nphilbro
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2011
- Messages
- 304
I tried out a 1999 Suzuki (which they made for Johnson and look identical from what I can see and have read) 4-stroke this weekend to use as a kicker for my 20ft deep-V fiberglass boat. The motor ran great, started instantly, no gripes in that regard. It didn't sound like it was idling really high- as in racing, but I couldn't get a troll speed less than 2.5/3 mph, even on this heavy boat. It has incredible torque and it was a bit too much to use to load on the trailer easily because I had to go in and out of gear to make corrections. I need a kicker for slow trolling and trailering since my main is a 200hp.
I'm extremely familiar with 2-stroke motors but I don't want to apply any of that here without some direction.
There is a spring screw on the throttle/carb body that I can adjust to lower the idle speed. I admit that I adjusted it counter-clockwise some while we were fishing yesterday to try to get my trolling speed down to 1 - 1 1/2 mph and it slowed a little but the motor didn't seem like the fuel/air/timing were right when I did that and set it back. I had to go in/out of gear to run slow enough and I know that's not good. My 25hp Evinrude 2-stroke would let me run slower and faster - but not nearly as efficiently or quietly.
There is a jet on the side of the carb opposite the throttle adjustment. I haven't touched it yet so don't know if it is fixed or variable. My hunch is that this issue is correctable but requires more than adjustment.
If I find this condition is correctable and I can adjust it to my needs I will keep the motor and buy a manual. If it isn't, then I'm not keeping it. I'm also not going to buy a lower pitch prop since it is using the one from the factory and would only limit the speed range more.
Anyone have input or experience?
I'm extremely familiar with 2-stroke motors but I don't want to apply any of that here without some direction.
There is a spring screw on the throttle/carb body that I can adjust to lower the idle speed. I admit that I adjusted it counter-clockwise some while we were fishing yesterday to try to get my trolling speed down to 1 - 1 1/2 mph and it slowed a little but the motor didn't seem like the fuel/air/timing were right when I did that and set it back. I had to go in/out of gear to run slow enough and I know that's not good. My 25hp Evinrude 2-stroke would let me run slower and faster - but not nearly as efficiently or quietly.
There is a jet on the side of the carb opposite the throttle adjustment. I haven't touched it yet so don't know if it is fixed or variable. My hunch is that this issue is correctable but requires more than adjustment.
If I find this condition is correctable and I can adjust it to my needs I will keep the motor and buy a manual. If it isn't, then I'm not keeping it. I'm also not going to buy a lower pitch prop since it is using the one from the factory and would only limit the speed range more.
Anyone have input or experience?