60 hp Johnson starts (rough) will not keep running.

[lmbr]

Just bought this boat and motor used and first time out it ran great. Problem was I ran out of fuel about 4 miles from ramp. Got about a gallon from passerby and nearly made the ramp before running out again. (Dumb me) Now the motor will start after squeezing primer ball but will not keep running. Have a new fuel pump and 2 carb kits coming. Should I replace the fuel pump and then try the engine or go ahead and clean and install the carb kits also. I have a repair manual that describes the disassembly and reassembly of the carbs. I am fairly good at automotive repair but haven't done much with carbs. Should I proceed with the carb cleaning and overhaul? By th way I am installing a water seperator and inline fuel filter. Might be overkill but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: 60 hp Johnson starts (rough) will not keep running.

If a VRO engine, just drain the carbs for oil, then start. If VRO hooked up and running out of fuel, pump will fill carbs with pure oil.

 

[lmbr]

Re: 60 hp Johnson starts (rough) will not keep running.

If a VRO engine, just drain the carbs for oil, then start. If VRO hooked up and running out of fuel, pump will fill carbs with pure oil.

I never received a reply to my post about this engine is NOT a VRO engine. I have overhauled the carbs and also installed a Water Separator between the tank and the squeeze bulb. It now starts and runs fine on the earmuffs but in the water, it is hard to start and once started runs fine at speed but at idle speed will not keep running.

 

[wahoo17]

Re: 60 hp Johnson starts (rough) will not keep running.

Check the compression, sounds like you may have scored a cylinder when you ran it out of fuel. Outboards need the premixed fuel and more importantly the oil to lubricate the cylinders. Running them dry at high speed can cause scoring. Or did the passerby have premix or straight gas? Are you premixing at a 50:1 ratio? Check compression and repost.

 

[lmbr]

Re: 60 hp Johnson starts (rough) will not keep running.

Check the compression, sounds like you may have scored a cylinder when you ran it out of fuel. Outboards need the premixed fuel and more importantly the oil to lubricate the cylinders. Running them dry at high speed can cause scoring. Or did the passerby have premix or straight gas? Are you premixing at a 50:1 ratio? Check compression and repost.

I don't have a way to check compression. I did find a kink in the fuel line between the squeeze bulb and motor. I am going to replace the fuel line and plan to move the squeeze bulb above the rear deck. Presently it is below the deck in the bilge area. Very congested and hard to get to it there. Is this OK? New route will be from fuel tank to water separator then to squeeze bluband then to motor.

 

[lmbr]

Re: 60 hp Johnson starts (rough) will not keep running.

I checked the compression, 150 on #1 and 155 on #2. I do use a 50:1 fuel mixture plus a fuel stabilizer and the fuel the passerby had was mixed also. Also, both times thr fuel ran out I was running the engine at a slow speed. I first started operating outboard motors over 50 years ago so I understand the importance of using a fuel/oil mix in the engines. Just had bought this boat and was the first time out in it and just misjudged how long it would run on a tank. I have a repair manual now and plan to go thru everything and check all adjustments I can. Anyone who has any tips for doing this would be appreciated.

Check the compression, sounds like you may have scored a cylinder when you ran it out of fuel. Outboards need the premixed fuel and more importantly the oil to lubricate the cylinders. Running them dry at high speed can cause scoring. Or did the passerby have premix or straight gas? Are you premixing at a 50:1 ratio? Check compression and repost.