dry and carboned sparker

[fshrgy99]

1989 johnson 140 (formerly vro) Have been troubleshooting low power. Carefully cleaned all my coil contacts. Engine started fine but was running erratically with periodic pops. Checked spark with a timing light on all 4 cyls. and seems good on all cyls ... except when I checked idle timing on #1 the timing mark was jumping around when the engine 'missed'. Not sure if the timing was jumping around because it was missing or if it was missing because the timing mark was jumping around?
Anyway, pulled the plugs and 3 of 4 were wet. The fourth was very black and very dry. Does this dry and carboned plug indicate a carb problem in the corresponding carb? Could there be another reason for the carbon related to spark? If running lean (fuel constriction) would it be black with carbon?
graci

 

[adamh1281]

Re: dry and carboned sparker

I'm having a similar problem. here's my story:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=513467

 

[fshrgy99]

Re: dry and carboned sparker

I am thinking that the plug is dry, black and sooty from bad ignition.

I had swapped coils before the last start then dropped in a new plug. After running for about a minute and confirming spark with the timing light I pulled the plugs and it was very sooty and very black already. Maybe I have to decarb with deep creep?

Can someone tell me if the power pack is likely to go bad on one cyl only? I may have fuel delivery problem as well as ignition problem.