82 Johnson 50 HP fuel/idle adjustment

[Bmitch]

1982 johnson 50 hp (J50BELCNR). Im having a rich fuel mixture. Engine idles fine when choke is almost closed. Carburetors don't have adjustable idle screws. So far I've cleaned and rebuild the carburetors, sync the carburetors linkage, and replaced the fuel line, fuel filter, rebuild the fuel pump, power pack, set timing to 17? (out of water), and added fresh fuel. Anyone with a solution? The is a little bit of fuel coming out the carburetor barrels (bow side) when running. Repair manual has not helped.

 

[ondarvr]

If it idles better with the choke on it means it's running lean, so the carbs are probably still needing some attention. Fuel coming out of the carb can be normal, or a problem, it depends on how much and when. Bad reeds can cause fuel to spit back out of the carb too.

As with every mystery problem, start with a compression test, spark test, and fuel. Sounds like you've been doing a bit of it already.

 

[racerone]

If it runs better with choke plates nearly closed you do not have a " rich fuel mixture " in fact it is lean.------And the 17 degree setting is not an idle timing setting, it is the full throttle maximum timing advance.

 

[Bmitch]

Is the 19? on the label the ignition timing? A marine mechanic (not the best one) told me to set it at 17? out of the water and the back pressure in the water would move it to 19?. Spark is reaching each spark plug end and it has fresh fuel mixture. Doing a compression test in a few.

 

[jimmbo]

Backpressure will advance the timing? That's a first. Max timing is set against a stop, it can't advance further. In the 34 yrs since your engine was built, gasoline has changed considerably. Manufacturers often revised the timing for their engines, usually retarding the max advance. This was to reduce the chances of pre ignition brought on by the newer gasoline blends.

 

[ondarvr]

Is the 19? on the label the ignition timing? A marine mechanic (not the best one) told me to set it at 17? out of the water and the back pressure in the water would move it to 19?. Spark is reaching each spark plug end and it has fresh fuel mixture. Doing a compression test in a few.

It has nothing to do with back pressure, setting it at 2* less than max when it's not running can bring it very close to what the max timing is when running at the spec'd RPMs. You would recheck it when you get back out on the water.

 

[oldboat1]

carb floats need to be right side up, and level. Believe each of your carbs have a couple of core plugs for the idle circuits. As part of cleaning and rebuilding, those should come off and be replaced, with cleaning of the passages underneath. After soaking, I like to use some fine wire or monofilament, and some carb spray cleaner.

 

[Bmitch]

I have the timing at 17?.
Compression: top 102 bottom 115. With power pack to armature disconnected top 125 bottom 127.