Accidentally left the key on

[jamminmaz]

Good Day everyone,<br />It's 72 100hp Johnson with original throttle box. Yesterday i took her out for the first time this year, and as usual when i trailer, i disconnect the fuel line and let her run all the gas out until it dies. This time i let the motor die, and started back home, pulled over about 45 minutes later and noticed i had left the key in the run position. I turned just check, and it cranked fine, but i am just wondering if leaving the key on, without the motor running would have done any damage to anything???<br /><br />Thanks for your help,<br />Jamin

 

[OBJ]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

No damage should occur if the system is good and no stray grounds anywhere. The key in the "ON" position justs puts ignition system at 12DC potential. Check the battery is still up and just remember to turn the key off next time....like I ain't never done that before....yeah right....

 

[Brew2]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Many recommend not running your engine out of gas because the motor, while dying out, is also running with very little or no oil (ie. no gas = no oil). Kinda hard on the cylinders, pistons, rings etc. to run without the proper lubrication.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Brew

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Does that engine have points?----- I really wonder about the run it dry is no good. Has any trustable group done a real test of that theory? I always run it out if I will not use the motor in 2 days. Never became a smokey joe or rod knocker. Or scratched walls.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Jamin.... Check to see if the electric choke solenoid operates as it should. If it does, you have, in all likelyhood hurt nothing.<br /><br />However..... That engine has two carburetors. The top carburetor will run out of fuel (and oil) before the bottom carburetor does, and the engine will continue to run on those two bottom cylinders.<br /><br />This leaves the two top aluminum pistons running up and down a steel cylinder wall with improper lubrication..... not a good idea!

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Maybe not relevant, just that I left my ignition on for a day or two as I recall, and lost my tacho. Was stuck at around 5000 RPM and that was that. Fortunately it was still under guarantee. Lucky. I know this is no help, just does'nt seem healthy to leave ignition on. I also believe it's not good to run motor dry.

 

[jamminmaz]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Thanks for the replies. I will check the choke thing Joe mentioned, i can usually hear it click when I flip the toggle switch on the throttle box. the tach wasnt hooked up (yet) but we shall see if i fried anything. <br />Should we start a new thread or continue in this one on what is the proper way to shut down a 2 stroke? I always run it dry, because out here it is 2-6 weeks between trips to the lake, so i am just trying to not have gum factory in my carbs ya know?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

helo<br /> on the hydro electric there are many things that can fry. none are cheap and some are NLA. however keep your fingers crossed. the running the carbs dry is addresed in the tech bulliten from OMC about the change from a 100-1 mix back to a 50 to 1 mix. believe them or not. my opinion is its to easy to mix the proper amout of stabilizer in with each tank. problem solved for several months. and its really a waste of time as the idle pickups are 1/4 inch or so off the bottom of the carb and all the fuel must still come thhrough the main jet and its on the bottom. if it clogs it wont idle. if it partially clogs it may run lean at speed.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Jammin.... Stick with this thread. Starting another only causes confusion.

 

[JC1933]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Hi guys,<br /> What about the 115hp marener that runs on 2 cylinders under 1800rpm dont the other 2 not run dry? thanks c 70.

 

[Rockchalk]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Well I learned somthing new again. Dont run em dry... Stabilize...

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Claude.... I have no knowledge of the engine you mention, but I would think that it would have a tendency to viberate quite a bit at a low rpm, and I would also think that it had better be a 4 stroke engine.

 

[jamminmaz]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

So stabilizer in every tank will keep the gum away? Any brand or dilution preference, or just get one, and follow the label? I know that alot of other auto additives are evil to an outboard.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Originally posted by Richard Petersen:<br /> I really wonder about the run it dry is no good. Has any trustable group done a real test of that theory? I always run it out if I will not use the motor in 2 days.

Thats insane. Do you run the tow vehicle out of gas everytime you won't use it for 2 DAYS? The lawnmower? The weedwacker. Wifes car? 2 MONTHS maybe, not days <br /> any trustable group done a real test <br />Yes..look in ANY owners manual. It's by the people that MAKE the product. Do THEY say to run it out of gas if it will sit for 2 days?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Plus I should add (think we can learn something here?), when you run it out of gas, your chances of leaving the ignition on AGAIN just went up 100%...... food for thought (which won't be food on the table after you toss all your last dollars at ignition parts)

 

[JC1933]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Joe thanks for the reply. but i have a friend that has one of these motors that only runs on 2 cylinders till it reaches 1800 rpm than the other 2 come on line.i have read on this forum a while back that Mercury&Mariner were designed that way in the 115 hp motor. C70

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

Originally posted by jamminmaz:<br /> So stabilizer in every tank will keep the gum away?

If you feel you have too, (and you don't NEED too) buy "Stabil" in the quart bottle for about $10..treats 80 gallons

 

[jamminmaz]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

I hope i didnt smoke anything, I'll let you guys know tonight or tomorrow when i get her on the muffs.<br /><br />good call Robby, I never would have left the key in if i wasnt trying to run it dry!!<br /><br />Learn something everytime i guess....

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

As I recall the really old Johnson 30-40 hp engines would cut out 2 cyl at hi speeds in neutral to prevent scattering the engine. No smokers back then or now as a lot of people went to 30 or 40 : 1 fuel.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Accidentally left the key on

claude<br />the 4cyl 115 and 125 ran on the top two. that does not mean they shut the fueloff the bottom two, they still recive fuel/oilbut not enough tosustain combustion and like all the rest reccommend fogging if stored over 30 days. wish I had a franklin for every one I saw with the lower cyl rusted due to inadequate oil during storage. and yes sometimes those motors did crazy things when idling and if the carbs were not set up perfect it got worse. by 1800 RPM or so there was enough throttle opening to start drawing fuel through the main jet.