1996 johnson problems

[daverowlands]

Hello all have a 1996 Johnson 35hp 3 Cyl , Run it in a tank and it changes the water white in colour. also it seems to idle ok but if you advance the fast idle and bring it back it cuts out also if you fast idle it after about 4 mins it will cut out its pumping water fine. Also not getting any lights on my system check wrning gauge i've checked the connector and it gets 12.5 volts just wondering if the system check ain't working if my CDI pack has had it?

Oh also every now and then it will miss a cylinder my gut feeling is its running a bit rich but i ain't sure

One last question is it me or are johnson's very unreliable? yamaha's and hondas seem to just keep going?

 

[1730V]

Re: 1996 johnson problems

"One last question is it me or are johnson's very unreliable? yamaha's and hondas seem to just keep going?"

Boy, how opinions have changed.
Not in my personal experience, quite the opposite actually.
I have three John/Rudes all over 30 years old that start with one pull and keep going all day.

The water turning white is just unburned fuel and aeration from the under water exhaust.

If you do not know the engine, the carbs are probably fouled. That happens to any outboard. The Honda I owned required carb rebuilds annually, no matter how I treated the fuel.

 

[daverowlands]

Re: 1996 johnson problems

Sorry If i hit a soft spot I just never ran a engine with so many problems and we've all got to admire the japanese when it comes to reliability. anyway many thanks for the reply but the carbs have recently been cleaned would you say they need adjusting? like i say the engine will run at idle ok but if i fast idle it after about 5 min's it just stops

 

[1730V]

Re: 1996 johnson problems

No soft spot, just lack of experience. Go look at the Yamaha/Honda areas. They have plenty of issues, just less engines considering John/Rude has been around since the 1920's.

I assume this engine is new to you? If so, that has no bias on it's reliability. Ever bought a used car?

I do not admire the Japanese other than their abilty to copy American technology.

To answer your question, if you are dropping a cylinder, you need to find out which one. Do you have a timing light? Did you check compression on all three cylinders?

I do not want to lead you down the path of swapping parts. A systematic diagnosis of what is happening is needed.

 

[daverowlands]

Re: 1996 johnson problems

Thanks a friend is a mechanic i'll ask him to check the timing and see whats going on i'm going to ask him to check the carb's too see if everything is opening and closing as it should. Technology? evinrude are still 2strokes aren't they? average american car has a 3-4 litre + v8 or v6 that does 10 mpg and makes about 50hp per litre and runs on leaf springs?