Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Bosunsmate

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Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Hi
no worries, just had to go to work so was being brief.
You can set the max advance and idling on the muffs no problems. The reason why you use muffs is so that the impeller is getting water while you turn the starter, if it doesnt get water it will heat up and wear and can burst into your intake pipe which is a real dismantle problem if a part gets stuck up there.

All you a doing is checking that the spark is firing at 24degs when you have the throttle at WOT. The engine does not need to be running all you have to check is that the timing light is showing that it is sparking at the correct time 24 degs.. Just hook your timing light to number one cylinder spark plug and check that the mark 24degs is being flashed on the flywheel on the timing mark on the flywheel and the marker point arrow by the flywheel edge that shows TDC. (While the starter is being cranked)
The idling is the same. check that it is sparking at the correct time for your motor ie 7ATDC (with engine warm up lever down ie not in use)

Then when you run in the water check that it idles ok, on an older motor it may want the timing to be slightly more advance than it would when new such as it may need 4ATDC to get it to idle well so just adjust the idle to suit what you want for idle (when in the water) and the motor is warm and the warm up lever is down.
If you are not happy with the idle timing given in the book when you a in the water then dont change maximum WOT rubber stop,, just change the one that stops it at the furthest back position- the idle position.


You will also need to check that the carbs all open with the butterfly at level( horizontal) when the throttle is at WOT. If you a at wot on the lever and the butterflys are not horizontal adjust the carb linkages so they are.

Happy to answer any more questions but just get that maximum timing set to 24deg out of the water with your pump lubricated (muffs on or in drum, all plugs out apart from the one with timing light on No1 cylinder.

Remember no1 cylinder is top right (starboard) so you do your timing off that cylinder
 
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Bosunsmate

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Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

I looked at that link, thats what you do to fine tune when on the water it wont affect the factory settings which you should be setting your motor at.
You do that FINAL idle adjustment on the water as normal operating backpressure is needed
 

Spanish#007

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Jul 31, 2013
Messages
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Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Wow, great writeup, it should be moved to the workshop or whatever it's called on this forum. I got my buddy out here with the timing light and jumped the solenoid @ WOT It was at 28 which is what the book had recommended but I keep reading that I'm supposed to go 4 degrees lower s you mentioned and got it set to 25ish-it was really hard to see in the light so we are taking it out to fine tune it Saturday. i really appreciate all your help. I did exactly what you said and watched a YouTube video...warmed it up, took off plugs, grounded them, put @ WOT turned key to on on turned her over jumping solenoid. I will get it to 24 next time it's dark out. I won't know for sure but hopefully I can turn down the Idle/timing screw on the bottom as now it's all the way down. I also adjused the cam yoke one turn toward raising idle to compensate for wear and I think she will run good. I really need to get a temp gun to check the cylinders as she seems to start to want to idle bad after driving for 15 in the higher RPM range. I'll update the thread with my final results. you learn something new everyday!

Hi
no worries, just had to go to work so was being brief.
You can set the max advance and idling on the muffs no problems. The reason why you use muffs is so that the impeller is getting water while you turn the starter, if it doesnt get water it will heat up and wear and can burst into your intake pipe which is a real dismantle problem if a part gets stuck up there.

All you a doing is checking that the spark is firing at 24degs when you have the throttle at WOT. The engine does not need to be running all you have to check is that the timing light is showing that it is sparking at the correct time 24 degs.. Just hook your timing light to number one cylinder spark plug and check that the mark 24degs is being flashed on the flywheel on the timing mark on the flywheel and the marker point arrow by the flywheel edge that shows TDC. (While the starter is being cranked)
The idling is the same. check that it is sparking at the correct time for your motor ie 7ATDC (with engine warm up lever down ie not in use)

Then when you run in the water check that it idles ok, on an older motor it may want the timing to be slightly more advance than it would when new such as it may need 4ATDC to get it to idle well so just adjust the idle to suit what you want for idle (when in the water) and the motor is warm and the warm up lever is down.
If you are not happy with the idle timing given in the book when you a in the water then dont change maximum WOT rubber stop,, just change the one that stops it at the furthest back position- the idle position.


You will also need to check that the carbs all open with the butterfly at level( horizontal) when the throttle is at WOT. If you a at wot on the lever and the butterflys are not horizontal adjust the carb linkages so they are.

Happy to answer any more questions but just get that maximum timing set to 24deg out of the water with your pump lubricated (muffs on or in drum, all plugs out apart from the one with timing light on No1 cylinder.

Remember no1 cylinder is top right (starboard) so you do your timing off that cylinder
 

Bosunsmate

Admiral
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,135
Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Thats the one!
25deg is fine i wouldnt be concerned trying to change that, just leave that max advance stop as is and now move on to idle timing.

Check what your idle timing is at- while warm and on the muffs and lever down- get that close to what the book wants by adjusting the other adjustment screw.
What you a doing is you have set the max timing which is at WOT 25deg BTDC, so you now need to set the minimum it can go down too which is what it wants for idle-the idle timing, the 7deg ATDC (or whatever your motor calls for).

Then adjust that idle timing up as needed while in the water, by feel of what you want, you might not need to change it. You want it high enough so the engine doesnt stall, yet low enough that the engine is not burning excess fuel or will grind into gear when the lever is moved. Thats when the tach helps as your manual will say what rpm band you want idle in, but you should know by listening to it whether its too low or high

Yes check temperature as these have overheating problems often- poppet valves, thermostats, impellers...
 
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phillnjack2

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Apr 30, 2011
Messages
918
Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Im so glad someone else asked all these questions and not me again.

when reading about it with someone else explaining what they are not getting and then answers telling it correctly again it starts to all make perfect sense.
but when ts you asking and getting advice its just so confusing and your mind goes all wonky.

spanish just chill out a bit, you will get there no problems.
like me its all confusing witchcraft and voodoo when you first read it, i think its the excitement of knowing that real help is at hand and not an idiot who just calls himself a mechanic and wants money money money.

these guys on this forum are very good at helping us all out, and how they put up with us is great too.
i think they all must have huge supplies of chill pills when dealing with us outboard engine owners.


just relax and take your time, it will all be good


phill
 

Spanish#007

Cadet
Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
28
Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Thx guys!! Think she'll run great this weekend...just have to put her in and see. Timing idle is around 7-8 so I should be able to lower it which is great as the pin is all the way in right now. Definitely true on the chill pilz:lol: Sorry it took me so long to figure it out:facepalm:...I really do appreciate all your guy's help!
 

Bosunsmate

Admiral
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,135
Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

Have a good run, take a camera out in case you want to post a video of some performance.
 

phillnjack2

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Joined
Apr 30, 2011
Messages
918
Re: Adjusting idle on a 1978 Evinrude 140 hp crossflow motor (model 14083C)

be good to know its all come good for you

and your not the only one who takes a while for it to all make sense.

good luck


phill
 
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