35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

[fishbait]

Im definitly a novice so please bear with me. There are two choke adjustments one on top is needle. Can't seem to get it running its starving for air or fuel? Is there a common point to adjust carb? I think this out board is a 57. It has been sitting a long time (15 yrs). I have cleaned up the fuel tank (2 hose), lower unit lubed, replaced plugs, and by priming with fuel from tank its sputters like its going to start and never makes it. I cant find the right adjustment on carb and believe that to be the problem. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Backlash]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

 

[Backlash]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Hey fishbait,<br />You're going to have to remove & thoroughly clean the carb. A good starting point for the air/fuel mixture screw is 1 1/2 turns out from lightly seating the screw. Also, once you get that old beauty to run, a water pump rebuild is in order. Good Luck <br />Backlash

 

[fishbait]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Thanks Backlash, my first post that was quick and easy -what a great site.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

nice motor, fishbait. If the carb is reasonably clean and you have fresh gas, you have a good chance of getting it running. I found that the oil mix was a little too rich on my motors ('57 Evinrude Big Twin and a '58 Gale). Maybe you will find that the motor will keep running on a 40 to 1 mix or even a 50 to 1 mix using good 2-cycle oil. Don't underlubricate -- need to see some smoke, and don't rev the bejeebers out of it in a test tank.

 

[fishbait]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

The outboard is on a aluminum Arkansas Travler. The outboard is just the start of the challenge. Anything that was wood is trash along w/ the wiring. Electric start- Im using the rope.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Well, I think I would work on the electric starter first (when you tackle the motor). It's a big sucker to start manually, even when it's properly tuned and running well. You can probably rig some temporary wiring -- starting system uses a solenoid switch (mounts in a box on the stern). There was also an optional generator (charging kit), which involves a regulator mounted in the stern box.<br /><br />I take it you mean by "rope" starting the factory installed rewind mechanism. The device has a compression relief system which was supposed to make manual starting easier. If yours is installed, it would have a metal bar on the top of the rewind system that connects to the relief valves on the rear of the block.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Well, I think I would work on the electric starter first (when you tackle the motor). It's a big sucker to start manually, even when it's properly tuned and running well. You can probably rig some temporary wiring -- starting system uses a solenoid switch (mounts in a box on the stern). There was also an optional generator (charging kit), which involves a regulator mounted in the stern box.<br /><br />I take it you mean by "rope" starting the factory installed rewind mechanism. The device has a compression relief system which was supposed to make manual starting easier. If yours is installed, it would have a metal bar on the top of the rewind system that connects to the relief valves on the rear of the block.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

sorry. My earlier posting wasn't so good that it needed to be repeated.<br /><br />On the test starting -- You might try wiring the starter directly to see if it is operating, if you are comfortable working with electric motors. That is, just test it either on or off the motor. If the starter is dead, it would be good to know that real early in the process.

 

[Franki]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

One thing I found with my Lark 40HP evinrude in the past.. it is a pig to start by hand (I had starter issues.) until I started squirting alittle 2 stroke mix down the carb throat to get it started, it needed that even though the fuel bulb was rock hard. without it, it would start eventually, but my right arm was twice the size of the left long before I tried squirting premix down the carb..<br /><br />give that a shot, see if it gets it going..<br /><br />but if the wiring is all stuffed, how do you know you are getting a consistant spark?<br /><br />you might also want to pull the flywheel and clean the points..<br /><br />I'd follow the other advice and fix the starter as well.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Frank

 

[fishbait]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Tried putting power directly to the starter. Not even a click. Have two loose wires in O/B dont know where they go yet- was planning on going to the library to find some diagrams or service manuals.

 

[fishbait]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Frankie the o/b is getting spark its the wiring from the solenoid and up to the o/b thats wasted along with the wiring to the start switch. I didn't mean to stray from the original post but you guys are helping alot and I appreciate it

 

[rolmops]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Hello.<br />IF you try the starter of such an old engine it may be a smart move to pull the plugs on your engine first.Very often when the starter has been sitting for a long time it has a hard time coming up to speed and if you are not real easy on it, you may burn a coil on a perfectly fine starter.<br />You should have two carburator adjusters on your carb.The top one is to adjust the idle speed.Close it all the way, but not real tight and then open it one and a half turns.Then go to the bottom one,close it and again not real tight.<br />Open this one only about three eights of a turn.This is the high speed adjuster.For final adjustments in the water you should first adjust the idler,then the high speed and then the idler again.<br />The two wires that are loose are quite possibly the part of the harness for the optional generator.In that case their ends are probably covered with plastic and their colors are what once was yellow and blue.<br />Good luck.

 

[rolmops]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

One other thing .<br />DO NOT USE 1:50 OR 1:40 MIX.<br />No matter how good the oil.These old engines have babbit bearings that will wear out because of lack of oil in your mix.It is safe to use 1:32 with a high grade OUTBOARD 2 CYCLE OIL and a 90 to 95 octane gasoline.

 

[Lark40]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Rolmops,<br /><br />Why are you recommending 90+ octane?<br /><br />My 1960 40 hp runs fine on 87, and it's factory service manual says that spark knock is not an issue for these motors....<br /><br />What other octane issues do I need to be aware of?

 

[rolmops]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

When these engines were built The recommendation was for regular octane(what was available then?) or white marine gasoline,whatever that may be.<br />My recommendation for higher octane (89 is also fine)comes through trial and error.I found that I can use a little bit less oil this way,which means a little bit less water pollution.<br />I do not know if there is any science that supports my theory,but I run my old engines at 1:32 with higher octane gas.Whenever I take one of them apart in my winter puttering games, I see that the bearings are in great shape.<br />America's 87 octane fuel is probably fine for the relatively large sized car engines (3 to 5 liter engines are no exception)In Europe where 1600 cc to 2500 cc engines are the norm ,we find much higher octane fuel and these engines run at a much higher rpm. <br />When I look at the small volume outboard engines and their high rpm (between 4500 and 6500)I cannot help ,but make a comparison with the small european engines,their high rpm and their use of higher octane fuels.<br />There may be science to back this up or debunk it.I dont know.<br />But for now I will stick to my gut feeling on this one.

 

[Lark40]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

Rolmops,<br /><br />Hmmm - I would love to stop using a 24:1 mixture. Can't help but feel guilty about the resultant water pollution. Maybe I'll try your advice and go 32:1 with slightly better gas. You are using regular certified outboard oil, not the Premium Quicksilver stuff, right?

 

[rolmops]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

I have thought about syntetic oil, but I still use the regular twin cycle outboard.Good quality stuff, not lawn mower specials.

 

[maze]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

hi fishbait im not an expert on motors i took my 57 to a local watermen and he hebuilt the carb put vacaum fuel pump new tank etc 256.00 the thing will start up elect or pull one pull fact i just bought another one on ebay the gas mixture for that motor is 25 to 1 and it still will not smoke much it needs the oil

 

[graven]

Re: 35hp Johnson Seahorse carb adjustment

hey, small word.I just fired up a 35 hp johnny today that had not run in 16 years. ran a little ruff at first but smoothed out. good luck to you.Gotta keep the classics going