Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

[joho5]

Mine is a 76 15.

Is this motor designed that when you twist the throttle all the way down, the motor dies? My motor runs and idles fine, but if I twist it below slow, it dies.

Someone told me that is correct for these motors, but I also own a Johnson 9.5 that idles when twisted all the way down.

Just making sure something isnt wrong with my setup.

thanks

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

Idle speed needs adjusting! Knob on the port side of the lower half of the motor cover!

#37, 38,39 & 40 in THIS DIAGRAM

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

I have adjusted that, but its not even close and the throttle linkage is linked correctly. When I am on start, slow, and shift it runs fast, but the arrow on the tiller goes a little beyond that and when it does it dies.

I would have to open up the needle way more than 1 1/2 turns for it to even think about staying idling.

I honestly think its supposed to do that.

do you own one of these motors?

thanks

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

If you cannot adjust the idle speed with the idle speed control then there is something wrong. You should in fact be able to set a trolling speed using that knob!

You do not want it dying when you shut the throttle down. You've got a stop button for when you want to stop it.

Provided there is nothing wrong with the actual control. I suspect a problem with your carb. You say,"I would have to open up the needle way more than 1 1/2 turns for it to even think about staying idling". Now that kinda implies that if you opened it up the speed will increase and maybe you can keep it idling. Therefore I suggest to you that the carb, especially the slow running jet and passages, needs cleaning. Normally if you open that needle much above 1? turns it will run rough and eventually die, not speed up.

If you have not seen it there is a link in the Engine FAQs to a lot of good useful info on the 9.9s and 15s HERE There a bit in there about repairing a broken idle control knob.

See also items in the Engine FAQs on carb cleaning and needle adjusting.

If you are happy to believe that the engine should die when you close the throttle so be it but ask yourself what's the purpose of the idle speed control knob and the stop button for that matter.

 

[HDPipes05]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

1967 Chrysler 9.2. Same thing, dies when twisted down. I believe it's supposed to do that as I don't have a stop button or any other way to shut it down.

Just my $.02.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

The twist grip on these motors frequently get out of adjustment and don't point at the correct marks for slow, fast and shift, I never look at them anyway. If it runs correctly (carbs not dirty) and it doesn't bother you, then leave it as is, or you can pull it apart and re-align everything so it points where it should. If the carb does need to be cleaned, and it most likely does if you haven't done it in the last few years, then buy a carb kit (they're cheap) and do it, it?s not hard and will only take about an hour.

The external idle knob on mine doesn?t do anything, but it makes little difference to me, I have my older motors set so they die when you shut the throttle off completely. The idle can be set up either way, to die when you let off, or to idle and need the stop button, it's up to you.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

Just my opinion:
I think Vic. S is exactly right. I owned an 84 model johnson 15 and it WOULD NOT die unless I pushed the kill button. I also think that one of the reasons they went to a kill switch rather than turning the throttle to kill it was that killing it with the kill switch made it easier to restart. As VIc said, the knob SHOULD work but from my experience, since they were made of plastic they really often got broken as I suspect yours is. I believe the cam roller can even come off the throttle cam and still run if the carb. is cleaned right, although it's been a while since I worked on or ran one. Myself, I'd clean my carb and check to see that all my parts are in working order. THen it will idle right and you will have to kill it with the kill button which is what I like.
Once again, I do know from first-hand experience what your motor should run like and you should not be able to kill it by turning the throttle if everything is in working order and adjusted properly. You should be able to use that knob to control how far the throttle will back off to.
GOod luck,
JBJ​

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

I have pulled the carb completely apart and rebuilt it and cleaned it. It is clean, and has a new float, new jet, etc...(the kit).

The throttle linkage is on right because the gears can only go on 1 way on these models because there is 1 large gear that goes in 1 large slot.

The motor runs really well and idles down low when I twist it to slow(the lowest setting shown), but when I go beyond that it dies.

The carb is clean as a whistle, the motor runs perfectly, but it just dies when throttled down completely.

I dont want to tear it apart unless I know something is wrong...could a hotter plug help? I guess I am wrong, but I thought this particular motor is supposed to do this and I was just verifying, but now some folks say its ok and some dont.

Mine is a 1976, 8 years older than that 84, so maybe things changed by then?!?!?

I dont know, maybe someone with my same year model or closer will chime in.

thanks

Matt

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

If you just cleaned it and it's running fine, then the only isssue is idle adjustment. There is no right or wrong unless you want it to idle and not stop, like they said the idle knob may not work and I don't remember if there's an internal idle screw on the linkage for that year. If you want it to idle then the adjuster needs to be fixed, if it doesn't bother you then leave it as is.

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

personally, I would like for it to idle down low and stay idling with the throttle all the way down. Thats why I was asking, if it was correct for this model of motor, I was just going to bite the bullet and it would just be something I didnt like about the motor.

Now, if its not supposed to die, then I want to fix the problem.

the problem is when the throttle is all the way down, the roller isnt even contacting the cam.

its about a half an inch or so off of it.

 

[mikesea]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

depending on yr.there are adjustments on the roller ,and the actual timing cam under flywheel,the engines that quit when throttle put at stop usually die to to timing.I have worked on many 9.9/15 omc.same yrs could react different.if you really want to get into the timing/carb adjustments to make it as it was yrs ago when bought,good luck,a point of interest is the actual rolles,some came with a covering that allowed more carb throttle,but in short time these ,yellowy plastic covers fell off,leaving adjustment to be off,then you have the newer cable throttle which get stretch issues,wear etc,the older gear throttle would have worn bushings,gears etc all of which allow enough play to enter the mix,the ones that wore allowing easier throttle friction usually allowed the eng to continue to run because the timing plate under flywheel didnt get to the absolute stop position,so,if you take the motor and get all pieces to react exactly as it once was factory,you willlikely get your eng to stop at the spot that says stop.but why,be sure you have a good kill button,which for information is the leading cause for loss of spark,or a eng that intermittly stalls or misses

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

Since you're familiar with carb, pull the cowl off and look at the linkage to see if there's a idle adjustment screw on that model. If not then buy the parts for external adjustment knob.

One other thing, did you correctly re-set the linkage? As was said above, the carb and timing linkage are connected; they need to be in sync for it to run right. It may run OK if not set correctly, but will run better when it?s right. There are marks that need to line up on the linkage and roller.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

Mine is a 76 15.

Is this motor designed that when you twist the throttle all the way down, the motor dies? My motor runs and idles fine, but if I twist it below slow, it dies.

Someone told me that is correct for these motors, but I also own a Johnson 9.5 that idles when twisted all the way down.

Just making sure something isnt wrong with my setup.

thanks

This is why Owners' Manuals are so valuable.

I grew up with small HP Johnson and Evinrudes that you would stop by turning the handle knob all the way c/wise. At one time there was an additional marking beyond "shift" and "slow" that said "stop".
At some point these engines were fitted with kill buttons.
My 76 6HP E/rude I stop with the throttle handle as it does not have a kill switch.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

If you did not follow the link posted by Vic.S, you might want to try there now. LeeRoy Wisner has a section on adjusting and on repairing the idle which you can find by scrolling down on the article found here: http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/Johnson 9.9_15.htm

You will know that you are in the right part of his text when you see the picture of the port side of the lower cowl with the idle adjustment knob.

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

So is it correct that the cam comes out of contact with the roller? When I twist the idle speed adjustment knob on the outside of the engine cowl, it does move the cam up and down as it should, but this doesnt have any effect since the roller is off of the cam.

would the cam being out of position be due to the armature plate out of spot?

When my throttle is on "start" is that when the roller should be in line with the timing mark on the cam?

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

the problem is when the throttle is all the way down, the roller isnt even contacting the cam.

its about a half an inch or so off of it.

I saw this comment yesterday but I thought I'd already had my say, I'll let someone else pick it up.

No its not right. A half inch is a enormous amount as well!

At idle the roller should be just touching the cam and at the reference mark on the cam.
As the throttle control is twisted the magneto base plate should start to advance and the roller start to open the throttle plate in the carb from its idle position (almost fully closed)
If the roller is not touching the cam then maybe the throttle plate is closing completely (I dont think there is stop screw to stop it) It then remains closed until the cam contacts the roller and starts to open it. That would explain why your engine cuts out well before the twist grip is returned to the idle position.

What is causing things to be like this a puzzle though. Is the link between the cam follower (the bit that carries the roller) and the throttle shaft assembly correct. Can any part of the throttle plate and shaft assembly be fitted incorrectly.

BUT am I misunderstanding you on the half inch. Do you really mean that the roller is being held half an inch off the cam or do you mean that the cam is turning back half an inch too far? This picture (click it) shows a roller just touching a cam at the idle position.



I am still wondering if that slow speed adjustment knob on the side is not still the problem. Is the above discussed cam going back beyond the point at which the mark lines up with the roller. If it is then something is allowing the whole shooting match to move to far. It's that idle speed ajustment knob that should stop it.

Don't take to much notice of the marks on the tiller handle they are only a rough guide for starting and shifting (on my engine they are hopelessly out although with the later type of cable linkage it is possible to sort that out).

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

First off, I just want to say I really appreciate you being patient with me. I do not have the manual yet, I have ordered it, but it hasnt got here.

I just got back from checking it all out and tomorrow I will try to take pictures. The linkage is just 1 link that connects the two and I dont think there is an incorrect way of putting it on. The roller is actually just barely touching the very end of the cam when throttled all the way down. Not even touching it enough to make it move up any at all and that is with the idle adjustment screwed in as far as I could, now from the mark on the cam, its probably about a centimeter or so. About the width of a pinky nail.

can the cam under the magneto be adjusted at all? to where it stops earlier when throttling down? other than the idle adjustment knob?

I honestly think that my idle valve is getting completely closed, which is basically choking the motor...right?

the gears and tiller handle are correct, I can tell that for sure.

I dont know what to do now and like I said, i will take pictures tomorrow, but all in all, no, when idled down on the tiller handle, its going beyond the timing mark and just a tiny bit past the cam all together.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

when idled down on the tiller handle, its going beyond the timing mark and just a tiny bit past the cam all together

It should not do that it should only go back to where the mark lines up with the roller. Its the idle speed adjust knob that should control the position.

If I were to back off the idle speed adjustment far enough (mine being a later model has that on the tiller end) I would be able to turn mine back further and the engine would stall.

There is something wrong somewhere around that knob.

I notice that #40 only screws into the knob. Should or can that be screwed out a bit (it may be a LH thread) to affect the operation of the knob.

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

I thought the knob screws in and out to that knob inside that actually moves. If not, I will just unscrew it a little bit.

When I tighten the idle adjustment, what causes it to get tight finally? I was just going to keep screwing it in untill it was at the timing mark, but it got really tight before I got there.

thanks again

much appreciated for your help

 

[joho5]

Re: Johnson / Evinrude 9.9 or 15 owners question

ok, update.

I got it to stop at the timing mark when throttled down, but to do so I had to loosen the rod that holds down the idle adjustment knob on the inside. There is a flat rod that presses down on the idle adjustment that keeps it in place.

I had to loosen that and then screw the idle adjustment in there further, then retighten the part that clamps down.

I will attach pictures to show you what I am talking about. The problem this creates is that the flat bar that is supposed to sit down flush against the idle screw adjustment piece under the cowl, cannot sit flush anymore...I had to screw the idle adjustment so far in there that its actually sitting half on the threads now and half where it is supposed to be. This will work fine, but it puts the idle adjustment where you cannot adjust it on the fly...it is set and wont move now. Now I have to unscrew the flat bar and then make the adjustment and then tighten the bar if I want it to adjust.

after knowing that and seeing these pictures, I am welcome for anyones opinion on what the core problem might be.

thanks