is what your thinking about. Like ezeke said, the powerpack will advance your timing until the engine warms up then it will go to regular timing. I'm not sure how you would disable it.

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

would that mean the powerpack is going or gone bad.Runs great ,other than at idle

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

I think what is happining is,it wont come off the quick start,where do I start ,I have disconnected the sensor and grounded ,nothing.

 

[Jayrock]

Re: 1996 225 idle trouble

The black and white wire coming off the port thermostat controls Quickstart. Unplug the bullet connector and ground the end that goes to the powerpack to the block. This disables Quickstart.