Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

[healey8390]

After having a couple Chryslers (which have served me well) I wanted something a little newer. I found a good deal an 86' Johnson 110 (VRO, crossflow, bubbleback). I didn't really want to go older than a 90' but the deal was too good to pass up and it's a fresh water motor.

Anyway, when I run it the right head (opposite side that the starter is on) is very hot, after a few secs you have to take your hand off but the left head is almost cool to the touch. I'm assuming it's the right side thermostat. Any other suggestions?

Also, I need to turn the idle up but it looks like it's going to be a pain. I've looked up similar models and they have a different setup with a cam that has a groove that the throttle roller goes between and the idle adjuster is obvious on it. See #82 in link OMC, Johnson & Evinrude - CYLINDER & CRANKCASE - ALL MODELS EXCEPT 110TLCDF - 1986 Johnson/Evinrude 110 . However on my model 110TLCDF, while it has a cam, it rests on top of the throttle roller and to adjust the idle it looks like I'll have to take it apart and and turn the connecter a few times, thus making it a long repetetive job to get it right. Don't know if I'm missing something but it's #78 OMC, Johnson & Evinrude - CYLINDER & CRANKCASE - 110TLCDF MODELS ONLY - 1986 Johnson/Evinrude 110 . Thanks!

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Have you checked compression on this?
Its just that turning idle up and overheating sounds to me like you might have a failure in the headgasket there.
Have you checked for even-ness of sparkplug colour?

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Yes, check your thermostats too.
It sounds far too hot

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

You can have a strong telltale and one (or both) heads can still overheat if either thermostat is stuck shut. The stuck stat prevents water from circulating/exiting that half of the powerhead. Probably best to pull the thermostat housing apart, replace both stats and check both nylon pressure relief valves to see if they are heat-distorted and also in need of replacement. I prefer the factory manuals over the Clymer or Seloc. You can get a new one from the original publisher: outboardbooks.com

 

[healey8390]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Have you checked compression on this?
Its just that turning idle up and overheating sounds to me like you might have a failure in the headgasket there.
Have you checked for even-ness of sparkplug colour?

Haven't checked compression but I'm sure it's good. It runs way to good to have compression problems IMO. It starts right up, doesn't sputter and sounds very healty/powerful. TBS I haven't pulled the plugs but that sound like a good idea to check the colors so I'll do that.

 

[healey8390]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

You can have a strong telltale and one (or both) heads can still overheat if either thermostat is stuck shut. The stuck stat prevents water from circulating/exiting that half of the powerhead. Probably best to pull the thermostat housing apart, replace both stats and check both nylon pressure relief valves to see if they are heat-distorted and also in need of replacement. I prefer the factory manuals over the Clymer or Seloc. You can get a new one from the original publisher: outboardbooks.com

It does have a strong telltale and a good amount of water comes out of the exhaust. The thermostat housing looks hard to get to since it's a bubble back. I don't know why Chryslers had such a bad rep when they're sooo easy to work on lol but I bet the Johnson is way more powerful!

Are the pressure relief valves in the heads or in the T-stat cover?

 

[healey8390]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Any ideas about the idle anybody?

 

[racerone]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

The idle rarely needs to be adjusted on these motors.--------Having to adjust idle means that there may be internal engine problems.----A compression test has been suggested , but you seem to balk at the idea of doing some simple tests on the motor.----The poppit valves are in the same housing as the thermostats and not really that hard to work on !!

 

[healey8390]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

The idle rarely needs to be adjusted on these motors.--------Having to adjust idle means that there may be internal engine problems.----A compression test has been suggested , but you seem to balk at the idea of doing some simple tests on the motor.----The poppit valves are in the same housing as the thermostats and not really that hard to work on !!

I hope not.

I assumed the compression was good because it runs great and motors with bad compression usually run bad. TBS if it's a recomended starting point I'll do one tonight and report back. Thanks.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Yes definitely recommended starting point... before buying too

 

[healey8390]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Ok I checked compresssion and it ranges from 119-125 on all four!

I looked at the throttle cam and it's not even touching the roller. I'm going to order a manual and do a link and sync (is there a link for that here?).

I already bought an impeller not knowing it's history and now I'm gonna by T-stats, carb kits and change the lower unit oil. Probably gonna be about $200 when it's all said and done. It's routine maintenance anyway and I only paid $750 for it. Prop, controls and title. Dracula laugh lol.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Ha yep thats a good price, good negotiation Dracula.
heres a link, search through here and you should get the info you need on the link and sync. It covers the last 100 years
Boatinfo - The library, containing manuals, brochures and other technical documents from the last hundred years!
If not you can order the manual on this site.

Check you are getting spark on all cylinders first, those compression readings are good.
With the lync and sync make sure you dont get the timing too advanced as that will burn out your pistons

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

That is a great motor and since it is 1986 model the HP was prop rated. What you have is actually about 125-130 hp at the powerhead.

Doing the impeller and the t-stats is a great idea. I realize you are planning on doing it right however,............ I strongly recommend you take it up one more level and do the head gaskets, clean the cooling passages and replace the deflectors in the motor's head.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

+1 on Bob's comments.

 

[healey8390]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Ok I cleaned the carbs to see if it would help the idling problem and it ran like crap! I don't understand?? For a minute it seemed like it cleared and I thought it just needed to "catch" since the carbs were completley empty. Anyway, since it was getting dark I figured I'd put my timing light on it and see where it reads at idle. I hooked up to #1 and it wouldn't flash. I moved it to #2 and it still didn't flash. Conversely, #3 and #4 flashed so I'm thinking powerpack. I'm going to switch them tomorrow and see if the problem jumps to the other side. I guess I was wrong about the theromstats and now it makes sense that the left side of the engine was so cool since that's the side not firing. Also, I couldn't beleive that this engine almost didn't smoke at all other than a puff here and there so I guess that explains the no spark issue as well. I guess the occasional puff was when the unburnt fuel from the recirculations system was getting burnt. My only concern is that it ran better before I cleaned the carbs. On a positive note, I can't wait to hear what it sound like running on all 4! It sound like a beast running on only two lol!

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Bought my first Johnson! Have a couple questions.

Swapping the two power packs is a good ignition test. That should tell you something.