85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

[relocyo]

1978 85 hp johnson #85ml78c finally got her in the water today and she ran great for a little while but while running at 3/4 throttle it was like someone flipped a switch, rpms drop and eventualy motor quit.. towed back to the launch. got the motor running again but doesnt want to idle at throttle all the way downed. and when i put it in gear no matter what gear f or r immediatly dies... what happened? i cant figure it out... but like i said it runs fairly well but not at throttle at idle position, and not at all once put in gear... any ideas guys?
thanks yall.. have had a rough day messin with it and getting towed and the embarresment that goes along with it....

 

[jonesg]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

Go to autozone and buy a $12 spark tester, the adjustable type, not the neon flasher. Find which cyl's are not firing with gap set to 3/8th inch.
Sounds it dropped a coil or two.

Also post the service history, how long you've owned it etc.
Got a water seperator installed?
When were carbs last rebuilt?
Decarb'd it lately?

 

[relocyo]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

just re installed the carbs new rebuilt. first time on the water. no water seperator... u think a cylinder is not firing? like i said it was like someone flipped a switch and the rpms dropped and died 30 sec. later....

 

[relocyo]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

are we thinking its a spark issue? or a fuel issue... the fuel is 1 month old with stabilizer added... yesterday when i ran the motor on muffs it idled just fine. today after transporting to launch it took a little while to start, i just figured it was because the motor was tiltedup, but after a few minutes cranked right up... im confused, and wouldlike to know if i need to check electrical or gas (all fuel related parts have been replaced last week) thanks again for any advice...

 

[relocyo]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

anyone else have any ideas??

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

get a spark gap tester and test each coil like Jones said.

 

[relocyo]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

test the coil? does that mean the spark plug or the plug wire or what? im not real sure what that means.. thanks, but im not quite sure what your talking about... i know i sound like an idiot but im very mechanicaly inclined so far on this motor i havent had to mess with any "coils" little help please... do i have to pull the flywheel off???

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

you really need to make friends with someone who knows something about motors...We can only do so much through a forum, you must have some mechanical knowledge for us to help you..and you seem to not have any experience. If you live near Savannah GA. I would be glad to help you out. I am sure you are not an idiot, lots of stuff I don't know about, don't make me an idiot either.

 

[relocyo]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

ugh... **** off... i need helpfull advice not your friggin sympathy... i see people with waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy less knowledge than me get their hand help thru changin a spark plug.... keep that nonsense to yourself....

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 85hp johnson stalls when put in gear...

If you want to perform service checks yourself-the best thing for you is to get a factory service manual from the original printer: Ken Cook Co., in Milwaukee. They show all the tests with pictures.