'69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

rpsloan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
102
I have a 1969 Evinrude 115 Electroshift 115983E. I have had the carbs rebuilt and the compression is great. The problem that I have is when I get the boat under a load and beyond half throttle it bogs down and falls flat on it's face. I just purchased a new fuel line that I am going to install thinking that it is possible that the old one is collapsed inside. When I purchased this boat it hadn't run in about a year and a half and I had to do a little work to get it started.

The previous owner had gotten frustrated because it wouldn't start. There was a bad connection on the ignition switch that they overlooked. Instead they had replaced the solenoid with one for a car which still wouldn't allow it to start. They then went on to replacing the battery cables. When I got it home I found the connection issue and replaced the switch because it wouldn't stay tight. I could only get it to start by jumping the connection and after further review I noticed that the solenoid was wrong and checked it against the other solenoid that they had for it. Turns out they had put the wrong one on and a car solenoid will not work with a Johnson/Evinrude. So after swapping them back out it fired off with the key. The boat idled fine and would rev up. I took it out to test run it on the water and things went down hill in a hurry. I went to throttle up and it died. Did this several times and I had to get towed in. I noticed that there was a air leak on the fuel tank due to a stripped fitting so I replaced it. Relaunched and tried again, getting the same issue. I took it in to one of the best shops in San Diego that knows Evinrude's really well. They did a compression test and then rebuilt the carbs because they were in rough shape and wouldn't hold an adjustment. Apparently somebody had spun the screws all the way out on the upper and all the way in on the bottom.

I took the boat back out the day after Thanksgiving. Fired up and ran just fine. Dropped the hammer and it just bogged down and wouldn't get up on plane. If I pulled back on the throttle it would run about 5-10 mph and that is all I can get out of her. At the end of the day I shut it off and went to restart and got a high pitched whine. The nut on the end of the starter backed off and the gear popped off sitting on top of the flywheel. I fixed that and it fired off. When I was strapping the transom down on the trailer I noticed that the port motor mount was cracked.

Does anyone have any suggestions as what else to check or try to get the boat to run like it should? I am going to check the linkage as well to see if it is out of whack. Other than that I am scratching my head as to what's wrong. It is possible that the cracked mount was causing the engine to twist and bind and there could be a blockage in the fuel line. It just seems odd that it is starving for fuel after a rebuild on the carb.
 

Willyclay

Captain
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
3,264
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

If the "cracked mount" you found is the same part as #6 in the parts diagram at the link below, it is NLA. It may be available in a full kit that includes the clamps for both sides. If you are interested in pursuing that option, let me know and I'll try to dig that p/n out of my files for you. Other than possibly finding a used part which I have not been able to do, your only other option will be to have a really good welder try to fix the crack but aluminum is tricky.

Evinrude Exhaust Cover Group Parts for 1969 115hp 115983E Outboard Motor

The poor high speed performance sure sounds like "it is starving for fuel" but if that is true, it is also starving for oil needed for lubrication! I doubt the motor mount is affecting the fuel flow but, regardless, it needs to be corrected before you lose that motor during further testing. Your description makes me think the high speed carb jets are blocked/clogged but I am not an expert. However, I was successful correcting a similar problem on a bud's motor by cleaning the jets. I know you paid to have the carbs rebuilt but the symptoms are pretty damning. Maybe some of the forum experts will post in here and give us both some direction. Good luck!
 

rpsloan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
102
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

I failed to mention that I found a new port side bracket. That is tomorrow's project since I got rained out at work. It is possible that I need to redo the carb due to something getting in it since the rebuild.
 

rockyrude

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
1,120
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

If you haven't replaced all of the fuel lines, it's a good possibility that the new fuel has caused some of the inside of the line to flake. Instant jet clog.
 

rpsloan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
102
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

It came from Evinrude in Wisconsin. It looks new and may very well have been the last one. The starboard bracket is no longer available through them. Does anyone know if Johnson parts would be interchangeable if it came off the same year? They sure looked identical.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

Yes. John and Evin will interchange.
 

rpsloan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
102
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

I got the bracket replaced and have done some trouble shooting. I found the fueline that runs from the quick connect to the fuel pump is kinked to the point of almost pinched shut. So I'm headed to Napa to buy some hose and elbows to fix my issue. Hopefully it's my problem.
 

rpsloan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
102
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

Well after replacing the fuel lines and fixing the kink, I tested it with the earmuffs. Neutral and in gear WOT no issues. Headed to SD Bay and put her in the drink. Was able to get on plane but still won't do WOT. After running around I put her back on the trailer and started talking to a guy who approached me. As we were talking I mentioned I'm dealing with a motor issue. Before I could say what it was he described it to a t and said I needed to replace the power pack. He said he had the same issue on his and after rebuilding carbs, changing fuel lines, etc it was still bogging down at WOT and they switched the pack. After that it ran like a bat outta hell.

My question is what's the consensus on this likely being the issue? I know the PP isn't too badly priced and think wth why not? Anyone else do this to rectify the same issue? Btw compression is 120 on all 4 cylinders and the sparks great.
 

Willyclay

Captain
Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
3,264
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

My question is what's the consensus on this likely being the issue? I know the PP isn't too badly priced and think wth why not? Anyone else do this to rectify the same issue? Btw compression is 120 on all 4 cylinders and the sparks great.

IMHO you should try one more test before going down the parts swap road. Put it in the water, not on muffs, let it warm-up at idle and then in FWD give it WOT. If and when it begins to bog, engage the choke/primer and hold it for a few seconds. If it responds and jumps up in RPM's, then I believe that would confirm a fuel starvation issue which is almost certain to be the high-speed jets. If not, then your challenge continues. Sorry I cannot be more help. Good luck!

FYI, running the motor on muffs at WOT may result in severe damage/failure to your motor. BTDT. I would not go above 1,500RPM's.
 

Oldyellow71

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
33
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

I had the exact problem last summer. I was scratching my head as she ran like a top in the driveway but would only do 1/4 throttle by the time I left the marina. Mine ended up being a coil that would fail once heated up. That's cheaper than a pp. That's just what happened with my scenario, don't know if tours are new or not
 

rpsloan

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
102
Re: '69 115 Electroshift Evinrude power issue

After a few more tests I launched this morning and "Ursula" hit WOT on the water for about 5-10 mins. Then she backed off and would surge at wot and run good at 3/4. She runs better than before and now I truly am sure it's an electrical issue. Either it's the coil which is fairly new as it has the updated part number or the pulse pack.
 
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