JOHNSON 88SPL V-4 PROBLEM

bossman

Recruit
Joined
Jun 6, 2002
Messages
2
I have a Johnson 88SPL v-4 outboard. We installed thie engine last year on my pontoon boat and it idled and ran fine, great power and top speed. When coming back up river one of the cooling lines on the back of motor below bottom cylinder broke. This resulted in a lot of water being sprayed inside the engine cover. When I shut down to fix hose entire engine was pretty soaked. Now the engine does not want to idle at all, and the top speed is not what it used to be. Adjusting the idle screw would not get an idle. I had to adjust the spark advance to get it to even try to idle. When it sits and barely idles it will spit and sputter shakes alot then stall. The plugs also seem to be running pretty wet. I have to really play with the throttle and choke to get it to where I can put it in gear and go, even then sometimes it will stall. I had no problems before this cooling hose broke. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also I did compression test and all cylinders are 115#. We checked resistence on coils and they all seem to be same.
 

Down South

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
333
Re: JOHNSON 88SPL V-4 PROBLEM

It sounds like you have an ignition problem. You shouldn't have made those adjustments. Has the motor had time to dry back out? If so then you need to find out which cylinders aren't firing. Remove the spark plugs and ground the threaded end of the plug to the block with the spark plug wire attached. Do this on each cylinder. You should get a strong blue spark on each plug. That water may have fried something on your ignition system and you may have lost a bank on one side or the other. <br /><br />Good luck
 

bossman

Recruit
Joined
Jun 6, 2002
Messages
2
Re: JOHNSON 88SPL V-4 PROBLEM

Motor has dried out and took carbs off cleaned thouroughly. Engine revs up and runs WOT. But it runs real rough and shakes when idling, sometimes stalling. If you turn that red lever on the air box about 1/8 turn it will make it run a little smoother but it sounds kinda rich. I got a manual and will try to set linkages and timing next. Checked plugs and gaps, all looks good there. Also changed thermostats.
 
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