Age of Motor and air intake issue

dmp_92

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Mar 27, 2008
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Hello,

I have a 20 johnson seahorse outboard motor. I do not know what year it is. I think it is a 79 but I am not sure. What information is needed for me to find out the year? Where do I look for this information?

The second question I have is that the motor is starving for fuel. My primer ball does not go hard. I have changed fuel tanks and the same issue is there. I have changed the fuel lines and primer ball and the same thing occurs. I have removed the lines from the motor and gas tank and the ball does go hard. This has been tested on both gas tanks, both fuel lines and primer balls. This leads me to believe that is has something to do with the motor.

I can get my motor to run but it does stop after a while but if I give it more throttle it stays on longer. I am thinking it might be the fuel filter or pump or something around those lines.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,

Dave
 

Joe Reeves

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

We need the model number to ID the engine. Should be a small plate on the port (Left) transom bracket and also a small quarter size core plug on the powerhead with the model and serial numbers.

Get that model number to us and we'll tell you exactly what you have.
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Sorry for not getting the information to you sooner.

The model number is 20CR79R.
 

Joe Reeves

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Model 20CR79R is a mystery to me. No such number exists in my books. The "CR" would indicate a 1984 model BUT the "79" indicates a 1979. Someone else may have the correct info.... we'll see if they jump in here.

Did you actually obtain that model number directly from a plate on the engine?

The fuel bulb problem not getting hard when connected to the engine would indicates that either the carburetor is flooding which would simply allow fuel to pass thru constantly, OR the fuel pump diaphram is cracked which would allow fuel to pass thru it directly into the internal portion of the engine.
 

F_R

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Model 20CR79R is a mystery to me. No such number exists in my books. The "CR" would indicate a 1984 model BUT the "79" indicates a 1979. Someone else may have the correct info.... we'll see if they jump in here.

Did you actually obtain that model number directly from a plate on the engine?

The fuel bulb problem not getting hard when connected to the engine would indicates that either the carburetor is flooding which would simply allow fuel to pass thru constantly, OR the fuel pump diaphram is cracked which would allow fuel to pass thru it directly into the internal portion of the engine.

20CR79R does indeed appear in my list. It is a 1979. The "C" is a mystery to me too, but it is listed.
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Thank you for your information. I went over to the motor and it was on the port side of the frame. It listed the serial number and model number.

How much do you think it would cost to replace the fuel pump and fix the carborator?
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

One thing did come to my mind. This all started happening because I smelt gas in my garage. I knew it was comming from the motor but the motor was not started in 2 weeks. When I did take the cowl of the motor to see if I could find the serial number and model number, you can smell gas as well. The motor was run on Saturday. So it might be the fuel pump.
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Thank you for the info, that was great. I am having trouble finding a fuel pump for this motor. Would you be able to get me a part number or a link to a website that has it?
 

tx1961whaler

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Just asking, but are you running it with the tank vent open?
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Yes the vent tank is open. Is that a problem?
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Okay.

Do you know where I can order a fuel pump for this motor? Is it easy to install?
 

jbjennings

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Joe Reeves; [B said:
The fuel bulb problem not getting hard when connected to the engine would indicates that either the carburetor is flooding which would simply allow fuel to pass thru constantly[/B], OR the fuel pump diaphram is cracked which would allow fuel to pass thru it directly into the internal portion of the engine.

I think if it were me I would look at the float and needle valve like Joe said, before I'd go blindly buying a fuel pump (unless you do, indeed, know it's the pump). You could look at the pump diaphram for a tear, or attach the fuel line directly to your carb and try to pump it up to determine if it's the float or float needle sticking open. If you hook the fuel line directly to the carb. and pump it up and the bulb never gets hard, you'll know your problem is the float or float needle/seat.
Just a suggestion,
JBJ
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Just a quick update. The fuel line was kinked so the mechanics replaced it. Thanks for all your help.
 

dmp_92

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Awesome.

Now since the motor is working, I would like to convert this beast to controls and stick steering. I have the stick steering portion but I do not have the part the connects from the stick steering unit to the motor. Secondly, I am looking for controls that have two sticks. One for throttle and the other for gear. The other thing is it hard to put the control gears on and remove the other items?
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

What kind of stick steering do you have? Is it wire rope based or push/pull cable type?
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Age of Motor and air intake issue

Ezy-Glide makes an adapter to connect the push/pull type cable to a motor that doesn't have a tilt tube built in. Their literature says its for a port cable run, but I have used it for a starboard run w/o problem. All you have to do is remove the zerk fitting in the tube portion of the adapter, unscrew the tube nuts, flip the tube and reassemble. The zerk fitting has to come out so you can pull the tube through the bracket holes.

Although their product is set up to be screwed to the inside of the transom, with additional gripping forced by the motor's clamps, I recommend bolting it through the transom. By doing this, you will have somewhat of a safeguard against the motor dropping into the water if you hit something and knock it loose. The bracket will tend to stay in place and the steering arm will act as a link that prevents the motor from dropping.

I have a larger version of this bracket on my 65hp Johnson and it saved my behind one day, after hitting something under water. The bosses on the tilt bracket sheared (all 4 of them) and the motor tried to drop after I pulled the power off. It fell a few inches, but the steering arm held it mostly in place. Because of this, my repairs were limited to replacing the swivel/tilt bracket, rather than having a major mess due to a "drowned" engine.
 
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